1956 German GP

## Track Facts

* Name – Nurburgring Nordschleife
* Location – Germany
* Corners – 24
* Laps – 22
* Base (Worst) Lap Time – 11:00.000
* Lap Record (Real Life) – 9:41.600 (Juan Manuel Fangio)
* Lap Record (F1R) – 9:43.953 (Peter Whitehead – A Ciuchi)
* Pit Lane Length – 40 seconds
* Fuel Consumption – High
* Tyre Wear – Very High

## Qualifying

In his 40th career race Gerard claims his 5th Pole Position of the season, and looks odds on to claim the title this time out. He has been on Pole here before, back in 1952, and that time out dropped to 3rd place - so who knows what could still happen in the race! His nearest challengers are a couple of younger drivers in the shape of von Trips on home ground, and Maserati young-gun Perdisa - if they can stay close to Gerard then they may be able to challenge later on in the race…

De Graffenried in 4th only ran the 1 lap around here, but looks as sharp as ever with Fangio a solid 5th for Connaught. Collins has left himself with it all to do, as he only sits 6th overall and needs to win the race! Menditeguy had a couple of runs, and sits 7th ahead of Piotti and Bonnier for Connaught, with Villoresi rounding out the top 10.

Maglioli, Salvadori, Bayol, Landi, Fairman, Castellotti and Brabham will all be hoping to move up to challenge for the top 10 - but there's a sizeable time gap behind them to the remainder of the grid, including Emery, Hawthorn, Godia, Manzon and Simon. It's a great race we have in-store here!!!

## Grid

Gerard's latest Pole Position was taken with relative ease, and he is odds on favourite to confirm himself as World Champion by the end of the race. His nearest championship contender Collins starts down in 6th for Vanwall, with several quick drivers between him and his target!

Best of those is von Trips for Ferrari, as the German revels in having the grandstands roar his name, and will start 2nd on the grid looking for his 1st podium ever! Perdisa has a strong qualifying session to start 3rd ahead of the more experienced duo of de Graffenried and Fangio.

Rounding out the top 10 are Menditeguy (7th), Piotti and Bonnier for Connaught (8th and 9th) and the Emeryson of Villoresi, who just gets ahead of team-mate Maglioli. A whole host of drivers behind them will have aspirations of reaching the top 10, from Salvadori in 12th down to Brabham in 17th - with Emery, Hawthorn, Godia, Manzon and Simon likely all just hoping for the best position they can realistically achieve!!!

## Race Commentary

Gerard looking for his 3rd win at the German GP in his 40th race entry! Home favourite von Trips and Gerard’s team-mate Perdisa both right behind – Maserati – Ferrari – Maserati – Ferrari top 4 then Fangio and championship contender Collins. Menditeguy best qualifying of the season in 7th, with Connaughts of Piotti and Bonnier and Villoresi’s Emeryson rounding out the top 10.

*Lap 1* – Gerard away in front, then von Trips and Perdisa. Fangio gets past de Graffenried for 4th place. Piotti pressuring Menditeguy for 7th place. Disaster behind them as Villoresi and Maglioli collide as they go into Sudkehere! Salvadori gets caught up in it as well, but recovers to go back onto the track and runs straight into Hathworn to eliminate the Gordini on the spot! Brabham passes Castellotti for what is now 13th place, with only 18 cars left in the race now.

*Lap 2* – Collins passes de Graffenried for 5th place

Piotti pressuring Menditeguy for 7th position

Landi passes Bayol for 10th

Manzon makes a mistake at Mutkurve and damages the car, pits to fix the damage – loses 17th to Simon

*Lap 3* – Collins takes Fangio for 4th as he hurtles through the field! De Graffenried close to the pair of them too.

Manzon pits again to refuel – looks like mechanics forgot to do so when he pitted last time around

*Lap 4* – New FL for Gerard, who is a full 20 seconds in the lead and looking peerless yet again! Championship looks well in reach.

