1953 Carrera Panamericana


The 1953 Carrera Panamericana was the fourth running of the Carrera Panamericana Mexican sports car racing event, and the first edition as a part of the World Sportscar Championship. The race took place from 19–23 November, and was run from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, over 8 stages and. 182 cars started the race, and 60 finished all 8 stages.

Pre-race

For the 1953 race, the existing Sports and Stock classes were both subdivided into Large and Small groups, giving four categories in which to compete. These were split by engine capacity; sports cars were divided under and over 1600 cc, and stock cars under and over 3500 cc. This was to accommodate the huge number of participants and the diverse breeds of cars within the race.
Going into the race, Ferrari had a slender championship lead of just two points over Jaguar. Although neither manufacturer had sent work entries to Mexico, the title could still be snatched by the Coventry marque, despite the Italian marque having more cars in the event.

Race

Both Lancia and Lincoln came to the race highly organized and both factories swept 1–2–3 finishes in their respective categories. The Europeans dominated the sports categories, and the Americans the stock. Large Sports Cars was won by Juan Manuel Fangio of Argentina and Gino Bronzoni of Italy in a Lancia D24 Pinin Farina, Small Sports Cars by José Herrarte Ariano and Carlos González from Guatemala in a Porsche 550 Coupé. Large Stock Cars was won by Chuck Stevenson and Clay Smith of the United States in a Lincoln Capri and Small Stock Cars by C.D. Evans and Walter Krause, Jr., also of the U.S., in a six-cylinder Chevrolet 210. Stevenson has the distinction of being the only person to ever win twice in the original race.
The race was marred by the death of a number of competitors. The co-driver and pacenote systems championed by the Mercedes-Benz teams of the previous year were vindicated by the failure of an alternative system used by some other works drivers, notably those of Lancia. During pre-race runs of the route at much safer speeds, Felice Bonetto and Piero Taruffi, winner of the 1951 edition of the race, painted warning signals on the road to remind themselves of particular hazards. This resulted in the death of Bonetto who, leading the race under pressure from Taruffi, missed his own warning signs. Entering the village of Silao, he encountered rough pavement at excessive speed and impacted a building, killing him instantly.
As a result of Guido Mancini and Fabrizio Serena di Lapigio finishing in fourth place, in their Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta, they secured three points for Ferrari, thereby increasing the Maranello marque points lead over Jaguar, giving them the 1953 World Championship for Manufacturer title.
The race was held over eight stages over a total distance of 1,912 miles. Fangio and Bronzoni won in their works-entered Lancia D24 Pinin Farina. The pair finished the race in 18 hours and 11 minutes, averaging. Second place went to their teammates, Piero Taruffi and Luigi Maggio, in their D24, just 7:51 minutes behind. The podium was complete by another of the Scuderia Lancia cars that of Eugenio Castellotti, with his co-driver, Carlo Luoni, in their Lancia D23, over 6:01 minutes adrift.

