1952 Swiss Grand Prix

1952 Swiss Grand Prix
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Circuit Bremgarten track layout
Race details
Date 18 May 1952
Official name XII Großer Preis der Schweiz
Location Circuit Bremgarten, Bern, Switzerland
Course Temporary street/road circuit
Course length 7.280 km (4.524 miles)
Distance 62 laps, 451.360 km (280.462 miles)
Weather Sunny
Pole position
Driver
Ferrari
Time 2:47.5
Fastest lap
Driver Piero Taruffi Ferrari
Time 2:49.1 on lap 46
Podium
First
Ferrari
Second
Ferrari
Third
Gordini
Lap leaders

The 1952 Swiss Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on 18 May 1952 at Bremgarten Circuit. It was the first round of the 1952 World Championship of Drivers, in which each Grand Prix was run to Formula Two rules rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.

Italian driver Piero Taruffi scored his only win in a World Championship race, driving for Ferrari.

Supporting races

The 1952 Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix races on the fast circuit in the Bremgartenwald forest were marred by a number of accidents that resulted in the deaths of two competitors, Ercole Frigerio and Dave Bennett.[1]

The sports car race 1952 Bern Grand Prix had factory entries from Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lancia, and no less than four Mercedes-Benz 300 SL that dominated the race, finishing 1-2-3 after 18 laps, lapping the field. Pre-WWII Grand Prix greats and rivals Hermann Lang and Rudolf Caracciola took part and duelled, and towards the end of the race it was Swiss resident Caracciola whose brakes locked up going into a corner; the car skidded off the road and hit a tree. Caracciola survived with a broken leg, but this crash effectively ended his racing career despite hopes in July that he would race the 300SL at the 1952 German Grand Prix "Großer Jubiläumspreis vom Nürburgring" (25th anniversary) support race.[2]

Report

With the withdrawal of Alfa Romeo from the World Championship, Ferrari were left as the sole competitive team under the existing Formula One regulations which allowed 1.5 litre supercharged engines, or 4.5 litre normal. It was therefore decided to restrict the World Championship Grand Prix races to Formula Two cars with 2 litre engines offered by many more brands.

The works Ferrari team brought three drivers to the Swiss Grand Prix, namely Farina, Taruffi and Simon. Regular Ferrari drivers Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi were both unavailable, the former due to his participation in the Indianapolis 500, and the latter because of his having had a road accident. Also running Ferraris were Rudi Fischer and Peter Hirt of Ecurie Espadon, and veteran Frenchman Louis Rosier. Gordini also had a three-car team for this race, consisting of Robert Manzon, B. Bira and the debutant Jean Behra. The HWM team, returning to the World Championship for the first time since the previous race at Bremgarten, fielded the all-British quartet of Abecassis, Collins, Macklin and Moss. Maserati had planned to enter defending World Drivers' Champion Juan Manuel Fangio and fellow Argentinian José Froilán González, but this did not come into fruition. Completing the field were the sole AFM entry of Hans Stuck and a number of privately run cars representing various constructors.

Former Alfa Romeo driver Nino Farina took pole position, alongside Taruffi and Manzon on the front row of the grid. Simon and Fischer started from the second row, in front of Collins, Behra and Toulo de Graffenried, who was driving an Enrico Platé-entered Maserati.

Polesitter Farina led the race until his car broke down. His Ferrari teammate assumed the lead, which he held for the remainder of the race. Moss was impressively running in third place in the early stages, behind Farina and Taruffi, before he had to stop. Moss and Macklin withdrew from the race. The main battle was between Behra and Simon, for second place (once Farina had retired). When Behra had to stop, due to his exhaust pipe having fallen off, Farina, who had taken over Simon's car, assumed second place. However, further problems meant that he once again had to retire, on lap 51, handing second to local driver Rudi Fischer. The Swiss driver took his first Championship podium, being the only driver not to be lapped by Taruffi, who took his first (and only) World Championship race victory. Behra completed the podium, taking third on debut, while Ken Wharton (fourth) and Alan Brown (fifth) took the first points finishes for Frazer Nash and Cooper, respectively.[3]