Fangio has a look at Collins, but he can’t get back past the Vanwall – de Graffenried still in close attendance too

Manzon gaining 5 seconds per lap on Simon, but he’s a full 1.5 minutes back…

*Lap 5* – New FL for Gerard 9:08.5

Fangio gets past Collins for 4th place

Bonnier pits from 9th place – comes out in 14th position

Emery makes a mistake at Aremberg, and pits to fix the damage – comes out in 16th place

Simon makes a stop for fuel, comes out in 17th still but Manzon is only 25 seconds down

*Lap 6* – New FL for Gerard 9:08.1

De Graffenried takes Collins for 5th, as it looks like the Vanwall is struggling with his tyres!

Castellotti passes Brabham for 12th place

Godia pits from 15th and comes out in 16th behind Emery

Manzon pits for a scheduled stop and is back to being 1 minute down on Simon

*Lap 7* – Collins passes de Graffenried for 5th place – looks like he’s found some pace again!

Piotti pits from 8th, comes out in 13th place

Bonnier gaining heavily on Brabham for 13th place – 2 secs per lap

Emery pits, lets Godia back past him into 15th place

Manzon still catching Simon at 5 secs per lap

*Lap 8* – New FL for Gerard 9:07.5

Several drivers into the pits – Perdisa 3rd, Fangio 4th, Collins 5th, de Graffenried 6th, Menditeguy 7th, Fairman 10th – Perdisa out in 3rd still! Landi now up to 4th, Bayol 5th, Fangio and de Graffenried out neck-and-neck in fight for 6th place! Collins slightly slower in pits out in 8th, Menditeguy out in 9th

Brabham pressuring Castellotti for what is now 10th, with Piotti and Bonnier catching the pair of them. Fairman out in 14th place

Emery catching Godia for 15th place

*Lap 9* – Landi pits from 4th, out in 13th place

Fangio passes Bayol for what’s now 5th place

De Graffenried passed by Collins for 6th

Brabham takes Castellotti for 9th, but then Piotti passes the pair of them to take on that place!

Manzon now been lapped by Gerard

*Lap 10* – Both Collins and de Graffenried pass Bayol, whose tyres look shot!

Menditeguy gaining on the group of them – but only by a little each lap and he’s a full 15 seconds down! Piotti likewise, just 3 secs back

Castellotti right on the back of Brabham for 10th – Bonnier zeroing in on the pair of them

*Lap 11* – Gerard and von Trips both pit – nearly a minute between them right now! Still emerge 1-2.

Bayol pits from 7th, out in 11th place

Brabham and Castellotti come in from 10th and 11th – out in 14th and 13th as the Maserati gets the jump on him in the pits

(Both Manzon and Simon pit – the Cooper is much quicker, gap down to 28 seconds between them!)

*Lap 12* – Perdisa is going quicker than von Trips – but only gaining a couple of tenths per lap, won’t be enough unless he can pick the pace up though!

Piotti gaining on Menditeguy in fight for 7th place – just 1.3 secs between them

Fairman catching Bayol at 2 secs per lap

Godia pits, lets Emery back into 15th place

*Lap 13* – Bonnier pits from 9th, out in 12th position

Fairman now just 2.5 secs behind Bayol and catching

Godia pits after he damages his car – still stays 16th place

(Manzon now just 15 secs down on Simon in fight for 17th place)

*Lap 14* – Piotti pits from 8th, out in 9th place – looking great for a top 10 spot and best finish of the season!

Fairman right behind Bayol now!

Great lap for Brabham as he passes Castellotti to take 13th place

Emery pits from 15th – stays 15th

*Lap 15* – Several drivers pit – Perdisa, Fangio, Collins, Menditeguy and Fairman.

Now 3rd for de Graffenried, Perdisa 4th, Fangio 5th, Collins 6th, Landi 7th, Menditeguy out in 8th

Bonnier up to 11th, Brabham 12th, Castellotti 13th and Fairman out in 14th

(Manzon pits and comes out in 18th still)

*Lap 16* – De Graffenried pits from 3rd, out in 6th place

Landi pits from 7th, out in 11th just ahead of Brabham.

Bonnier catching Bayol for 9th place!

Castellotti has a go at Brabham for 12th – but the Ferrari shuts the door

*Lap 17* – Bonnier now 8 secs behind Bayol – and catching by 2 secs per lap!

