MASERATI AND FANGIO - F1 WORLD CHAMPIONS IN 1957

Fifty years ago the Argentine scored a famous win at Nürburgring on his way to winning the title

Modena - Maserati is about to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the F1 world title won by Juan Manuel Fangio in 1957 with a series of special events.

The Argentine star had won the 1954 title and raced in a Maserati for the first half of the season. Back in a Maserati in 1957, he dominated and claimed his fifth world crown at the age of 46.

Out of 16 races where he appeared in Maserati colours in 1957, including Formula 1 events that did not count towards the championship and sportscar races, Fangio won 10.

'The Maestro', as he was nicknamed by the other drivers, won an epic victory at the Nürburgring circuit (on the famous 22 km long Nordschleife) on 4 August 1957. Driving a Maserati 250F, the triumph all but made the title his and he secured it in the next race at the Grand Prix of Pescara where he finished second behind Moss.

The 1957 Grand Prix of Nürburgring remains one of the all-time cult races in Formula 1. This is because of Fangio's phenomenal comeback where he made up more than 40 seconds in seven laps on Hawthorn and Collins' Ferraris, who were leading at the time. During a pit stop to change tyres and refuel, the driver from Balcarce lost 45 seconds after a wheel nut ended up under his single seater.

Fangio launched himself into a comeback and closed out the race on a high, lowering the track record lap after lap. The two Ferraris could never have expected Fangio to catch and overtake them but he did. At the end of the race, the Argentine struggled to take in what he had achieved: "I have never driven that quickly before in my life and I don't think I will ever be able to do it again."

To celebrate the win, the Modenese company will present a special trophy to the highest placed 250F that competes in the OldTimer Grand Prix classic to be held at Nuerburgring on 12 August. Another exciting occasion will be the launch, on 4 August 2007, of the visually stunning and interactive Maserati website that will recall that unforgettable season. Monographs and a rich array of multimedia also feature. The site can be reached at www.maseraticelebratesfangio.com

The 250F that Fangio used at Nürburgring in 1957 will be on show at the Maserati stand at the upcoming Frankfurt Motorshow. It will appear alongside models from the current range including the new GranTurismo and the Quattroporte.

Another example of the Giulio Alfieri designed single-seater will be on display together with classic Trident cars at the ‘Maserati 1957-2007. 50 anni dal mondiale di F.1’ (50 years of F1) exhibition at the Bonfanti-VIMAR Automobile Museum. The show was inaugurated on 5 May and will run until 21 October 2007.

Maserati Corse also paid homage to Fangio last year at Nuerburgring. The occasion was the famous 24 Hour race where Laffite/Giudici/Meaden/Hong’s Trofeo GranSport sported a dark red livery with a yellow grille. The GranSport finished the race an honourable fifth.