Formula One regulations
During the mid to late 1950s, Fontes Bayardo participated in the fiercely competitive Argentine Formula Libre series, which was gradually evolving to be run under full Formula One regulations. He won the very first race held at Montevideo's El Pinar circuit in October 1956, with his Maserati 4CLT powered by a V8 Chevrolet engine, and he also won at Interlagos in November 1957 with the same car.