>>Ferrari D50

Ferrari D50

Lancia D50/Ferrari D50

The late Tom Wheatcroft's Lancia D50 replica, on test at Mallory Park in 2010.
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Lancia
Designer(s)	Vittorio Jano
Technical specifications
Chassis	Tubular spaceframe, with stressed engine.
Suspension (front)	Unequal length, tubular double wishbone, with transverse leaf spring and inboard dampers.
Suspension (rear)	De Dion tube, with transverse leaf spring and inboard dampers.
Axle track	F: 1,294 mm (50.9 in) R: 1,330 mm (52.4 in)
Wheelbase	2,280 mm (89.8 in)
Engine	Lancia DS50 2,488 cc (152 cu in) 90°V8. Naturally aspirated, front-mounted. 1954: 260 bhp (194 kW). 1955/6: 285 bhp (213 kW).
Transmission	Lancia 5-speed manual transaxle.
Weight	620 kg (1,367 lb)
Fuel	Shell
Tyres	Pirelli/Englebert
Competition history
Notable entrants	Scuderia Lancia Scuderia Ferrari
Notable drivers	Alberto Ascari  Luigi Villoresi  Eugenio Castellotti  Juan Manuel Fangio  Luigi Musso  Peter Collins  Alfonso de Portago
Debut	1954 Spanish Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles Fastest laps 14 Lancia: 4 Ferrari: 10 5 0 5 8 2 6 5 1 4
Drivers' Championships	1 (1956: Fangio)
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

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 1956 World Championship of Drivers 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.