Castellotti has another go at Brabham, but again is unable to force his way past

Godia lapped by Gerard as well

(Simon pits from 17th, comes out in 18th behind Manzon)

*Lap 18* – Bonnier 7 secs down on Bayol

Landi makes a massive error at Schwalbenschwanz – lets Brabham past into 11th, Castellotti 12th

Castellotti uses passing Landi as an opportunity to overtake Brabham, and slips up the inside for 11th!

Fairman gaining on the pair of them, but not quickly enough

*Lap 19* – 5 seconds between Bonnier and Bayol

Fairman up to 13th past the struggling Landi

Emery lapped by Gerard as well

(Godia pits, clips the pit wall as he enters the pits! Lucky to be coming in, so damage fixed immediately!)

(Manzon also pits, drops to 18th behind Simon)

*Lap 20* – 2.5 secs between Bonnier and Bayol with 2 laps to go!

Fairman 6 secs down on Brabham – and catching him, but might be too late

(Manzon now 8 secs behind Simon, but going 5 secs per lap quicker)

*Lap 21* – Bayol retires out of fuel!!! Disaster for Mercedes – he’ll drop right down to 18th now.

Fairman now 2 secs behind Brabham and pushing hard! Castellotti now inside the top 10 – with 10th place up for grabs!

(Manzon 3 secs down on Simon now – should overtake right at the end!)

*Lap 22* – Gerard wins – confirms his place as 1956 F1R champion!

Von Trips 2nd place his best result, moves up to 5th place in championship as a result!!!

Perdisa’s podium place his best result so far

Fangio 4th and Collins 5th, de Graffenried a dejected 6th, whilst 7th a decent result for Menditeguy

Piotti pushed hard but could only manage 8th, which is his best result so far.

Bonnier a solid 9th – 3 x Top 10s in last 3 races!

Castellotti holds onto 10th place JUST!

Fairman moves into 11th, overhauls Brabham at the end who comes 12th

Landi last man on lead lap in 13th with his damaged car

(Manzon passes Simon for 17th place!)

*1 LAP DOWN* – Emery finishes 14th, Godia 15th, which is his best result!

*2 LAPS DOWN* – Manzon disaster on final lap! Comes into pits, not realised that he’s not gone past the Start/Finish line so Simon sneaks past and back into 16th place!!! Best result for both those drivers too.

## Race Setups

**How close setups were to perfect**

* 0.04042 Carlos Menditeguy
* 0.043569 Wolfgang von Trips
* 0.061828 Toulo De Graffenried
* 0.070166 Bob Gerard
* 0.0775 Joakim Bonnier
* 0.082576 Luigi Piotti
* 0.2531008 Jack Fairman
* 0.331338 Elie Bayol
* 0.347896 Jack Brabham
* 0.3907456 Cesare Perdisa
* 0.4635168 Eugenio Castellotti
* 0.5247392 Peter Collins
* 0.924128 Juan Manuel Fangio
* 1.1977384 Chico Landi
* 4.026634 Paul Emery
* 8.4709676 Paco Godia
* 23.309708 Robert Manzon
* 44.5608768 André Simon

## Milestones

* 40th race entry for Bob Gerard
* 20th race entry for Elie Bayol, Jean Behra & Chico Landi
* Salvadori moves inside top 10 for most race entries ever at expense of Johnny Claes
* 40th race start for Bob Gerard
* 20th race start for Elie Bayol
* Collins moves into 3rd for most starts ever, as Farina fails to start the race
* Da Silva Ramos goes above Reg Parnell into 9th for most races without points, Musso also moves into 10th place
* Points finish for Collins moves him ahead of Salvadori into 6th for most points finishes ever
* Wins in Germany for Gerard in ’51 and ’54, Whitehead in between in ’52 and ’53 (now retired)
* FL in Germany for Cabantous (’51), Bauer (’53) and Whitehead (’54), Gerard FL in ‘52
* Pole in Germany for Cabantous (’51), Pietsch (’53) and Nuckey (’54), Gerard Pole in ‘52