1959 Targa Florio
The 43° Targa Florio was a motor race for sportscars held on 24 May 1959 on the Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie, Sicily, Italy. It was the second round of the 1959 F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship and the 43rd running of the Targa Florio. Early that year, the event founder, Vincenzo Florio died and his nephew Vincent Paladion promised to keep alive Florio's Targa. “The Targa must continue... Promise me!..” [1]
The race was won by Edgar Barth and Wolfgang Seidel driving a Porsche 718 RSK entered by Porsche KG.
Report
Entry
The event attracted fewer cars than in previous years, with 59 racing cars registered for this event,[2] instead of the 81 in 1958.[3] Of the 59 cars registered, 58 arrived for practice with 52 qualifying for and starting the race.[2]
![The Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa of Brooks/Behra, with Brooks driving. The car did not finish the race.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/1959-05-24_Targa_Florio_Ferrari_250_Testa_Rossa_sn0768TR_Behra.jpg/220px-1959-05-24_Targa_Florio_Ferrari_250_Testa_Rossa_sn0768TR_Behra.jpg)
Reigning champions, Ferrari had entered three of their latest 250 TR 59 for their squad of drivers; Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Tony Brooks, Olivier Gendebien, Jean Behra and Cliff Allison. As Aston Martin elected to miss the event, there was no other entrants in the S3.0 class, therefore their main opposition would come from the works Porsches of Jo Bonnier, Wolfgang von Trips, Edgar Barth and Wolfgang Seidel, but these were smaller engined cars and less powerful.[4]
Race
This was meant to be a Ferrari battle, but it was not to be, as all the Ferraris retired due to mechanical problems. This left Porsche alone to command the race, taking the top four places. Their only issue was the leading Porsche 718 of Bonnier and von Trips being forced to withdraw on the last lap.[1][2]
Porsche recorded their first win in the World Sportscar Champions, with the pairing of Barth/Seidel. They took an impressive victory, with their 718 RSK completing 14 laps, covering 626.343 miles in just over 11 hours of racing, averaging a speed of 56.737 mph. Second place went to the second Porsche of Eberhard Mahle, Paul Ernst Strähle and Herbert Linge in a Porsche 550 RS, albeit 20 mins adrift. The podium was complete by another works Porsche, this time a 356A Carrera of Antonio Pucci and Huschke von Hanstein who were further 9 mins behind, the first GT car to finish. Surprisingly, the fourth car home was driven by the same crew that finished second.[5][2][6]
The result meant Porsche took the lead in the World Championship standing. This was the first time Ferrari had not topped the standings since March 1957.[7]
Official Classification
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Porsche_718RSK_Spyder%2C_front_right%2C_Stratford.jpg/220px-Porsche_718RSK_Spyder%2C_front_right%2C_Stratford.jpg)
Class Winners are in Bold text.
Pos | No | Class | Driver | Entrant | Chassis | Laps | Reason Out | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 112 | S1.5 | ![]() | ![]() | Porsche KG | Porsche 718 RSK | 11hr 02:21.8, 14 | |
2nd | 118 | S1.5 | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Porsche KG | Porsche 550 RS | 11hr 22:20.8, 14 | |
3rd | 102 | GT2.6 | ![]() | ![]() | Porsche KG | Porsche 356A Carrera | 11hr 31:44.4, 14 | |
4th | 96 | GT2.6 | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Porsche KG | Porsche 356A Carrera | 11hr 36:10.0, 14 | |
5th | 134 | S2.0 | ![]() | ![]() | Centro-Sud | Maserati A6GCS/53 | 11hr 41:20.0, 14 | |
6th | 38 | GT1.3 | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Scuderia Sant’Ambroeus | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce Zagato | 12hr 02:30.0, 14 | |