Official Classification

Class Winners are in Bold text.
PosClassNo.EntrantDriverCarStagesTime
1S+1.636Scuderia Lancia Juan Manuel Fangio
Gino Bronzoni
Lancia D24 Pinin Farina818:11:00
2S+1.622Scuderia Lancia Piero Taruffi
Luigi Maggio
Lancia D24 Pinin Farina818:18:51
3S+1.638Scuderia Lancia Eugenio Castellotti
Carlo Luoni
Lancia D23 Pinin Farina818:24:52
4S+1.626Scuderia Guastalla Guido Mancini
Fabrizio Serena di Lapigio
Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta819:40:29
5S+1.66Club Francia Amigos de la Panamericana Louis RosierTalbot-Lago T26GS820:11:22
6S+1.623Scuderia Guastalla Mario Ricci
Forese Salviati
Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta820:16:28
7T52Bob Estes Chuck Stevenson
Clay Smith
Lincoln Capri820:31:32
8T53Bob Estes Walt Faulkner
Chuck Daigh
Lincoln Capri820:32:55
9T95Ronald Ferguson Jack McGrath
Manuel Ayulo
Lincoln Capri820:33:07
10T51Bob Estes Johnny Mantz
Bill Stroppe
Lincoln Capri820:33:30
11S+1.65Efraín Ruiz Echeverría Efraín Ruiz Echeverría
Pedro Villegas Becerril
Ferrari 250 MM Pinin Farina820:48:29
12T66A. B. Poe Tommy Drisdale
Johnny Gomez
Chrysler New Yorker821:21:19
13T67Knox Converse Royal Russell
Jesse Ashley
Chrysler New Yorker821:34:26
14S+1.611Akton Miller Ak Miller
Douglas Harrison
Caballo de Hiero-Oldsmobile822:07:36
15T60Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Oscar Alfredo Gálvez
Eduardo Martínez
Lincoln Capri822:18:44
16T79Jorge Descote Jorge DescoteLincoln Capri822:27:01
17T64E. N. de Milo Ernesto Petrini
Alberto Fiorentini
Lincoln Capri822:28:36
18T59Douglas Ehlinger Douglas Ehlinger
Luis Solorio
Packard Mayfair822:34:40
19T72Thomas A. Deal Bill Sterling
Julius L. Colspret
Cadillac Series 62822:40:30
20T93Pat Zoccano Pat Zoccano
Glen N. Barnhart
Buick822:42:21
21T55Union de Choferes Roberto Belmar
Angel Acar Valle
DeSoto Diplomat822:45:02
22T101Arturo Alvarez Tostado Arturo Alvarez Tostado
Alfredo Cabrero Porras
Chrysler New Yorker822:50:59
23T118James Rice Ferdinando de Leeuw Murphy
Cornelio Medina
Lincoln Capri822:51:28
24T113Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo RamírezOldsmobile 88823:01:10
25S+1.625Guillermo Girón Guillermo Girón
Rodolfo Beaudin
Jaguar XK120823:01:49
26T102Juan de Aguinaco Juan de AguinacoOldsmobile 88823:02:47
27T70Al Rogers Al Rogers
Ralph Rogers
Chrysler New Yorker823:13:45
28T88Ernest C. Hall Ernest C. Hall
Louis Unser
Buick823:14:35
29T87Luis Rafael Garzon Luis Rafael Garzon
William Griebling
Oldsmobile 88823:28:15
30T114Hector Rivapalacio Hector Riva Palacio
Juan Courtney
Oldsmobile 88823:28:20
31T82Gilberto Julian Riega Gilberto Julian Riega
Modesto Jose Riega
Lincoln Capri823:55:50
32S1.6152José Herrarte Ariano José Sala Herrarte Ariano
Carlos A. González
Porsche 550 Coupé823:57:04
33S1.6158 Fernando SeguraPorsche 356 Super824:18:25
34TS217C. D. Evans C. D. Evans
Walter Krause, Jr.
Chevrolet 210824:48:21
