1955 Australian Grand Prix

1955 Australian Grand Prix
Formula Libre race
Race details
Date 10 October 1955
Location Port Wakefield, South Australia
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 2.09 km (1.3 miles)
Distance 80 laps, 167.3 km (104 miles)
Weather Sunny
Pole position
Driver
  • Australia Reg Hunt
Maserati
Fastest lap
Driver Australia Jack Brabham
Australia Reg Hunt
Cooper-Bristol
Maserati
Time 1'03
Podium
First Cooper-Bristol
Second
  • Australia Reg Hunt
Maserati
Third Talbot-Lago

The 1955 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Port Wakefield Circuit in South Australia on 10 October 1955. The race, which had 22 starters, was held over 80 laps of the 2.09 km (1.3 mi) circuit. It was open to Formula Libre cars[1] of unlimited capacity.[2] The race was promoted by Brooklyn Speedway (SA) Ltd. and was organised by the Sporting Car Club of SA Inc.[3]

It was the twentieth Australian Grand Prix and the first to be held on a purpose built motor racing circuit after the previous 19 were held on closed streets or country roads, or on airfields modified for the purpose. Future World Champion Jack Brabham won his first Australian Grand Prix in a streamlined Cooper-Bristol that Brabham, having recently joined the Cooper team, had assembled himself and sent to Australia. It was the first time a rear-engined car had won the AGP, although this was seen as an upset win and a rear-engined car would not win again until 1960.

  1. ^ 1955 Australian Grand Prix, Australian Motor Sports, September 1955, page 324
  2. ^ Grand Prix in October, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848–1957), Wednesday 3 August 1955, page 10, trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 27 June 2015
  3. ^ The Australian 1955 Grand Prix brochure