7th | 84 | S1.1 | ![]() | ![]() | Scuderia Sant’Ambroeus | Osca S1100 | 12hr 10:52.3, 14 | |
8th | 132 | S2.0 | ![]() | ![]() | Mario Cammarata | Ferrari 500 TRC | 12hr 14:45.4, 14 | |
9th | 120 | GT+2.6 | ![]() | ![]() | Nissena | Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta | 12hr 24:15.0, 14 | |
10th | 138 | S2.0 | ![]() | ![]() | Giuseppe Allotta | Maserati A6 GCS | 12hr 35:47.4, 14 | |
11th | 72 | S1.1 | ![]() | ![]() | Monte Pellegrino | Osca MT4 1100 | 12hr 39:40.0 | |
12th | 30 | GT1.3 | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Monte Pellegrino | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spider | 12hr 41:31.0, 14 | |
13th | 46 | GT1.3 | ![]() | ![]() | Nissena | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce | 12hr 46.16.0, 14 | |
14th | 8 | GT750 | ![]() | ![]() | Janua | Fiat-Abarth 750 Zagato | 12hr 53:39.0. 14 | |
15th | 24 | GT1.3 | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Nissena | Fiat 1200 Boano | 13hr 00:27.0, 14 | |
16th | 20 | GT1.3 | ![]() | ![]() | Pietro Laureati | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spider Veloce | 162 | |
17th | 50 | S750 | ![]() | ![]() | Settecoli | Osca S750 | 13hr 13:46.1, 14 | |
18th | 70 | S1.1 | ![]() | ![]() | Tommy Wisdom | Austin-Healey Sprite | 13hr 22:05.0, 14 | |
19th | 60 | S750 | ![]() | ![]() | Montegrappa | Osca S750 | 13hr 22:05.4, 14 | |
20th | 56 | S750 | ![]() | ![]() | Scuderia Sant Ambroeus | Osca S750 | 13hr 39:23.2, 14 | |
21st | 28 | GT1.3 | ![]() | ![]() | Paris | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce Zagato | 13hr 44:11.4, 14 | |
NC | 76 | S1.1 | ![]() | ![]() | Clemente Biondetti | Ermini-Fiat 1100 | 14 | Over time limit |
NC | 6 | GT750 | ![]() | ![]() | Nissena | Fiat 500 | 14 | Over time limit |
NC | 92 | GT2.6 | ![]() | ![]() | San Rizzo | Fiat 8V Zagato | 14 | Over time limit |
DNF | 136 | S2.0 | ![]() | ![]() | Porsche AG | Porsche 718 RSK | Transmission | |
DNF | 150 | S3.0 | ![]() | ![]() | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 250 TR 59 | Rear axle | |
DNF | 154 | S3.0 | ![]() | ![]() | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 250 TR 59 | Transmission | |
DNF | 4 | GT750 | ![]() | ![]() | Automobiles Deutsch et Bonnet | D.B.-Panhard HBR4 | did not finish | |
DNF | 26 | GT1.3 | ![]() | ![]() | G.S. Savio | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce | did not finish | |
DNF | 32 | GT1.3 | ![]() | ![]() | Giuseppe Riggero | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce Zagato | did not finish | |
DNF | 34 | GT1.3 | ![]() | ![]() | Jean-Pierre Hanrioud | D.B.-Panhard HBR5 | did not finish | |
DNF | 36 | GT1.3 | ![]() | ![]() | Camidoglio | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce Zagato | did not finish | |
DNF | 40 | GT1.3 | ![]() | ![]() | Racing Club 19 | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce Zagato | did not finish | |
DNF | 42 | GT1.3 | ![]() | ![]() | Enrico Giaccone | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce | did not finish | |
DNF | 44 | GT1.3 | ![]() | ![]() | Racing Club 19 | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce Zagato | did not finish | |
DNF | 52 | S750 | ![]() | ![]() | Montegrappa | Giaur 750 Sport | did not finish | |
DNF | 58 | S750 | ![]() | ![]() | Monte Pellegrino | Fiat-Abarth 750 Zagato | did not finish | |
DNF | 74 | S1.1 | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Monte Pellegrino | Osca MT4 1100 | did not finish | |
DNF | 78 | S1.1 | ![]() | ![]() | Monte Pellegrino | Osca MT4 1100 | did not finish | |
DNF | 80 | S1.1 | ![]() | ![]() | Falanga | Roar-Fiat 1100 Special | did not finish | |
DNF | 82 | S1.1 | ![]() | ![]() | Settecoli | Osca MT4 1100 | did not finish | |
DNF | 90 | GT2.6 | ![]() | ![]() | Giuseppe Bologna | Fiat 8V | did not finish | |
DNF | 94 | GT2.6 | ![]() | ![]() | Pietro Tremini | Fiat 8V | did not finish | |
