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
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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 | - |
