Alright, call me an ageing fanboy, but I feel impelled to note that on May 29 it is exactly 50 years since Stirling Moss scored the first win for Lotus in a championship Grand Prix, around the streets of Monaco. What's more, he was responsible for the marque's first four championship wins.

It's only fair to note, too, that Innes Ireland had by then notched up two Formula One wins for Lotus, at Goodwood and Silverstone, a few weeks earlier.

It's true, is it not, that Stirling introduced three other marques to the chequered flag in Formula One - Vanwall (with a little help from a friend), Cooper and Ferguson.

If you are talking World Championship points paying races, then Ferguson is out of place because the win by Moss was in the non-championship Gold Cup race in 1961. On the other hand, if you are talking any F-1 race, then Moss won the first for Vanwall, Silverstone International Trophy race in 1956, without any co-driving help.

For first F-1 wins, it was Moss for Vanwall, Silverstone International Trophy Race, 1956; for Cooper, GP of Argentina, 1958; for Ferguson, Oulton Park, 1961. It was Ireland for Lotus, Goodwood, 1960.

But if you just count World Championship GP wins it was Moss and Brooks for Vanwall, GP of England, 1957; Moss for Cooper, Argentina 1958; and Moss for Lotus, GP of Monaco, 1960. Ferguson never won a World Championship GP.

Just establishing some parallel construction...

Tom

Thanks Tom. 'Twas "with a little help from a friend" wherein lay the looseness; I must confess I had in mind the British Grand Prix; I completely forgot about the Silverstone International Trophy Race win in 1956.

However.... you prompted me to dive into my books and stone the crows, nothing's ever simple is it. It's quite possible we might say that the Silverstone race in 1956 wasn't it?

Harry Schell won the second heat of the BARC International Trophy race at Crystal Palace on 30 July 1955 in the original VW2 and that one I would never have picked! He didn't win the final. Hawthorn won it in Moss's 250F. In my original post I wasn't being cute when I used the wording "introduced three other marques to the chequered flag in Formula One" but by that definition, it was Harry who first saw the chequered flag in a Vanwall! Motor Sport described it as a win, anyway! (Vol XXXI No.9, page 543).

Hi Gary, and thanks for the Harry Schell mention. In doing a (very) little checking before my post I came across a reference to a Harry Schell win in a Vanwall. I searched around and never found anything further. Everything said Moss at Silverstone in 1956. Hence I went with Moss at Silverstone, not finding anything about heat results anywhere. So I appreciate your post of 'arry winning a heat in 1955, as it throws more light on the subject.

But all hair splitting aside, I think we can agree that Sir Stirling usually led the way!

Tom

Forget heats

Schell won the F1 Redex Trophy race at Snetterton on 13/8/55, and the Avon Trophy F1 race at Castle Combe on 1/10/55, and the libre race at the same meeting

These were the first Vanwall victories

Ah, pity the poor historian. From Motor Sport's report on the Formula Libre race, (Vol XXXI No.9, page 528), "After four laps Schell had a comfortable lead from Salvadori and Walker, but fuel began to issue forth from the Vanwall and, alas, two laps later Schell was out, with a leaking fuel tank."

Edit, oops. I didn't notice you referred to Castle Combe. I was focussed on Snetterton.

... or from "Castle Combe Circuit - the first 50 years"

"The Formula Libre race for the Empire News and Hastings Trophies allowed Schell
his second win of the day in a second Vanwall. He won by 20 seconds after Ron
Flockhart (BRM V16 MkII) led briefly."

Schell had set the outright lap record in the earlier Avon Trophy race.