DNF | 100 | GT2.6 | ![]() | ![]() | Rocco Finocchiaro | Fiat 8V | did not finish | |
DNF | 104 | GT2.6 | ![]() | ![]() | Sorrentino | Lancia Flaminia | did not finish | |
DNF | 114 | S1.5 | ![]() | ![]() | Scuderia Sant Ambroeus | Osca MT4 1500 | did not finish | |
DNF | 116 | S1.5 | ![]() | Christian Goethals | Porsche 550 RS | did not finish | ||
DNF | 122 | GT+2.6 | ![]() | ![]() | Mediterranea | Ferrari 250 GT | did not finish | |
DNF | 140 | S2.0 | ![]() | ![]() | Gaetano Starrabba | Ferrari 500 TRC | did not finish | |
DNF | 142 | S2.0 | ![]() | ![]() | Scuderia Eugenio Castellotti | Dino 196 S | Out of fuel | |
DNF | 130 | S2.0 | ![]() | ![]() | Porsche AG | Porsche 718 RSK | 13 | did not finish |
DNF | 152 | S3.0 | ![]() | ![]() | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 250 TR 59 | 1 | Pinion |
DNS | 2 | GT750 | ![]() | ![]() | Elio Lenza | Fiat-Abarth 750 Zagato | did not start | |
DNS | 10 | GT750 | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Aretusa | Fiat-Abarth 750 | did not start | |
DNS | 22 | GT1.3 | ![]() | Francesco Gambi | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spider Veloce | did not start | ||
DNS | 54 | S750 | ![]() | Spampinato | Fiat-Abarth 750 Sport | did not start | ||
DNS | 98 | GT2.6 | ![]() | ![]() | Monte Pellegrino | Lancia Aurelia B24 | did not start | |
DNS | 110 | S1.5 | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Henri Perrier / Binachon | Osca MT4 1500 | did not start |
- Fastest Lap: Jo Bonnier, 43:01.6secs (62.147 mph) [5][2][8]
![The Ferrari 250 GT of La Pira and Siracusa, winner of the GT +2600 class](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/1959-05-24_Targa_Florio_Ferrari_250_0555GT_Piralira_Todaro.jpg/220px-1959-05-24_Targa_Florio_Ferrari_250_0555GT_Piralira_Todaro.jpg)
Class Winners
Class | Winners | ||
---|---|---|---|
Sports 3000 | No finishers | ||
Sports 2000 | 134 | Maserati A6GCS/53 | Boffa / Drogo |
Sports 1500 | 112 | Porsche 718 RSK | Barth / Seidel |
Sports 1100 | 84 | Osca S1100 | Bini / Mantovani |
Sports 750 | 50 | Osca S750 | Leonardi / Tinazzo |
Grand Touring +2600 | 120 | Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta | La Pira / Siracusa |
Grand Touring 2600 | 102 | Porsche 356A Carrera | von Hanstein / Pucci |
Grand Touring 1300 | 38 | Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce Zagato | “Sepe” / Davis / Sannino |
Grand Touring 750 | 8 | Fiat-Abarth 750 Zagato | Carini / Prinoth |
[2]
Standings after the race
Pos | Championship | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 12 |
2 | ![]() | 8 |
3 | ![]() | 2 |
4 | ![]() | 1 |
- Note: Only the top five positions are included in this set of standings.
Championship points were awarded for the first six places in each race in the order of 8-6-4-3-2-1. Manufacturers were only awarded points for their highest finishing car with no points awarded for positions filled by additional cars. Only the best 3 results out of the 5 races could be retained by each manufacturer. Points earned but not counted towards the championship totals are listed within brackets in the above table.
References
- ^ a b "43^ TARGA FLORIO 24 maggio 1959".
- ^ a b c d e f "Targa Florio 1959 - Racing Sports Cars".
- ^ "Targa Florio 1958 - Racing Sports Cars".
- ^ "Targa Florio 1959 - Entry List - Racing Sports Cars".
- ^ a b "Reference at www.teamdan.com". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- ^ "F2 Register - Index".
- ^ Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, 1995, page 266
- ^ "F2 Register - Index".
Further reading
- Ed Heivink. Targa Florio: 1955-1973. Reinhard Klein. ISBN 978-3927458666
World Sportscar Championship | ||
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Previous race: 12 Hours of Sebring | 1959 season | Next race: 1000km Nürburgring |
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