Lancia D50

Lancia D50/Ferrari D50
Category	Formula One
F1 car	Y
Constructor	Lancia
Designer	Vittorio Jano
Team	Scuderia Lancia Scuderia Ferrari
Drivers	Alberto Ascari Luigi Villoresi Eugenio Castellotti Juan Manuel Fangio Luigi Musso Peter Collins Alfonso de Portago
Chassis	Tubular spaceframe, with stressed engine.
Front suspension	Unequal length, tubular double wishbone, with transverse leaf spring and inboard dampers.
Rear suspension	De Dion tube, with transverse leaf spring and inboard dampers.
Wheelbase	2280mm
Track	F: 1294mm R: 1330mm
Engine name	Lancia DS50
Capacity	2488cc
Configuration	90° V8.
Turbo/NA	Naturally aspirated,
Engine position	front-mounted. 1954: 260bhp. 1955/6: 285bhp.
Gearbox name	Lancia
Gears	5-speed
Type	manual
Differential	transaxle.
Weight	620kg
Fuel	Shell
Tyres	Pirelli/Englebert
Debut	1954 Spanish Grand Prix
Races	14 Lancia: 4 Ferrari: 10
Wins	5 0 5
Cons champ
Drivers champ	1 (1956: Fangio)
Poles	8 2 6
Fastest laps	5 1 4

The Lancia D50 was a Formula One racing car designed by Vittorio Jano for Lancia in 1954. The car's design made use of many innovative features, such as the use of the engine as a stressed chassis member, the off-centre positioning of the engine to allow a lower overall height, and pannier fuel cells for better weight distribution and aerodynamics. Six of the cars were built, two of them are displayed in Italian museums.

The D50 made its race debut toward the end of the 1954 Formula One season in the hands of two-time and reigning World Champion, Italian driver Alberto Ascari. In its very first event Ascari took both pole position in qualifying and fastest race lap, although his car's clutch failed after only ten laps. Following Ascari's death, and in increasing financial trouble, the Lancia family sold their controlling share in the Lancia company, and the assets of Scuderia Lancia were given to Scuderia Ferrari. Ferrari continued to develop the car, although they removed many of Jano's most innovative designs, and the car was rebadged as the Lancia-Ferrari D50 and later simply the Ferrari D50. Juan Manuel Fangio won the Formula One World Championship in 1956 with this car modified by Ferrari. During their competition lifespan D50s were entered into 14 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, winning five.

Ferrari 801

The D50s lived on into the 1957 season, much modified as the Ferrari 801 however were largely uncompetitive against the latest generation of Maserati 250Fs.

1954 Lancia D50A Source

Partial Formula One World Championship results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position, results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Points	WCC
1954	D50	Lancia DS50 2.5L L8	P		ARG	500	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	SWI	ITA	ESP	0	-*
				Alberto Ascari									Ret
				Luigi Villoresi									Ret

* The Constructors' Championship was not awarded until 1958.

External links

• Push-starting a Lancia D50. www.streetfire.net (video)

1940–1980 Lancia Post War
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