35TS207Norman Patterson Norman Patterson
Bernie Shires
Ford V8824:58:55
36TS209Oscar Cabalen Oscar Cabalén
Guillermo Ibanda
Ford 6825:03:48
37TS259Scott F. Yantis Scott F. YantisChevrolet 210825:09:51
38TS235Malcolm Eckart Malcolm Eckart
Carroll Hamplemann
Hudson Jet825:17:05
39TS238Humberto Maneglia Humberto ManegliaFord 6825:34:27
40TS222Hector Ortiz Palacios Hector Ortiz Palacios
Ramon Leal Contreras
Plymouth Belvedere825:53:31
41TS204Segurs Chapultepec Francisco Ramirez Fonseca
Alberto Maya Juarez
Hudson Jet825:59:48
42TS225Enrique Paredes Enrique Paredes
Luis Herrastri
Hudson Jet826:00:42
43TS245Tadeo Taddia Tadeo Taddia
Sebastian Florencio
Chevrolet 210826:01:53
44TS268Miguel Vinardell Miguel VinardellChevrolet Bel Air826:03:33
45TS256Baltazar Alaimo Baltazar Alaimo
Eliseo Rodriguez
Chevrolet 210826:04:08
46T147Clemente Aspe Clemente AspeMercury Monterey826:05:44
47TS282Rafael Larocca Rafael LaroccaFord 6826:06:05
48TS210Morelos Carlos Diaz Garcilazo
Enrique Alvarado
Studebaker Champion826:10:36
49TS228Luis Maria Martorani Luis Maria MartoraniFord Victoria826:11:56
50TS244Guillermo G. Airaldi Guillermo G. Airaldi
Francisco Spatafora
Chevrolet 210826:25:21
51TS258Domingo B. Lombardi Domingo B. Lombardi
Jorge Jose Ferrario
Ford 6826:27:41
52TS277Robert E. Barckimer Robert E. Barckimer
Frank Danley
Ford 6826:40:39
53TS215Leones Doroles Club, Hidalgo Rafael González Sandoval
Aurelio Lara
Nash Statesman826:54:23
54TS272Carlos Fortunati Firpo Carlos Fortunati FirpoFord 6827:00:50
55TS276Oscar Martorani Oscar MartoraniFord 6827:01:13
56TS248Carlos Pfeffer Carlos Pfeffer
Antonio Luís Michelini
Ford 6828:07:55
57TS278Carlos Battilana Olazabal Carlos Battilana OlazabalFord 6828:14:19
58TS255Guillermo Marenghini Guillermo Marenghini
Alfred Rho
Chevrolet828:24:41
59TS227Sebastian Gonzalez Sebastián González
Carlos Soto Olivares
Ford Victoria828:27:21
60TS257Omar Nestor Bide White Omar Nestor Bide WhiteChevrolet 210830:53:14
61
NC
S1.6155Hans Hugo Hartmann Hans Hugo HartmannBorgward Hansa 1500 RS8Over time limit
62
DNF
S1.6154Jaroslav Juhan Jaroslav Juhan
Antonio Asturias Hall
Porsche 550 Coupé7Mechanical
63
DNF
S1.6162Manfredo Lippmann Manfredo LippmannPorsche 356 Super7Mechanical
64
DNF
TS218Remo Gamalero Remo Gamalero
Juan Carlos Domínguez
Ford 67Mechanical
65
DNF
TS269Mario Reibaldi Mario ReibaldiFord 67Over time limit
66
DNF
TS271Jorge Daponte Jorge DaponteChevrolet 2107Mechanical
67
DNF
T63Liga Nacional del Transporte Luis Leal Solares
Alfredo Garcia Avila
Lincoln Capri6Over time limit
68
DNF
TS233Andres Ferreno Barreiro Andres Ferreno Barreiro
Juan Carlos Suárez
Ford 66DNF
69
DNF
TS262Agustin Aguaviva Agustin AguavivaFord 66DNF
70
DNF
S+1.69O'Farrill Jean Trévoux
Jean Bachereaux
Packard Motto Special5DNF
71
DNF
T57E. Carl Kiekhaefer Frank Menendez
James E. Beake
Chrysler New Yorker5Over time limit
72
DNF
S1.6151Calzado Canada Salvador López ChávezPorsche 3565Engine
