'Nino' Farina enters history as the first ever winner of a World Championship event
A sunny spring day and the chance of seeing the giants of motor racing competing for the first ever world title brought crowd in excess of 100,000 to the sleepy Northamptonshire village of Silverstone.
The venue could hardly cope with the crowds and many of those present managed to get in free of charge. Before the race the competitors, including Britain's favourite Reg Parnell, driving in a one-off race for Alfa Romeo, were introduced to the King, George VI, and his family.
A total of twenty one cars lined up on the grid for this historic race; although they could hardly be said to have been closely competitive. A total of eighteen seconds separated pole position, held by Dr Giuseppe Farina, and the back marker, Belgian bandleader Johnny Claes.
The cars were a mish-mash of pre-war ERA voiturettes and converted sportscars such as the Talbots, while the drivers were drawn from a similar mixed bag. At the front were the Alfetta's of Farina, Fangio and Fagioli with the likes of pre-war racers such as Chiron and Etancelin filling up the field. The race organisers used Hanger Straight as the pits and the cars were then required to make a sharp right along the old runway before re-joining the main circuit.
As the flag went down Argentina's Juan Manuel Fangio made the running but he retired just eight laps from the end with a blown engine. This handed the race to team-mate Farina who led home Luigi Fagioli and local man, Reg Parnell for an Alfa Romeo 1-2-3.
Few could have called it a close run race with the Alfa running some two laps ahead of the closest competition. Regardless of this, it was a start, and the sheer size of the crowd told the organisers of the new world championship contest that their idea was a valid one.
Notes
The race was also known as the European Grand Prix |
