1950s in motorsport explained

1940s ^. 1950s in motorsport ^. 1960s
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This article documents the status of motorsports in the 1950s.

United States

• Due to the rising popularity of stock car racing, the new Strictly Stock Series is established as the Grand National. The series becomes phenomenally popular, and attracts numerous domestic manufacturers.
• The Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Thunderbird become the first true American sports cars. Late in the decade, the Corvette would adopt a V8 engine and become heavily competitive in endurance racing.
• The Indianapolis 500 is added to the new grand prix schedule. It is later replaced with a United States Grand Prix in 1959.^[1]
• Racing legend Phil Hill debuts in 1958.^[2]
• The SCCA National Sports Car Championship was first contested in 1951, America's first championship for sports cars.
• The Twelve Hours of Sebring is first held
• NASCAR legend Richard Petty debuts
• Debut of racing legend A. J. Foyt in IndyCar
• The Hudson Hornet is dominant in NASCAR
• The National Hot Rod Association is founded as a professional organization for drag racing
• Daytona International Speedway opens
• Riverside International Raceway opens. It will last until the 1980s when it will close
• Laguna Seca Raceway opens
• The original Daytona Beach Road Course closes

Europe

• Grand prix racing returns after World War II temporarily halts automobile production. The new grand prix series is known as Formula One.
• The debut of racing legend Stirling Moss.^[3]
• The establishment of the World Sports Car Championship, composed mainly of endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• The beginnings of the British Saloon Car Championship, now the British Touring Car Championship.
• The Mille Miglia is last held after thirty years.
• The Portuguese Grand Prix debuts in 1958
• The Dutch Grand Prix is first held in 1955
• The Spanish Grand Prix is first held in 1951
• The Porsche 550 Spyder and Porsche 356 are introduced, competitive in motorsport
• The Maserati Birdcage is introduced as a competitive racing prototype
• The Jaguar D-Type is introduced as a competitive racecar
• The Lotus Eleven is introduced for motorsport
• The original Mini debuts. It is competitive in touring car racing.
• The original Volkswagen Beetle debuts, becoming competitive in touring car racing
• The Triumph TR is introduced
• The MG A is introduced
• Dino is introduced as a brand of Ferrari
• Juan Manuel Fangio wins a then-record five Formula One drivers championships, driving for Alfa Romeo

Australia

• The rise of famous racer and race car builder Jack Brabham.^[1]

South America

• The Carrera Panamericana is held from 1950 to 1954
• The Argentine Grand Prix debuts in 1953 as the first F1 race in South America

Africa

• The Moroccan Grand Prix, the first F1 race to be held in Africa, is held in 1958

See also

• 1940s in motorsport
• 1960s in motorsport

Notes and References

1. Web site: Race card archive . 2010-02-09 . 2010-02-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100211111616/http://f1pulse.com/racecard/United_States_Grand_Prix_1959/423B/race_card_archive.aspx . dead .
2. Web site: Drivers Profile . 2010-02-09 . 2011-07-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110710215357/http://www.f1pulse.com/drivers/PHill/403C3A/drivers_profile.aspx . dead .
3. Web site: Driver profile. Stirling Moss . 2010-02-09 . 2010-02-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100212111205/http://f1pulse.com/drivers/SMoss/413B3D/drivers_profile.aspx . dead .