Entries

No Driver Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre
2 Hans Stuck AFM AFM-Küchen AFM 6 Küchen 2.0 V8 E
4 Toni Ulmen Toni Ulmen Veritas Veritas Meteor Veritas 2.0 L6 D
6 Jean Behra Equipe Gordini Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 E
8 Robert Manzon Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 E
10 Prince Bira Simca-Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 E
12 Louis Rosier Ecurie Rosier Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 D
14 Maurice Trintignant Ferrari Ferrari 166F2-50 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 P
16 George Abecassis HW Motors HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
18 Peter Collins HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
20 Lance Macklin HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
22 Ken Wharton Scuderia Franera Frazer Nash-Bristol Frazer Nash FN48 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D
24 Eric Brandon Ecurie Richmond Cooper-Bristol Cooper T20 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D
26 Alan Brown Cooper-Bristol Cooper T20 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D
28 Nino Farina Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
30 Piero Taruffi Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
32 André Simon1 Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
34 Juan Manuel Fangio2 Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
36 José Froilán González2 Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
38 Toulo de Graffenried Enrico Platé Maserati-Platé Maserati 4CLT-48 Platé 2.0 L4 P
40 Harry Schell Maserati-Platé Maserati 4CLT-48 Platé 2.0 L4 P
42 Rudi Fischer Ecurie Espadon Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
44 Peter Hirt3 Ferrari Ferrari 212 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 P
46 Stirling Moss HW Motors HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
50 Max de Terra4 Alfred Dattner Simca-Gordini Simca-Gordini T11 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 E
Sources: [4][5]
^1 — André Simon qualified and drove 21 laps of the race in the #32 Ferrari. Nino Farina, whose own vehicle had already retired, took over the car for a further 30 laps before again being forced to retire.[6]
^2 — Juan Manuel Fangio and José Froilán González, whose cars were unavailable, withdrew from the event prior to practice.[7]
^3 — Peter Hirt qualified and drove the entire race in the #44 Ferrari. Rudolf Schoeller, named substitute driver for the car, was not used during the Grand Prix.[8]
^4 — Max de Terra drove the #50 Simca-Gordini in the race. Alfred Dattner, who was also entered in the same car, was unable to take part in the Grand Prix due to illness.[7]

Classification

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Constructor Time Gap
1 28 Nino Farina Ferrari 2:47.5 –
2 30 Piero Taruffi Ferrari 2:50.1 + 2.6
3 8 Robert Manzon Gordini 2:52.1 + 4.6
4 32 André Simon Ferrari 2:52.4 + 4.9
5 42 Rudi Fischer Ferrari 2:53.3 + 5.8
6 18 Peter Collins HWM-Alta 2:55.9 + 8.4
7 6 Jean Behra Gordini 2:55.9 + 8.4
8 38 Toulo de Graffenried Maserati-Platé 2:56.4 + 8.9
9 46 Stirling Moss HWM-Alta 2:56.4 + 8.9
10 16 George Abecassis HWM-Alta 2:56.9 + 9.4
11 10 Prince Bira Simca-Gordini 2:59.3 + 11.8
12 20 Lance Macklin HWM-Alta 3:00.2 + 12.7
13 22 Ken Wharton Frazer Nash-Bristol 3:00.9 + 13.4
14 2 Hans Stuck AFM 3:01.7 + 14.2
15 26 Alan Brown Cooper-Bristol 3:02.5 + 15.0
16 4 Toni Ulmen Veritas 3:05.6 + 18.1
17 24 Eric Brandon Cooper-Bristol 3:05.8 + 18.3
18 40 Harry Schell Maserati-Platé 3:07.6 + 20.1
19 44 Peter Hirt Ferrari 3:10.2 + 22.7
20 12 Louis Rosier Ferrari No time –
21 50 Max de Terra Simca-Gordini No time –
22 14 Maurice Trintignant Ferrari No time –

