The Intermstional Trophy Meeting at Silverstone, organised on May 15th by the B.R.D.C. for the enterprising Daily Express, opened in heavy rain but from 5.30 a.m. crowds poured into the stands and enclosures until a record crowd of some 120,000 enthusiastic spectators had assembled — proof positive that motor-racing is an established sport in England. This was a genuine International meeting, with Gonzalez. Trintignant, Maglioli, Manzon, Behra, Simon, Bayol, Mieres and Bira meeting Wharton, Parnell, Salvadori, Moss, Walker, Abecassis, Whitehead and other leading British drivers. An excellent programme had been organised, run off to strict schedule under the aegis of Desmond Scannell, unmarred by serious accidents. As last year with Hawthorn, Ferrari, with Gonzalez and Trintignant, won everything within their reach. Jaguar led the touring cars, Moss the 500s. In spite of the big crowds cars got clear of the circuit quite soon after the last race, a credit to police planning of the traffic arrangements.
Lance Macklin's H.W.M. lasted only a few hundred yards and from flag-fall Gonzalez was in the lead, followed by Rolt and Behra. At the end of lap one Moss, Bira and Maglioli in the other works Ferrari passed Behra. Gonzalez, driving in his new-found steady style, reminiscent of Ascari or Fangio, drew steadily away from Rolt, who had the 2-litre Connaught really wound up to keep ahead of the foreign 2 1/2-litre cars. Alack, on lap six he spun off coming onto the change of surface out of Stowe Corner. Moss just missed him by swinging over to the right and somehow Bira scraped through one the left as the Connaught slid backwards towards him. Tony had to be push-restarted but was in sixth place on lap seven. Moss kept Bira at bay for another three laps but the little Siamese Primce was driving with his former skill and passed Moss on lap ten. Thus they finished, with the second works Ferrari fourth, Behra's Gordini fifth and the Vanwall Special sixth ahead of Rolt.
It had been an unpleasant opening for the drivers on the slippery track, everyone using their throttles with great discretion; Chapman and Beauman experiencing pirouettes nevertheless. Gonzalez made not a single mistake, looking slow but doing a lap at 85.67 m.p.h., to which Moss and Bira could only reply to the tune of 84.3 m.p.h.
