The Argentine Temporada Motor Races 1950 to 1960

This work may seem a little niche, but it’s all the better for that, providing an insight into a set of races that rarely receives focus.

The book covers the post-war Argentinian contests, for both single-seaters and sportscars, that attracted international entries. And right from European stars Achille Varzi and Luigi Villoresi’s successful visit in 1947, the big names made their mark across a range of different circuits, encouraged by prize money and opportunities to sell cars. These races were big.

Historic too: Argentina was the scene of the first world championship GP outside of Europe, the iconic Maserati 250F’s debut (and first win), and the first world championship success for a rear-engined GP car.

There’s also tragedy, including French ace Jean-pierre Wimille’s fatal crash in practice at Palermo in 1949 and the death of 13 spectators in the 1953 Argentinian GP – crowd control was often a problem.

But it’s actually the non-championship events and rarely (if ever) seen photographs that make this a fine addition to the enthusiast’s library.

The reports are sketchy in detail and there are no quotes, but author Laiseca relies on his subject matter. And it is interesting, for example, to read how Jose Froilan Gonzalez’s Ferrari beat the mighty pre-ww2 Mercedes W154s in 1951, or find out about the errors that even the great home hero Juan Manuel Fangio made before famously bursting onto the European scene. KT