In the first world championship race, the European GP at Silverstone, Fangio’s Alfa, despite leaking oil pipe, holds on to win. This and three more victories means he is the world champion.
Meanwhile, after many months of secret talks that also involve the Italian government, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo are merged. Enzo runs the race team and the cars are known as Alfa Romeo and the engines Ferrari. This covers GP and sportscars.
At Le Mans the home crowd enjoyed a Talbot win. The Brits were pleased with a XK coming home second after worries about clutch and brakes never materialised.
At Indianapolis the organisers rules that every car needed front and rear bumpers that were at least two inches thick chrome. They welcomed European manufactures as long as the chrome was fitted. Enzo was quoted as saying that this gimmick would make his cars “Scintillante e lento”.
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