We were discussing the streamlined version of the 250F at last weekend's Early Birds meeting, are whether it was eligible, as no one was quite sure if it had competed in a Grand Prix.
Most of us remembered it practicing at Rheims in 1956 but not racing, however I can confirm that it ran in the 1955 Italian GP driven by Jean Behra (chassis 2518) and finished 4th.
Harry Schell also drove it to 5th place in the non championship Syracuse GP. It's 3rd and final appearance was the following year at Rheims.
Here, the team were unable to get the combination of a 5 speed gearbox and the servo for the disc brakes working effectively, and the car was not used for the race.
These seem to be the only 3 appearances of the car as it was soon after destroyed in a fire at the factory.
Dennis Jenkinson wrote at the time : When the car was being warmed up stationary, the heat from the enclosed exhaust pipe invariably set fire to the paintwork of the top of the body panels.
It was standard practice for a mechanic to stand by with a can of water and pour cold water over everything as soon as the paint started to blister.
Thus the streamlined car gave a good imitation of a steam laundry.
Entertaining it must have been, and certainly eligible for future EB meetings.
Mark
Most of us remembered it practicing at Rheims in 1956 but not racing, however I can confirm that it ran in the 1955 Italian GP driven by Jean Behra (chassis 2518) and finished 4th.
Harry Schell also drove it to 5th place in the non championship Syracuse GP. It's 3rd and final appearance was the following year at Rheims.
Here, the team were unable to get the combination of a 5 speed gearbox and the servo for the disc brakes working effectively, and the car was not used for the race.
These seem to be the only 3 appearances of the car as it was soon after destroyed in a fire at the factory.
Dennis Jenkinson wrote at the time : When the car was being warmed up stationary, the heat from the enclosed exhaust pipe invariably set fire to the paintwork of the top of the body panels.
It was standard practice for a mechanic to stand by with a can of water and pour cold water over everything as soon as the paint started to blister.
Thus the streamlined car gave a good imitation of a steam laundry.
Entertaining it must have been, and certainly eligible for future EB meetings.
Mark
