fbpx

The English Ferrari

28. Mar 2022 
by Pierre Van Vliet
2147 views

The new 156 with its particular front end (called “sharknose”), the first Ferrari with its engine at the rear, had dominated the 1961 season, besides the two legendary victories of Stirling Moss in the Rob Walker-entered Lotus in Monaco and at the Nürburgring.

For 1962, the Commendatore Enzo Ferrari tried to hire Moss, but the Brit refused while requiring to drive for his mentor. A deal was done for a private 156 to be entered by the team led by Rob Walker: the car was meant to be dark blue with a white stripe, like the Lotus’ usually fielded by the Scottish patron.

A bad accident for Stirling Moss at Goodwood in the spring of 1962 meant the career end of “the champion without a crown” and the deal fell through, but the Ferrari was already in Britain by Maranello Concessionnaires in London.

Enzo asked Innes Ireland to race in replacement of Moss and the 156 was entered by BRP (British Racing Partners), the structure of Sir Alfred Moss (Stirling’s father), the team that usually fielded Ireland, with a light green line (BRP colour) on a red body (picture below, on a miniature car).

Ireland raced at its wheel in the International Trophy held in Silverstone (picture above), a non-championship race, he finished in fourth place behind three British cars, in the following ordre: Graham Hill (BRM), Jim Clark (Lotus) and John Surtees (Lola). The 156 then returned to Maranello, the sudden retreat of Moss meaning the end of the story of the “English Ferrari”.

Source: DR

Leave a comment