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.
| 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 |
 Harry Schell | Vanwall | |
| Time | 1:13.6 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Vanwall | ||
| Second | Maserati | ||
| Third | Cooper-Bristol | ||
The race was won from pole by American, Harry Schell, ahead of privateer Horace Gould, in second and Bob Gerard in third.
Background edit
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 edit
Qualifying edit
| Pos | No. | Driver | Constructor | Time/Gap | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | Harry Schell |
Vanwall | 1m14.4 | 1 |
| 2 | 6 |  Horace Gould |
Maserati | +0.6 | 2 |
| 3 | 12 | Bob Gerard |
Cooper-Bristol | +0.6 | 3 |
| 4 | 30 | Tony Brooks |
Connaught-Lea-Francis | +2.6 | 4 |
| 5 | 10 | Roy Salvadori |
Maserati | +2.8 | 5 |
| 6 | 4 |  Louis Rosier |
Maserati | +3.2 | 6 |
| 7 | 40 | Graham Whitehead |
Connaught-Lea-Francis | +3.2 | 7 |
| 8 | 2 | Peter Walker |
Connaught-Alta | +4.4 | 8 |
| 9 | 20 | Paul Emery |
Emeryson-Alta | +5.8 | 9 |
| 10 | 34 | Tom Kyffin |
Cooper-Bristol | +9.0 | 10 |
| 11 | 28 | Alastair Birrell |
Cooper-Bristol | +12.4 | 11 |
| 12 | 32 | Dick Gibson |
Connaught-Lea-Francis | +12.4 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | Peter Collins |
Maserati | unknown | 13 |
| 14 | 18 | Michael Young |
Connaught-Alta | unknown | 14 |
| DNA | 8 | Les Leston |
Maserati | ||
| DNA | 16 | Ron Flockhart |
BRM | ||
| DNA | 22 | Mike Hawthorn |
Ferrari | ||
| DNA | 36 | Bruce Halford |
Cooper-Bristol | ||
| DNA | 38 | John Young |
Connaught-Lea-Francis |
Race edit
| Pos | No. | Driver | Constructor | Laps | Time/Retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | Harry Schell |
Vanwall | 55 | 1:10:32.8 |
| 2 | 6 | Horace Gould |
Maserati | 55 | +20.0 s |
| 3 | 12 | Bob Gerard |
Cooper-Bristol | 55 | +32.6 s |
| 4 | 10 | Roy Salvadori |
Maserati | 55 | |
| 5 | 30 | Tony Brooks |
Connaught-Lea-Francis | 54 | |
| 6 | 40 | Graham Whitehead |
Connaught-Lea-Francis | 54 | |
| 7 | 32 | Dick Gibson |
Connaught-Lea-Francis | 53 | |
| 8 | 2 | Peter Walker |
Connaught-Alta | Gearbox | |
| 9 | 18 | Michael Young |
Connaught-Alta | ||
| 10 | 20 | Paul Emery |
Emeryson-Alta | ||
| Ret | 4 | Louis Rosier |
Maserati | 18 | Broken shock absorber |
| Ret | 14 | Peter Collins |
Maserati | 9 | De Dion tube |
| Ret | 28 | Alastair Birrell |
Cooper-Bristol | ||
| Ret | 34 | Tom Kyffin |
Cooper-Bristol |