73
DNF
TS212Douglas Marimon Douglas MarimonFord 65DNF
74
DNF
TS240Vincente Tirabasso Vincente TirabassoChevrolet5DNF
75
DNF
TS254Angel Lovalvo Angel Lovalvo
Antonio Spampinato
Ford Victoria5DNF
76
DNF
S+1.67Club Francia Amigos de la Panamericana Jean BehraGordini T24S4Accident
77
DNF
S+1.68Club Francia Amigos de la Panamericana Jean LucasGordini T16S4Over time limit
78
DNF
S+1.612Scuderia Guastalla Umberto Maglioli
Piero Cassani
Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta4Lost wheel, accident
79
DNF
S1.6153Guillermo Suhr Guillermo Suhr Contreras
Oscar Alfonso
Porsche 3564Over time limit
80
DNF
TS280Jose Brea Jose Brea
Alfonso Moreno
Ford 64DNF
81
DNF
S+1.634Scuderia Lancia Felice BonettoLancia D24 Pinin Farina3Fatal accident
82
DNF
S+1.650Scuderia Lancia Giovanni BraccoLancia D23 Pinin Farina3Accident
83
DNF
T61Philips Radio Mexico Felix Cerda Loza
José Aguilar
Lincoln Capri3Engine
84
DNF
T80Hayes/McNamamra Keith Andrews
Pete Woods, Jr.
Cadillac Series 623DNF
85
DNF
T149Ray Crawford Ray CrawfordLincoln Capri3Engine
86
DNF
TS221Manuel Hidalgo Manuel Hidalgo
Luis Bicio
Ford 63DNF
87
DNF
TS223Jose Rubiol Roca Jose Rubiol RocaFord 63Engine
88
DNF
TS239Daniel Musso Daniel MussoFord 63DNF
89
DNF
TS241Manuel Cobas Manuel CobasFord 63DNF
90
DNF
TS247Ricardo Julian Manrique Ricardo Julian ManriqueChevrolet3DNF
91
DNF
TS252Fernando Tirabasso Fernando Tirabasso
Antonio Vidal
Ford Victoria3DNF
92
DNF
TS253Hugo Servetto Hugo Servetto
Francisco Vega Monroy
Ford Victoria3DNF
93
DNF
TS286Ruben J. Joly Ruben J. JolyChevrolet3DNF
94
DNF
TS288Eugenio Veicier Eugenio Veicier
Alfonso Hernandez
Chevrolet 2103Accident
95
DNF
TS300Anza Hermanos Rogelio Anza
Ricardo Pola
Ford 63Accident
96
DNF
S+1.64Allen Guiberson Phil Hill
Richie Ginther
Ferrari 340 Mexico Vignale Coupé2Accident
97
DNF
S+1.621Tony Bettenhausen Tony Bettenhausen
Duane Carter
Murrell Belanger
Kurtis-Chrysler 500K2Over time limit
98
DNF
S+1.645Scuderia Guastalla Luigi Chinetti
Alfonso de Portago
Ferrari 375 MM Vignale Spyder2Over time limit
99
DNF
T89Universidad Militar Otto Becker Estrada
Marcel Carrel
Oldsmobile 882DNF
100
DNF
T97Mario Andreini Mario AndreiniMercury Monterey2Over time limit
101
DNF
T150Charles Royal Charles Royal
George Clark
Cadillac Series 622DNF
102
DNF
S1.6159Dr. Ing. Porsche K.G. Karl KlingPorsche 550 Spyder2Drive shaft
103
DNF
S1.6160Dr. Ing. Porsche K.G. Hans HerrmannPorsche 550 Spyder2Steering arm, accident
104
DNF
S1.6165William Doheny Ernie McAfee
George Metger
Siata 208s2DNF
105
DNF
TS219Juan Fernando Piersanti Juan Fernando Piersanti
Oscar Piersanti
Chevrolet2DNF
106
DNF
TS243Osvaldo Jose Mantega Osvaldo Jose Mantega
Ernesto Nunez
Chevrolet 2102DNF
107
DNF
TS251Arnaldo de Tomas Arnaldo de TomasFord Victoria2DNF
108
DNF
S+1.61Robredo Fernando Razo Maciel
Javier Montes de Oca
Chrysler New Yorker Special1Engine
109
DNF
S+1.610José Antonio Solana José Antonio Solana
