1956 Grand Prix of Belgium

Spa was and still is a classic GP circuit. Long and very fast, uphill and down, long sweeping turns. Mercedes was gone and Ferrari had taken over the Lancia cars. After practice on Thursday, Fangio was on pole with a time almost 5 sec faster than second place Moss with the first average lap time in Europe of over 200 kph.. These photos were taken on Thursday when the cars ran with letters before numbers were assigned. A rare piece of photo history.

It was raining when the race began and Fangio made a poor start and settled in fifth with Moss well in the lead. The Maestro was not to be denied and by lap 3 Fangio would be in second having passed Behra, Collins, and then Castellotti. By the fifth lap he was in the lead and had opened up an 8-second lead on Moss with Collins third on a drying track. Collins took second when Moss lost a back wheel on the climb after the Eau Rouge bridge. He was able to safely stop and sprint back to the pits and take over Perdisa's car. He resumed in sixth but a lap down to the leaders. Collins took the lead for good when Fangio lost his transmission on lap 24. A tight battle for second between Behra and Frere ended when Behra's engine began to misfire. This allowed Moss to move to third as he had passed Harry Schell’sVanwall earlier. Moss ended the race on a furious pace but the two leaders were too far ahead to make up the gap. This well deserved win was Peter Collins first GP victory.

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Peter Collins approaches Le Source hairpin. Collins would win his first GP for Ferrari on race day

The starting grid for the race. Look at how much quicker Fangio was than everyone, even Moss.

The drivers meeting. Cars are on the grid and the track still wet. Not a big crowd due to the rainy, cold weather.

A cropped version of the drivers meeting prior to the start.

Seconds before the start of the 1956 Belgium Grand Prix. Fangio on pole,Moss in the middle and Collins on the outside. Fangio would botch the start but soon come back to lead. Note the track is wet from an early rain.

The magnificent Eau Rouge from the top. Compare this to today’s mega Spa circuit.

Fangio qualified on the pole by nearly 5 seconds. The man was unworldly in his speed. Look at the calmness as he brakes hard for the hairpin.

The Maestro’s transmission would fail him on race day. What a beauriful car these side pod Ferrari’s were.

The wild French driver Jean Behra in his Maserati. Behra was fearless both on 2 and 4 wheels. Scarred and missing part of an ear, he paid the ultimate price in 1959 at the wheel; as I am sure he wished.

Eugenio Castelotti, Ferrari’s new Italian hope to replace the dead Alberto Ascari. He and Luigi Musso battled hard to gain favor and were often enemies. Castelotti would win Sebring (with Fangio) and the Mille Miglia.

Eugenio Castelotti passes inside Godia of Spain. Francisco Godia was called Paco or Chico and was a complete privateer who did well as Spain’s top F1 driver. More successful than even Portago.

Journalist Paul Frere drove often for Ferrari. Frere was French born Belgian and was known for his yellow helmet. He was a brilliant writer and asks Commendatore for a GP ride and Enzo said yes. Frere finished 4th and better, lived to the ripe old age of 91.

Frere stays inside while Fangio takes the line into La Source.

The incomparable Sir Stirling Moss in the Maserati. Moss qualified 2nd but his car broke during the race. Maserati waved in young Perdisa and Moss took over charging as only he could making back to 3rd.

A stunning look at the cockpit of a Lancia Ferrari formula 1 car of 1956. Stark and all business.

Louis Rosier comes in from practice in his Maserati 250F. Fabulous view of how spectators came to races in the mid 50’s.

We are quite sure this is Louis Rosier climbing out of the K Maserati on Thursday practice. Rosier was 51 years old at this race but still qualified 10th and finished 8th.

Maurice Trintignant in the Vanwall. Trint and Harry Shell were the drivers for Vanwall at this race. The cars had yet to show the speed they would have a few years later. But the green was on the grid. Shell would come 4th, Trintignant retired with fuel problems.