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1955 Avon Trophy

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1955 Avon Trophy
Non-championship race in the 1955 Formula One season
Race details
Date 1 October 1955
Official name I Avon Trophy
Location Castle Combe Circuit, Wilts.
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 2.961 km (1.84 miles)
Distance 55 laps, 162.831 km (101.2 miles)
Pole position
Driver Vanwall
Time 1:14.4
Fastest lap
Driver United States Harry Schell Vanwall
Time 1:13.6
Podium
First Vanwall
Second Maserati
Third Cooper-Bristol

The I Avon Trophy was a non-championship Grand Prix which was held at the Castle Combe Circuit on 1 October 1955, three weeks after the end of the season. It was the inaugural running of the Avon Trophy, and the last race run to Formula One regulations to be held at the circuit.

The race was won from pole by American, Harry Schell, ahead of privateer Horace Gould, in second and Bob Gerard in third.

Background

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The Castle Combe circuit, converted from an airfield just five years earlier, welcomed Formula One racing for the fourth consecutive year, having hosted the Joe Fry Memorial Trophy in previous years.

The inaugural Avon Trophy, although post-season and non-championship, was attended by numerous championship contenders from the 1955 season, as well as some new faces ahead of 1956. Among those who entered the race were American, Harry Schell, privateer Horace Gould and Frenchman, Louis Rosier. Peter Collins and future championship runner-up, Tony Brooks also attended.

Classification

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Qualifying

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Pos No. Driver Constructor Time/Gap Grid
1 26 United States Harry Schell Vanwall 1m14.4 1
2 6 United Kingdom Horace Gould Maserati +0.6 2
3 12 United Kingdom Bob Gerard Cooper-Bristol +0.6 3
4 30 United Kingdom Tony Brooks Connaught-Lea-Francis +2.6 4
5 10 United Kingdom Roy Salvadori Maserati +2.8 5
6 4 France Louis Rosier Maserati +3.2 6
7 40 United Kingdom Graham Whitehead Connaught-Lea-Francis +3.2 7
8 2 United Kingdom Peter Walker Connaught-Alta +4.4 8
9 20 United Kingdom Paul Emery Emeryson-Alta +5.8 9
10 34 United Kingdom Tom Kyffin Cooper-Bristol +9.0 10
11 28 United Kingdom Alastair Birrell Cooper-Bristol +12.4 11
12 32 United Kingdom Dick Gibson Connaught-Lea-Francis +12.4 12
13 14 United Kingdom Peter Collins Maserati unknown 13
14 18 United Kingdom Michael Young Connaught-Alta unknown 14
DNA 8 United Kingdom Les Leston Maserati
DNA 16 United Kingdom Ron Flockhart BRM
DNA 22 United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn Ferrari
DNA 36 United Kingdom Bruce Halford Cooper-Bristol
DNA 38 United Kingdom John Young Connaught-Lea-Francis

Race

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Pos No. Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired
1 26 United States Harry Schell Vanwall 55 1:10:32.8
2 6 United Kingdom Horace Gould Maserati 55 +20.0 s
3 12 United Kingdom Bob Gerard Cooper-Bristol 55 +32.6 s
4 10 United Kingdom Roy Salvadori Maserati 55
5 30 United Kingdom Tony Brooks Connaught-Lea-Francis 54
6 40 United Kingdom Graham Whitehead Connaught-Lea-Francis 54
7 32 United Kingdom Dick Gibson Connaught-Lea-Francis 53
8 2 United Kingdom Peter Walker Connaught-Alta Gearbox
9 18 United Kingdom Michael Young Connaught-Alta
10 20 United Kingdom Paul Emery Emeryson-Alta
Ret 4 France Louis Rosier Maserati 18 Broken shock absorber
Ret 14 United Kingdom Peter Collins Maserati 9 De Dion tube
Ret 28 United Kingdom Alastair Birrell Cooper-Bristol
Ret 34 United Kingdom Tom Kyffin Cooper-Bristol

References

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Previous race:
1955 International Gold Cup
Formula One non-championship races
1955 season
Next race:
1955 Syracuse Grand Prix
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