Alfonso Iniesta
Solana–Oldsmobile1DNF
110
DNF
S+1.613Javier Razo Maciel Oscar Fano Bush
Raul Aurelio Martinez
Glasspar –Mercury1Over time limit
111
DNF
S+1.614Fernando Dujan Mejia Fernando Dujan Mejia
Antonio Mucharras
Cadillac1Over time limit
112
DNF
S+1.616E. Carl Kiekhaefer John Fitch
Bud Boile
Chrysler New Yorker Special1Over time limit
113
DNF
S+1.635Jose Ham Gunam Jose Ham Gunam
Armando Santamaria
Ham Special1Over time limit
114
DNF
T54Fernando Carriles Pagaza Fernando Carriles Pagaza
Jorge Goudet
Lincoln Capri1Over time limit
115
DNF
T56E. Carl Kiekhaefer Bob Korf
Don Ziebell
Chrysler New Yorker1DNF
116
DNF
T58Vinilsa Vladimiro Cheterquin Olanque
Martin Pecastaing
Cadillac Series 621Over time limit
117
DNF
T69H. W. Dietrich Rodger Ward
Miles Spickler
Lincoln Capri1Accident
118
DNF
T92Edward Stringer Edward A. Stringer
David C. Stringer
Cadillac Series 621DNF
119
DNF
T96Arquimedes A. del Saz Arquimedes A. del SazMercury Monterey1Over time limit
120
DNF
T99William Toia Duane CarterLincoln Capri1DNF
121
DNF
T103Juan Jose Courtney Juan Jose Courtney
Carlos Zambrano
Oldsmobile 881DNF
122
DNF
T121Alianza Camioneres de Mexico Abelardo Matamoros Acosta
Raul Blancas
Lincoln Capri1DNF
123
DNF
S1.6199Joaquin Castillo de la Fuente Joaquin Castillo de la FuentePorsche 356 SL1Over time limit
124
DNF
S1.6200Jacqueline Evans de López Jacqueline EvansPorsche 3561Over time limit
125
DNF
TS201Carlos Rogelio Anza Octavio Anza Esquivel
Ricardo Anza
Ford V-81DNF
126
DNF
TS202Bonos del Ahorro Nacional Guillermo Albafull
Billey Saidel
Ford V-81DNF
127
DNF
TS205Jose Antonio Marin Jose Antonio Marin
Miguel Lecuona
Plymouth Belvedere1DNF
128
DNF
TS208A. B. Poe Frank Davis
Dennis Cannon
Plymouth Belvedere1DNF
129
DNF
TS211Dario Ramonda Dario Ramonda
Armando Lopez
Ford 61Over time limit
130
DNF
TS214Chiapas Carlos Alvarado Castanon
Luis Ascencio Cordero
Studebaker Champion1DNF
131
DNF
TS229Alberto Augusto Crespo Alberto Augusto Crespo
Jacinto Alvarez
Ford Victoria1DNF
132
DNF
TS236Roberto Salmon Corona Roberto Salmon Corona
Jorge Sojo Guzman
Ford V-81DNF
133
DNF
TS249Pedro Beamonte Pedro Beamonte
Francisco R. Rodriguez
Ford 61DNF
134
DNF
TS250Kaiser Mexico Manuel Luz MenesesKaiser Manhattan1DNF
135
DNF
TS261Carlos Maria Silva Ferrer Carlos Maria Silva FerrerFord 61DNF
136
DNF
TS265Ramon Enrique Bauzada Ramon Enrique BauzadaFord 61DNF
137
DNF
TS273Marcelo Alos Vercher Marcelo Alos VercherChevrolet 2101DNF
138
DNF
TS279Constante Luis Mundo Constante Luis MundoChevrolet 2101DNF
139
DNF
TS295Benito Flores Estavillo Benito Flores Estavillo
Manuel Calzadillas Vega
Ford 61Over time limit
140
DNF
TS296Carlos Buenaventura Perez Carlos Buenaventura Perez
Guillermo Romero
Mercury Monterey1DNF
141
DNF
S+1.63Owen Gray Owen Gray
E. J. Elliason
Chrysler New Yorker Special0Mechanical
142
DNF
S+1.615Scuderia Guastalla Antonio Stagnoli
Giuseppe Scotuzzi
Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta0Fatal accident
143
DNF
S+1.617Jack Ensley Jack Ensley
Stephen Spitler
Kurtis-Cadillac 500K0Out of fuel
144
DNF
S+1.618Francisco Ibarra Francisco IbarraJaguar C-Type0DNF
145
DNF
S+1.619Jorge Moctezuma Jorge Moctezuma
Antonio Ferreira
Ford V-80Accident
146
DNF
S+1.620E. Carl Kiekhaefer Reginald McFee
George Thompson
Chrysler New Yorker Special0Accident
147
DNF
T65Hilton Motors Bill Vukovich
Vern Houle
Lincoln Capri0Gearbox
148
DNF
T74Raimundo Corona Illescas Raymundo Corona
Jesus Martin del Campo
Packard Mayfair0Accident
149
DNF
T75Aldredo Macias Aldredo Macias
Rodolfo Hugo
Mercury Monterey0Mechanical
150
DNF
T83Rudolph Ryans Rudolph RyansLincoln Capri0Fire
151
DNF
T85Jacobo Muniele Falick Jacobo Muniele FalickLincoln Capri0Mechanical
152
DNF
T148Hugo Aspe Hugo Aspe
Ancieto T. Aspe
Mercury Monterey0Accident
153
DNF
S1.6156Adolf Brudes Adolf BrudesBorgward Hansa 1500 RS0Accident
154
DNF
S1.6157Jacques Péron Jacques PéronO.S.C.A. MT4 11000Tyres
155
DNF
TS203Morelos Olegario Perez Pliego
Guillermo Estrada
Studebaker Champion0Accident
156
DNF
TS213Alfonso Cesar Franc—o Alfonso Cesar Franco
Jose Hernández
Ford 60Accident
157
DNF
TS216Antonio Adrian Zarantonello Antonio Adrian ZarantonelloFord 60Accident
158
DNF
TS220Ramiro Aguilar, Jr. Ramiro Aguilar, Jr.
Joe Blanco
Chevrolet 2100Accident
159
DNF
TS224Surroz Ford Bob Christie
Kenneth M. Wood
Ford 60Accident
160
DNF
TS226Alberto August Mickey Thompson
Rodger Flores
Ford 60Accident
161
DNF
TS230Ernesto Nanni Ernesto NanniChevrolet0Mechanical
162
DNF
TS232Alfredo Cogorno Alfredo CogornoFord 60Mechanical
163
DNF
TS234Radio 620 Oscar Cepeda
Luis Pombo Rivadeneyra
Willys Aero0Accident
164
DNF
TS242Nestor Luis Lafage Nestor Luis LafageFord 60Mechanical
165
DNF
TS246Adolfo Sogolo Adolfo SogoloFord Victoria0Mechanical
166
DNF
TS266Mario Jorge de Poli Mario Jorge de PoliFord 60Mechanical
167
DNF
TS267Jorge Pedro Castellano Jorge Pedro CastellanoFord 60Mechanical
168
DNF
TS270Radio 620 Jorge Cepeda Mier y Teran
Heron Cabrera
Willys Aero0Mechanical
169
DNF
TS275Miguel Gustavo Molinero Miguel Gustavo MolineroFord 60Mechanical
170
DNF
TS285Francisco Casuscelli Francisco CasuscelliPlymouth Belvedere0Mechanical
181
DNF
TS290Federico Herrero Federico HerreroFord 60Mechanical
182
DSQ
T73Richard D. Doane Jim Rathmann
Irving Kirbell
Oldsmobile 88821:16:47/Illegal heads

Class Winners

ClassWinners
Sport Internacional36Lancia D24 Pinin FarinaFangio / Bronzoni
Tourismo Internacional52Lincoln CapriStevenson / Smith
Sport hasta 1600 cc152Porsche 550 CoupéGonzalez / Herrarte Arinao
Tourismo Especial217Chevrolet 210Evans / Krause, Jr.

Standings after the race

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 4 results out of the 7 races could be retained by each manufacturer. Points earned but not counted towards the championship totals are listed within brackets in the above table.