Victories:

1951 German GP

1951 Italian GP

1952 Belgian GP

1952 French GP

1952 British GP

1952 German GP

1952 Dutch GP

1952 Italian GP

1953 Argentinian GP

1953 Dutch GP

1953 Belgian GP

1953 British GP

1953 Swiss GP

Alberto Ascari (1918-1955)

It was 22nd May 1955 Grand Prix of Monaco was on a final stage. Alberto Ascari and his Lancia D50 was straining every sinew in his body to overtake the race leader, Stirling Moss, driving Mercedes. It was 77th lap and he was catching up with Moss by three seconds per lap. Quick calculation showed that he would pass him on the final lap...

Season 1954 must have been really frustrating for the double World Champion from seasons 1952-53. In January 1954 he decided to leave the Scuderia Ferrari and move into the Lancia team, which planned to make its Grand Prix debut in that year. The car design progress was really slow and the presentation of the vehicle was being delayed. To make matters worse, the Mercedes team announced his comeback to Formula 1 in July's French GP. According to this situation, Ascari and his friend Luigi Villoresi were employed by the Maserati team in order to defend the Italian supremacy. However, Fangio and Kling driving Mercedeses demolished all their opponents. Only 6 out of 21 cars crossed the finish line and Ascari overheated his engine during pursuit after Mercedeses on the second lap.

After disappointing performance in the Maserati team, Italian returned to the Scuderia Ferrari for his national race. Alberto qualified on the second position, but on the six lap he moved into the lead. Race became the battle between Ascari and Moss. However, on the 49th lap Ferrari's engine exploded and few seconds later Maserati's Moss went into a skid causing his retirement. This was a terrible day for all Italy because for the first time in history Italian car had not won the Grand Prix of Italy and German's Mercedes driven by Fangio managed to gain his first victory in Monza.

The Lancia team prepared his red vehicle for the final race of that season in Spain. Ascari made a wonderful start and by the 8th lap he gained an enormous advantage. Despite the great performance, on the 9th lap Lancia suddenl slowed down and Ascari had to retire again, that time because of clutch failure. The race was won by Ferrari driver Hawthorn, but the title came to Fangio.

The Grand Prix of Argentina in January 1955 was not also lucky for the Lancia team, however, two victories in other prestigious races, make the future bright for the team.

And back in Monaco... On the 81st lap Moss went into the pit and retired. On 50th lap Fangio had broken his transmission and also withdrew. It seemed obvious that the Lancia team was going to grab its first victory ever.

When on that lap Ascari was passing casino and going down the hill, fans started to wave, so as to tell him that his the leader. Ascari thought that something wrong is with his car. It slipped his mind for a moment, when he was in the tunnel. Having came out of the tunnel with an extremely high speed, he noticed that he would not be able to run through the Hairpin. He decided to break barriers and come into sea. Concealed among the pales was an iron bollard, but Ascari missed it by 25cm.

Engine steam mixing with dust and parts of the car, fans around the circuit held a breath for a few seconds. However, the blue helmet appeared on the water and was taken into the nearest boat.

The race was won by Ferrari's Trintignan, who drove calmly but steady during whole race. Meanwhile Ascari was coming to in a hospital, where he had his nose bandagged. It was a miracle.

Four days later during practice at Monza circuit Ascari intended to drive few laps in a sport Ferrari. When he was getting into the Parabolica Curve his car suddenly slipped and somersaulted twice. Thrown out at the high speed Ascari suffered several injuries and few minutes later died.

Alberto Ascari was born on 13th July 1918 in Milano. His father Antonio was the greatest driver of his time. Alberto must have inherited his talent from him. When Alberto was 7 his father died during the French Grand Prix. Then he decided to become the race driver. In 1940 he started in Mille Miglia on his own motorcycle.

After the Second World War he restarted his career in 1947. He bought Maserati 4CLT and collected with his friend Villoresi 5 milion lires to create their own team. They participated in races in northern Italy and in 1948 they achieved the greatest success coming third in the French Grand Prix on Alfa Romeo 158.

Enzo Ferrari, who was a great friend of Antonio Ascari, was interested in Alberto's results, so he employed him and Villoresi to the Scuderia Ferrari. In 1949 Ascari won five races and also the Peron Grand Prix in Buenos Aires.

The following year he got 9 victories for Ferrari and in 1951 six, but Ferrari was still overshadowed by the Alfa Romeo team. The greatest season for Ascari was 1952. He had not raced in the Swiss GP, in Indianapolis he had a tyre failure, but in the next races he claimed 6 victories and became the 1953 World Champion. In 1953 he managed to defend his crown, as a first driver ever.

Ascari- the World Champion.

Ascari's death was a national tragedy. Telegrams of sympathy were received from three foreign ministers.From the front columns of the Church of San Carlo al Corso hung black drapes and a huge inscription: "On the Last Finish Line, meet, O lord, the soul of Alberto Ascari.". At the funeral at the Plazza del Duomo participated over a milion of fans and the nosiest place in Italy became so quiet that the phones in houses could be heard. The five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio said that the only man who could challenge and beat me had died.

Three days later Lancia suspended his racing programme and gave it to Scuderia Ferrari.