1955 Grand Prix de Rouen-les-Essarts

The 1955 Grand Prix de Rouen-les-Essarts was a non-championship Formula One race held at Rouen-les-Essarts on 9 April 1955. Ran concurrently with the 1955 Singapore Grand Prix, the race was the scene of the first F1 appearances by the B.C.M.A. and Irish Racing Cars teams, as well as drivers Tony Brooks and Desmond Titterington, who would become two of the championship's most celebrated and tragic figures. The weekend was dominated by eventual three-time world champion Jack Brabham in his first race for Alfa Romeo.

Race report

Brabham got the best getaway and led the first lap from Farina and Macklin, while further back, André Simon stalled on the grid with a burnt-out clutch. Stan Jones quickly fell down the order as Manzon rose through it, while qualifying surprise Ottorino Volonterio retired on the second lap with a blown gearbox. Manzon's promising start, however, was quickly ended when André Pilette rather optimistically tried to pass him at Sanson. The Belgian tappde his rear wheel, sending the Frenchman spinning into the trackside ditch, almost taking Tony Gaze with him.

On lap 5, Farina caught and passed Brabham for the lead. Brown almost crashed into Titterington too, but both continued after the slight touch. Tony Gaze's engine promptly expired, reducing the field to 16. Brabham took the lead again on lap 8, setting the fastest lap in the process. Brooks simultaneously retired from a promising 8th place with an oil leak. Behind the dominant Alfa Romeos, Lance Macklin's brilliant run in third place was ended on lap 13 when Rubirosa finally passed him, closely followed by André Pilette. Halfway through the 30-lap race, Brabham led from Farina, who almost crashed into his teammate, Rubirosa, Pilette, Macklin, Jones, de Filippis, Marzotto, Gordini, de Graffenried, Brown, Behra, de Portago, Titterington and Rosier.

Shortly thereafter, Pilette span out on oil or possibly karma. His race was over a few laps after ending Manzon's. Just behind him, Jones took the opportunity to pass Macklin for what was now fourth place. But then, on lap 20, the race changed as Farina, trying to find a way past Brabham, span off at la Scierie, striking the earthbank and ending his race. He had been seemingly trying too hard this race to assert dominance over the Australian, who himself appeared to be effortlessly maintaining his lead. Could this be the turning point in the Italian champion's career?

On lap 23, a very surreal sight was observed as Lance Macklin and Maria Teresa de Filippis, both fighting for fourth place, saw their engines catch fire within seconds of each other. They both got out of their cars and looked at the other, more confused than anything. This left Brabham to lead from Rubirosa, the unexpected Stan Jones in the Balkan Leader, Marzotto, de Portago and Gordini. These last two would fight over fifth place with Toulo de Graffenried and Desmond Titterington.

But on this day, no one could stop the dominant Jack Brabham, winning by a long, long way over Porfirio Rubirosa in his first drive for Gordini. The ecstatic Stan Jones finished third. Marzotto was fourth, a bit closer behind. For fifth, Alfonso de Portago's Loyer won the battle for fifth place ahead of Aldo Gordini for ARE, Titterington for IRA and de Graffenried for Voeckler.

Classification

Entry list

No	Driver	Entrant	Chassis	Engine
2	Maurice Trintignant	Jaguar - Aston Martin Racing	Aston Martin AM-04	Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
4	Dries van der Lof	Asso di Fiori	Aston Martin AM-04	Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
6	Hans Herrmann	Rennkollektiv EMW	EMW 01	Mercedes UM153 4.5 V10
8	Jack Brabham	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 555	Ferrari 555 2.5 L4
10	Anne Hall	BRUNEL	Bentley Speed 3	Bentley 163-1 3.0 V16
12	Ron Flockhart	Officine Alfieri Maserati	Maserati AM53	Maserati 200F 2.0 L6
14	José Froilán González	O.S.C.A. Automobili	O.S.C.A. 53	O.S.C.A. 3000V8 3.0 V8
16	Bernie Ecclestone	Mercedes-Benz Team Europe	Mercedes-Benz WM-2	Mercedes UM153 4.5 V10
18	Roger Laurent	Ecurie Nationale Belge	Maserati AM53	Maserati 200F 2.0 L6
20	John Fitch	Assasti Millanti	Leader LF153	Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
22	Louis Chiron	Leader	Leader LF153	O.S.C.A. 156s 1.5 L6s
24	Stan Jones	Balkan Eagle	Alfa Romeo AR160	Balkan Lion F154 1.5 L4
26	Robert Manzon	/ Alexander Racing Team-Gordini	Gordini G-953	Gordini ART-004 3.0 V6
28	Peter Collins		Gordini G-953	Gordini ART-004 3.0 V6
30	B. Bira	Jaguar - Aston Martin Racing	Aston Martin AM-04	Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
32	Roberto Mieres	Erne Racing Development	Aston Martin AM-04	Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
34	Ottorino Volonterio	Ottorino Volonterio	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
36	Geoff Richardson	Geoff Richardson	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
38	Duncan Hamilton	Duncan Hamilton	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
40	Roger Loyer	Roger Loyer	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
42	Alan Brown	Alan Brown	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
44	Herman Roosdorp	Herman Roosdorp	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
46	Dennis Poore	Dennis Poore	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
48	Vladimir Wojciechowski	Vladimir Wojciechowski	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
50	Bill Vukovich	Bill Vukovich	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
52	Simone des Forest	Simone des Forest	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
54	Francesco Severi	Francesco Severi	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
56	Paco Godia	Paco Godia	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
58	Juan Jover	Juan Jover	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4
60	Adolfo Schwelm-Cruz	Adolfo Schwelm-Cruz	HWM 53	Alta GP 2.5 L4

