A superb and rare photo of Alberto Ascari in
his illustrious Ferrari “Type 500” (with straight four engine) Formula 1 race
car, on his way to victory
in the 1952 Dutch Grand Prix,
which was ridden at the Zandvoort
circuit.
Ascari went on to win the 1952 Formula One World
Championship title with the photographed Ferrari.
Alberto
Ascari
was an Italian racing driver and Formula One World Champion in 1952 and 1953. He is one of only two Italian Formula One World
Champions in the history of the sport. Born in Milan, Ascari was the son of Antonio Ascari,
a talented Grand Prix motor racing star in the 1920s, racing Alfa Romeos. Antonio was killed while leading the French Grand
Prix in 1925 but the younger Ascari had an interest in racing in spite of it.
He raced motorcycles in his earlier years; it was after he entered the
prestigious Mille
Miglia in a Ferrari sports car that
he eventually started racing on four wheels regularly. Following the end of
World War II Alberto Ascari began racing in Grands Prix with Maserati. Formula
One regulations were introduced by the FIA in 1946, with the aim of eventually
replacing the pre-war Grand Prix structure. During the next four transitional
years, Ascari was at the top of his game, winning numerous events around Europe. He won his first Grand Prix race in Sanremo, Italy
in 1948 and took second place in the British Grand Prix the same year. Ascari
won another race with the team the following year. His biggest success came
after he joined Villoresi on the Ferrari team; he won three more races that
year with them. The first Formula One World Championship season took place in
1950, and the Ferrari team made its World Championship debut at Monte Carlo with Ascari,
Villoresi, and the popular French driver Raymond Sommer
on the team. Ascari finished 2nd in the race and later in the year shared a 2nd
place at the first World Championship race at Monza. He was only 5th in the championship
standings however. He won his first World Championship F1 race the following
season on the Nürburgring circuit and added a win at Monza, finishing runner up
in the championship to Juan Manuel Fangio. With success in Europe, Enzo Ferrari
supplied a car for Ascari in the Indianapolis
500, at the time a World Championship event, in 1952. He was the only European
driver to race at Indy in its 11 years on the World
Championship schedule, but his day ended after 40 laps. That was the only World
Championship event in which he competed that season that he didn't win.
Ascari's Ferrari Tipo 500 dominated 1952, winning all six races in Europe that season and recording the fastest lap in each
race. He nearly scored the maximum amount of points a driver could earn, but
drivers were given points for fastest laps at the time, and he had to share a
half point with another driver in one race. He won three more consecutive races
to start the 1953 season, giving him nine straight wins (not counting Indy)
before his streak ended when he finished 4th in France, although it was a close
4th as the race was highly competitive. He earned two more wins later in the
year to give himself a second consecutive World Championship. Ascari did not continue
his dominance in 1954 as he failed to finish a race in his four attempts at F1,
although he made up for it by winning the Mille Miglia.
His 1955 season started similarly, retiring twice more, the latter of which was
a spectacular incident in Monaco
where he crashed into a harbour after missing a chicane. Four days later, on
May 26, he went to Monza to watch his friend Eugenio Castellotti test a Ferrari
750 Monza sports car, which they were to co-race in the Supercortemaggiore
1000kms race (having been given special dispensation by Lancia). Just before
going home to have lunch with his wife Mietta, he decided to try a few laps
with the Ferrari. In shirt sleeves, ordinary trousers and Castellotti’s helmet
he set off. As he emerged from a fast curve on the third lap the car
unaccountably skidded, turned on its nose and somersaulted twice. Thrown out on
the track, Ascari suffered multiple injuries and died a few minutes later.
Ferrari
initially was founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929 as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and
manufactured race cars before moving into production of street legal vehicles
in 1947 as Ferrari S.p.A..
Ferrari's cars are among the most desirable of vehicles to drive. Throughout
its history, the company has been noted for its continued participation and
incredibly passion in racing, especially in Formula One, where it has largely
enjoyed great success, especially during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, late 1990s,
and 2000s. Finally, after years of financial struggles, Enzo Ferrari sold the
company's sports car division to the Fiat group in 1969 in order to help
ensure continued financial backing for the foreseeable future. Enzo Ferrari
himself retained control of the racing division until his death in 1988 at the
age of 90.
This is a very nice and very rare non period photo that reflects
a wonderful era of Ferrari ‘s automotive history in a wonderful way. This is your rare chance to own this
photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 10"
(ca. 20 x 25 cm). It makes it perfectly
suitable for framing.
Contact us for more Ferrari and other automotive photos!
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you
buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on
photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright
expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our
archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well
protected in PVC clear files and board backed
envelopes.
We have
photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the
original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and
excellent quality.
After many decades
of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our
archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They
will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a
border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace,
restaurant, bar or club!
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