The long-awaited
Lancia D50s arrived-using their 90 degree V8 engine as a stiffening aid for the chassis; they were simple but brilliantly designed.
Alberto Ascari immediately set the fastest practice lap and led from pole.
Luigi Villoresi in the fellow Lancia retired with brake trouble after just 1 lap and Ascari succumbed to clutch problems after 9 laps. Various other drivers took the lead and then retired;
Harry Schell spun off,
Maurice Trintignant had mechanical problems and
Stirling Moss overheated (one of several retirements caused by flying newspaper jamming the radiator ducts). The race boiled down to a duel between
Mike Hawthorn and
Juan Manuel Fangio but the Argentine was losing oil and lost second place to
Luigi Musso. Hawthorn hung on to take the win with Fangio driving well to claim the final podium position. This proved to be the last major race held at the Pedralbes street circuit. The
Le Mans disaster in 1955 meant tighter safety regulations, and the spectator-lined street circuit in the Pedralbes neighborhood of Barcelona was abandoned and has not been used since. == Entries ==