Qualifying

Pos	No	Driver	Constructor	Time	Gap
1	28	Peter Collins	Gordini	1:34.24	-
2	2	Maurice Trintignant	Aston Martin-Jaguar	1:34.64	+ 0.40
3	30	B. Bira	Aston Martin-Jaguar	1:34.95	+ 0.71
4	26	Robert Manzon	Gordini	1:35.38	+ 1.14
5	4	Dries van der Lof	Aston Martin-Jaguar	1:35.96	+ 1.72
6	14	José Froilán González	O.S.C.A.	1:37.18	+ 2.94
7	8	Jack Brabham	Ferrari	1:37.36	+ 4.19
8	22	Louis Chiron	Leader-O.S.C.A.	1:39.20	+ 4.96
9	16	Bernie Ecclestone	Mercedes	1:40.37	+ 6.13
10	20	John Fitch	Leader-Jaguar	1:41.03	+ 6.79
11	32	Roberto Mieres	Aston Martin-Jaguar	1:41.26	+ 7.02
12	18	Roger Laurent	Maserati	1:41.44	+ 7.20
13	10	Anne Hall	Bentley	1:41.92	+ 7.68
14	6	Hans Herrmann	EMW-Mercedes	1:42.32	+ 8.08
15	56	Paco Godia	HWM-Alta	1:42.49	+ 8.25
16	60	Adolfo Schwelm-Cruz	HWM-Alta	1:42.51	+ 8.27
17	56	Duncan Hamilton	HWM-Alta	1:42.65	+ 8.41
18	50	Bill Vukovich	HWM-Alta	1:42.77	+ 8.53
19	48	Vladimir Wojciechowski	HWM-Alta	1:43.24	+ 9.00
20	40	Roger Loyer	HWM-Alta	1:43.33	+ 9.09
21	36	Geoff Richardson	HWM-Alta	1:43.41	+ 9.17
22	44	Herman Roosdorp	HWM-Alta	1:43.51	+ 9.27
23	58	Juan Jover	HWM-Alta	1:43.54	+ 9.30
24	52	Simone des Forest	HWM-Alta	1:43.99	+ 9.75
25	34	Ottorino Volonterio	HWM-Alta	1:44.05	+ 9.81
26	42	Alan Brown	HWM-Alta	1:44.09	+ 9.85
27	46	Dennis Poore	HWM-Alta	1:44.13	+ 9.89
28	54	Francesco Severi	HWM-Alta	1:44.94	+ 10.70
29	12	Ron Flockhart	Maserati	No time	-
30	24	Stan Jones	Alfa Romeo-Balkan Lion	No time	-

Race

Pos	No	Driver	Team	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid
1	30	B. Bira	Aston Martin-Jaguar	73	2:00:33.03	3
2	4	Dries van der Lof	Aston Martin-Jaguar	73	+19.53	5
3	26	Robert Manzon	Gordini	73	+20.25	4
4	10	Anne Hall	Bentley	68	+5 laps	13
5	40	Roger Loyer	HWM-Alta	66	+7 laps	20
Ret	50	Bill Vukovich	HWM-Alta	62	Engine	18
Ret	14	José Froilán González	O.S.C.A.	59	Spin	6
Ret	20	John Fitch	Leader-Jaguar	48	Spin	10
Ret	36	Geoff Richardson	HWM-Alta	35	Accident	21
Ret	60	Adolfo Schwelm Cruz	HWM-Alta	30	Accident	16
Ret	18	Roger Laurent	Maserati	23	Collision	12
Ret	28	Peter Collins	Gordini	12	Accident	1
Ret	16	Bernie Ecclestone	Mercedes	11	Accident	9
Ret	56	Paco Godia	HWM-Alta	11	Collision	15
Ret	32	Roberto Mieres	Aston Martin-Jaguar	10	Accident	11
Ret	6	Hans Herrmann	EMW-Mercedes	10	Spin	14
Ret	44	Herman Roosdorp	HWM-Alta	10	Gearbox	22
Ret	48	Vladimir Wojciechowski	HWM-Alta	6	Engine	19
Ret	8	Jack Brabham	Ferrari	4	Collision	7
Ret	22	Louis Chiron	Leader-O.S.C.A.	4	Collision	8
DNS	2	Maurice Trintignant	Aston Martin-Jaguar		Gearbox	2
DNS	56	Duncan Hamilton	HWM-Alta		Engine	17
DNQ	58	Juan Jover	HWM-Alta
DNQ	52	Simone des Forest	HWM-Alta
DNQ	34	Ottorino Volonterio	HWM-Alta
DNQ	42	Alan Brown	HWM-Alta
DNQ	46	Dennis Poore	HWM-Alta
DNQ	54	Francesco Severi	HWM-Alta
DNQ	12	Ron Flockhart	Maserati
DNQ	24	Stan Jones	Alfa Romeo-Balkan Lion