Race

Pos No Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 30 Piero Taruffi Ferrari 62 3:01:46.1 2 91
2 42 Rudi Fischer Ferrari 62 +2:37.2 5 6
3 6 Jean Behra Gordini 61 +1 lap 7 4
4 22 Ken Wharton Frazer Nash-Bristol 60 +2 laps 13 3
5 26 Alan Brown Cooper-Bristol 59 +3 laps 15 2
6 38 Toulo de Graffenried Maserati-Platé 58 +4 laps 8
7 44 Peter Hirt Ferrari 56 +6 laps 19
8 24 Eric Brandon Cooper-Bristol 55 +7 laps 17
Ret 10 Prince Bira Simca-Gordini 52 Engine 11
Ret 32 André Simon
Nino Farina 		Ferrari 51 Magneto 4
Ret 40 Harry Schell Maserati-Platé 31 Engine 18
Ret 46 Stirling Moss HWM-Alta 24 Withdrew 9
Ret 20 Lance Macklin HWM-Alta 24 Withdrew 12
Ret 8 Robert Manzon Gordini 20 Radiator 3
Ret 28 Nino Farina Ferrari 16 Magneto 1
Ret 18 Peter Collins HWM-Alta 12 Halfshaft 6
Ret 16 George Abecassis HWM-Alta 12 Halfshaft 10
Ret 2 Hans Stuck AFM 4 Engine 14
Ret 4 Toni Ulmen Veritas 4 Fuel leak 16
Ret 12 Louis Rosier Ferrari 2 Accident 20
Ret 50 Max de Terra Simca-Gordini 1 Magneto 21
DNS 14 Maurice Trintignant Ferrari 0 Engine 22
Source: [9]
Notes
  • ^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lap

Shared drive

  • Farina (33 laps) took over from Simon (18) after Farina retired from the race.

Championship standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
Pos Driver Points
1 Piero Taruffi 9
2 Rudi Fischer 6
3 Jean Behra 4
4 Ken Wharton 3
5 Alan Brown 2
Source: [10]
  • Note: Only the top five positions are listed. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship.

References

  1. ^ Back home in Europe, Mercedes-Benz team still wanted Rudolf Caracciola but he decided to compete only on a limited basis. He drove a works Mercedes-Benz 220 in the 1952 Rallye de Monte-Carlo, then he finished fourth with P. Kurrle as co-driver in the 1952 Mille Miglia, the race he had won 21 years before, at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 300SL. Finally, a broken leg at the Bern Grand Prix at Bremgarten ended his career. On 14th lap of the Formula 1 Swiss Grand Prix sportscar support race, held on 18 May 1952, he went off the road and crashed into a tree, because of a blocking rear wheel. He was once again in direct duel with his old rival and team mate Lang. That same day, also the Swiss Grand Prix motorcycle and sidecar events were marred by a number of accidents that resulted in the deaths of two competitors, Ercole Frigerio and Dave Bennett. - http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/LWFWIW/focusLWFWIW.php?db=LWF&db2=ms&n=797
  2. ^ Autosport, July 18, 1952 p. 68 The injuries sustained by Rudi Caracciola when he crashed in his Mercedes-Benz at Berne are not so serious as was first believed. He is convalescing rapidly, and fully expects to be fit to drive a 300 SL Mercedes-Benz in the "Grosser Jubiläumpreis vom Nürburgring" on 3rd August, which precedes the German Grand Prix. - https://porschecarshistory.com/wp-content/old/lib/magazines/autosport/1952/AS1952.07.18.pdf
  3. ^ "Swiss GP, 1952 Race Report". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  4. ^ "1952 Swiss Grand Prix - Race Entries". manipef1.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  5. ^ "1952 Swiss GP - Entry List". chicanef1.com. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Swiss Grand Prix 1952 - Results". ESPN F1. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Switzerland 1952 - Result". statsf1.com. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Switzerland 1952 - Race entrants". statsf1.com. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  9. ^ "1952 Swiss Grand Prix". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Switzerland 1952 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.


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