1950s in motorsport

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This article documents the status of motorsports in the 1950s.

United States[]

• Due to the rising popularity of stock car racing, the new Strictly Stock Series is established as the Grand National. The series becomes phenomenally popular, and attracts numerous domestic manufacturers.
• The Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Thunderbird become the first true American sports cars. Late in the decade, the Corvette would adopt a V8 engine and become heavily competitive in endurance racing.
• The Indianapolis 500 is added to the new grand prix schedule. It is later replaced with a United States Grand Prix in 1959.^[1]
• Racing legend Phil Hill debuts in 1958.^[2]
• The SCCA National Sports Car Championship was first contested in 1951, America's first championship for sports cars.
• The Twelve Hours of Sebring is first held
• NASCAR legend Richard Petty debuts
• Debut of racing legend AJ Foyt in IndyCar
• The Hudson Hornet is dominant in NASCAR

Europe[]

• Grand prix racing returns after World War II temporarily halts automobile production. The new grand prix series is known as Formula One.
• The debut of racing legend Stirling Moss.^[3]
• The establishment of the World Sports Car Championship, composed mainly of endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• The beginnings of the British Saloon Car Championship, now the British Touring Car Championship.
• The Mille Miglia is last held after thirty years.
• The Portuguese Grand Prix debuts in 1958
• The Dutch Grand Prix is first held in 1955
• The Spanish Grand Prix is first held in 1951
• The Porsche 550 Spyder and Porsche 356 are introduced, competitive in motorsport
• The Maserati Birdcage is introduced as a competitive racing prototype
• The Jaguar D-Type is introduced as a competitive racecar
• The Lotus Eleven is introduced for motorsport
• The Original Mini debuts. It is competitive in touring car racing.
• The original Volkswagen Beetle debuts, becoming competitive in touring car racing

Australia[]

• The rise of famous racer and race car builder Jack Brabham.^[4]

South America[]

• The Carrera Panamericana is held from 1950-1954
• The Argentine Grand Prix debuts in 1953 as the first F1 race in South America

Africa[]

• The Moroccan Grand Prix, the first F1 race to be held in Africa, is held in 1958

See also[]

• 1960s in motorsport

References[]

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