1959 BARC 200

Enzo Ferrari sent over two Dino 256 Formula 1 cars for Tony Brooks and Jean Behra to drive. Externally they resembled last year's Dino 246 models but the V6 engine used by Behra now has a capacity of 2,474 c.c. and a rumoured 300 b.h.p. Dunlop disc brakes, tyres and wheels are standardised, as are Koni dampers, and the Perspex bubble over the three Weber carburettera is now open at the front. Another rumour circulating among members of the motoring Press was that both Behra and Brooks were changing gear more than other drivers, indicating that a five-speed gearbox was being used. Brooks had a last season's Dino 246 engine fitted to his car, which meant he was giving away about 15 b.h.p. to Behra and, taking into account his unfamiliarity with the Ferrari, this probably represents the 5-1/2 sec. difference between their practice times, Behra recording 2 min. dead and Brooks 2 min. 5.4 sec.

The two red cars arrived on the backs of hired lorries, with four mechanics, two team managers, some spare wheels, a couple of toolboxes and an electric starter.

B.R.M. arrived with two cars for Schell and Bonnier to drive, and Studeria Centro Sud brought along two Maseratis for da Silva Ramos and an unknown driver (in this country at least), Dale Duncan. Stirling Moss had returned to England apparently well satisfied with the Cooper-B.R.M., saying that it was faster than the Ferraris on the Modena circuit. Maurice Trintignant was down to drive Rob Walker's 2-1/2-litre Cooper-Climax but in the race he drove the Cooper-Borgward in the Formula 2 section of the race. In the Cooper works camp Masten Gregory now had a 2-1/2-litre engine as well as Jack Brabham, while Team Lotus still had only the one car for Graham Hill to drive, Innes Ireland and Alan Stacey once again failing to get a drive. The Formula 1 entry list was made up by Roy Salvadori in Tommy Atkins' Cooper-Maserati and Bruce McLaren in a works 2.2-litre Cooper.