The 3rd London Trophy was a

motor race Motorsport, motorsports or motor sport is a global term used to encompass the group of competitive sporting events which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles. The terminology can also be used to describe forms of competition of two ...

, run to

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

rules, held on 30 July 1955 at

Crystal Palace Circuit Crystal Palace circuit is a former motor racing circuit in Crystal Palace Park in the Crystal Palace area of south London, England. The route of the track is still largely extant but the roads are now mainly used for access to the Crystal Palace ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. The race was run over two heats of 10 laps and a final of 15 laps, and was won by British driver

Mike Hawthorn John Michael Hawthorn (10 April 1929 – 22 January 1959) was a British racing driver. He became the United Kingdom's first Formula One World Champion driver in 1958, whereupon he announced his retirement, having been profoundly affected by the ...

in a

Maserati 250F The Maserati 250F was a racing car made by Maserati of Italy used in '2.5 litre' Formula One racing between January 1954 and November 1960. Twenty-six examples were made. Mechanical details The 250F principally used the SSG 220 bhp (@ 7400 rpm) 2 ...

. Hawthorn started from pole position in Heat 1 and set fastest lap in the heat, and also in the final.

Vanwall Vanwall was a motor racing team and racing car constructor that was active in Formula One during the 1950s. Founded by Tony Vandervell, the Vanwall name was derived by combining the name of the team owner with that of his Thinwall bearings ...

driver

Harry Schell Henry O'Reilly "Harry" Schell (June 29, 1921 – May 13, 1960) was an American Grand Prix motor racing driver. He was the first American driver to start a Formula One Grand Prix. Early life Schell was born in Paris, France, the son of expatri ...

started from pole position in Heat 2 and set fastest lap in that heat. Schell was second in the final and

Roy Salvadori Roy Francesco Salvadori (12 May 1922 – 3 June 2012) was a British racing driver and team manager. He was born in Dovercourt, Essex, to parents of Italian descent. He graduated to Formula One by 1952 and competed regularly until 1962 for a su ...

in a Maserati 250F was third. Despite most Internet sources describing this race as the London Trophy, it really should be called the International Trophy (not to be confused with the

BRDC International Trophy The International Trophy is a prize awarded annually by the British Racing Drivers' Club to the winner of a motor race held at the Silverstone Circuit, England. For many years it formed the premier non-championship Formula One event in Britain, al ...

). The actual London Trophy was a

Formula Libre Formula Libre, also known as Formule Libre, is a form of automobile racing allowing a wide variety of types, ages and makes of purpose-built racing cars to compete "head to head". This can make for some interesting matchups, and provides the oppor ...

race also held at Crystal Palace on 30 May 1955 and was won by Peter Collins in a Maserati 250F.

Entries

¹Numbers 4, 14 and 22 DNA

Results

Heats

Final

Grid positions for the final were determined by the drivers' finishing times in the heats. Only the top six drivers from each heat qualified for the final.

References

{{F1 NC race report, Name_of_race=

London Trophy London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major se ...

, Year_of_race=1955, Previous_race_in_season= 1955 Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Race, Next_race_in_season=

1955 Daily Record Trophy The 3rd Daily Record Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 6 August 1955 at Charterhall Circuit, Berwickshire. The race was run over two heats of 15 laps and a final of 20 laps, and was won by British driver Bob Gerard in a M ...

, Previous_year's_race= 1954 London Trophy, Next_year's_race=—