1954 French Grand Prix
The 1954 French Grand Prix was the second race of the 1954 Formula One World Championship and was held in Reims on May 30th 1954. The race was won by Robert Manzon, who scored his third of five career race victories. Eventual world champion B. Bira scored second place, the first in a series of six consecutive second places. Porfirio Rubirosa finished third, scoring his first points and Scuderia Ambrosiana's only podium.
Background
The Monaco Grand Prix was spectacular in more ways than one, with a first-time winner in Jack Brabham, a brilliant podium for Anglo-Italia, an intra-team collision at ART and a car flipping into the Monaco harbour (luckily without injury to Giuseppe Farina). Reims would have a hard time living up to such excitement, but it did have something that Monaco didn't: an absolutely enormous entry list. A total of 52 drivers had been entered for this race, beating the previous record of 47 from the previous season's Belgian Grand Prix.
Following on their Monaco success, Scuderia Anglo-Italia brought three cars to Reims. Taruffi drove the O.S.C.A.-Bentley, Manfred von Brauchitsch the Bentley-O.S.C.A. and Gonzalez a full O.S.C.A. package.
After a lack of organisation forced Balkan Eagle to miss Monaco, they were back with the complete line-up of Jones, Fischer and Gordini.
Reatherson began their season at Reims with Lance Macklin in the Bentley-Jaguar.
Anglo Racing Engineering did so as well with Fred Wacker in works-level Gordini machinery.
Erne Racing Development entered two cars for the first time for the Argentine duo of Marimon and Mieres in Aston-Jags.
RRAC switched from Bueb in a Maserati to Hamilton in a Bentley-Mercedes.
ENB began their season at Reims as well, with Pilette in a brand-new Bentley.
EMW did so as well with the previous year's car. Hans Herrmann was behind the wheel.
Geoff Richardson started his first race as a privateer in nearly three years with a new Bentley.
F.H. Warden returned to competition with the 1953 car and driver.
Officine Renzo made their first appearance with three O.S.C.A. packages, two of them rented from O.S.C.A. itself. Marzotto, Rol and de Graffenried would drive the cars.
Ecurie Albertini returned as well after three years of absence, with Elie Bayol driving an O.S.C.A.-Ferrari.
Race weekend
Championship standings
Pos | Driver | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | Jack Brabham | 9 |
2 | Robert Manzon | 9 |
3 | José Froilán González | 6 |
4 | B. Bira | 6 |
5 | Dorino Serafini | 6 |
Pos | Constructor | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | Ferrari | 12 |
2 | Gordini | 10 |
3 | Aston Martin-Jaguar | 8 |
4 | O.S.C.A.-Bentley | 6 |
5 | Ambrosiana-Alfa Romeo | 4 |
Pos | Driver | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | Scuderia Ferrari | 12 |
2 | Alexander Racing Team - Gordini | 10 |
3 | Jaguar - Aston Martin Racing | 8 |
4 | / Scuderia Anglo-Italia | 6 |
5 | Scuderia Ambrosiana | 4 |
- Only the top five positions are listed.
Previous race: 1954 Monaco Grand Prix |
Alternate Formula 1 World Championship 1954 Season |
Next race: 1954 Belgian Grand Prix |
Previous race: 1953 French Grand Prix |
French Grand Prix | Next race: 1955 French Grand Prix |