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There will be a rare opportunity at this year’s Classic Winton, Australia’s premier historic racing event, to see the Maserati 250F driven by Sir Stirling Moss to an historic victory in the 1956 Australian Grand Prix in action on the Winton race track on 27-28 May 2006. Following its display at this year’s Australian Grand Prix, marking the 50th anniversary win, owner and driver Peter Giddings has kept the car in Australia specifically to take part in the Winton event. Far from a museum piece, Maserati 250F chassis number 2501 is a regularly used and, as ever, it will be driven hard at Winton, enabling spectators what has made the 250F a legend.

“I have done more miles in this car over the past 30 years than Maserati ever did,” explains Mr Giddings. “In fact, I have worn it out three times, as we have carried out a complete restoration of the car three times to keep it in perfect racing condition. It looks, sounds and goes now exactly as it did when Sir Stirling Moss took the chequered flag 50 years ago in Albert Park and I looking forward to putting it through its paces at Winton in this excellent event.” The Winton Classic will take place the Winton raceway, which is 200 km north of Melbourne, on the weekend of 27-28 May 2006.

MASERATI 250F CHASSIS NUMBER 2501

The first public appearance of Maserati 250F (#2501) was in October 1954 at the Paris Salon. #2501 was whisked off of the stand during the evening prior to the last day, and was driven at the Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona) by Stirling Moss. #2501 was fitted with the first of the new non louvered 1955 body design, setting a pattern for the car throughout its factory team car life. Thus practically on each and every appearance from 1954 to 1957, #2501 incorporated factory updates.

During its factory team career, #2501 was driven by Fangio, Musso, Mantovani, Godia Sales, Moss, Perdisa, Villoresi, Behra, Bonnier, Menditeguy, and Scarlatti, with podiums by Musso (Bordeaux, Naples, Syracuse, and the Dutch GP), Behra (Rheims). Moss (now Sir Stirling Moss) achieved an outstanding podium place in the German Grand Prix, followed by the memorable first overall in the 1956 Australian Grand Prix.

Upon the dissolution of the Maserati racing team at the end of 1957, #2501 was rebuilt as new, renumbered as #2523, and sold to the only female Grand Prix driver of the time, Maria Teresa de Filippis. Subsequent to de Filippis' appearances at the Syracuse, Monaco, Belgian, French, Portuguese, and Italian Grand Prix, #2501 (#2523) was once again campaigned by Scarlatti. Subsequently, #2501 (#2523) ended up in the hands of New Zealander, Brian Prescott (via Ross Jenen). Extensively campaigned during the 1961 - 1962 seasons, Prescott achieved three first places at Levin in April 1961. Via Leon Witte of New Zealand, #2501 (#2523) ended up with Cameron Millar in the U.K., who completely restored the car and fitted the engine #2522.

Engine #2522 achieved first places at Goodwood and the Monaco Grand Prix, together with a third place at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1956 driven by Stirling Moss, a second place at the 1957 Pau GP driven by Harry Schell, and a third place at the 1960 Buenos Aires Grand Prix driven by Munaron. Campaigned extensively in historic racing by Millar, Christopher Mann, and Keith Duly, Peter Giddings acquired #2501 (#2523) in 1986, and has since chalked up over 18 wins and many podium placings in events throughout the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE 250/F1

Engine: In-line six cylinder; 84mm x 75mm = 2492.5cc; compression ratio 12:1; 1954 – 240 bhp @ 7200 rpm, 1957 – 270 bhp @ 8000 rpm; aluminium alloy block; dry cast iron liners; dry sump; seven main bearings, plain; steel crankshaft with six pins; steel connecting rods; double overhead camshafts, two valves per cylinder; single plug; weight with clutch and bellhousing, 197 kg; Marelli ignition; three Weber twin choke 42 DCO3 carbs; standard fuel mixture, 50% methanol, 35% gasoline (usually 80 octane), 10% acetone, 4% benzol, and 1% caster oil. The V-12: 60 degrees between banks; 68.5mm x 66mm = 2476cc; twin plug ignition; three Weber 35 IDM carbs; 310 bhp @ 10,000 rpm.