Art History

Mike Hawthorn

SportsCarDigest

This painting depicts Mike Hawthorn, winner of the 1954 Spanish Grand Prix at Pedralbes, Barcelona, in the Ferrari 553 “Squalo” followed by Harry Schell, No. 24 Maserati, an early leader on half-full tanks. Alberto Ascari, No. 34, Lancia D50 was the fastest, but retired with oil in the clutch. The leading pair is chased by Juan Manuel Fangio’s Mercedes No. 2, who was off the pace for once, but he still came 3rd, followed behind by Luigi Musso’s Maserati.

The 1954 Spanish Grand Prix at Pedralbes, Barcelona, on the 24th of October, was a triumphant finish to the 1954 season with six works’ teams competing—Mercedes, Ferrari, Lancia, Maserati, Gordini, and Vanwall, plus several private entries. The Vanwall of Peter Collins did not start due to a practice accident, but this was the first appearance of the Lancia D50, which was easily the fastest, in the hands of Ascari, but retired on lap 9 with a 20-second lead on the rest of the field.

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