Final Original Era Race 1960
Aston Martin's original Formula One foray ended without a single point.
Aston Martin first entered Formula One with the DBR4, their first open-wheel racing car. The DBR4 was first built and tested in 1957 but did not make its Formula One debut until 1959. This delay was caused by the company prioritising the development of the DBR1 sports car, which went on to win the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans. By the DBR4's world championship debut at the Dutch Grand Prix, it had become outdated and struggled for pace against its competitors, with Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori qualifying 10th and 13th respectively out of 15. Salvadori retired from the race in the early laps with an engine failure, with Shelby's car suffering the same fate later in the race.
Quick Facts
- Key figure
- David Brown
- Vehicle focus
- DBR Series; Early F1 Attempts
- Outcome
- Withdrawal from Factory Racing
- Status
- Historical Milestone
- Modern link
- Predecessor to 2021 Return
Lore & Background
The team's next entry came at the British Grand Prix where Salvadori surprised by qualifying in 2nd place. Early in the race, one of Shelby's ignition magnetos failed, harming his car's pace. The second magneto failed late in the race, causing his retirement. Salvadori could only hold on to 6th place, narrowly missing out on a points finish. At the Portuguese Grand Prix, both cars avoided issues to finish 6th and 8th but still failed to score points. Aston Martin's final entry of the season was the Italian Grand Prix where both cars continued to struggle, qualifying only 17th and 19th. During the race, Salvadori had run as high as 7th before suffering an engine failure whilst Shelby came home to finish 10th. The car was significantly outdated by its rivals and failed to score any points.
Reader's Guide
Aston Martin built the DBR5 to compete in the 1960 season. The DBR5 was based on its predecessor but was lighter and featured an independent suspension. However, the car had a heavy engine in the front and was regularly outclassed by the more commonplace rear-engined cars. The team's first entry of the season came at the Dutch Grand Prix, but the DBR5 was not yet ready to compete.
As a result, only Salvadori entered the race, driving the spare DBR4. He could only qualify 18th. Despite being allowed to start the race, Aston Martin were told by the race organisers that they would not be paid. The team, therefore, refused to start the race.
The DBR5s were ready for the team's next race in Britain, with Salvadori and Maurice Trintignant taking part. Salvadori retired from the race with steering problems, and Trintignant could only finish 11th, five laps behind the leader. Following this string of poor results, with the team failing to score a single championship point, Aston Martin abandoned Formula One entirely after the British Grand Prix to focus on sports car racing.
Did You Know?
- At the 1959 British Grand Prix, Roy Salvadori qualified 2nd and finished 6th, but in 1959 only the top 5 scored points, so 6th was not a narrow miss.
- Aston Martin failed to score any championship points in either the 1959 or 1960 seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines the Final Original Era Race 1960?
This entry marks the symbolic end of Aston Martin's initial factory motorsport chapter under David Brown's leadership. It represents the conclusion of a period defined by the iconic DBR series before a long hiatus in top-tier racing.
Who led Aston Martin during Final Original Era Race 1960?
David Brown was the key figure guiding the company through its original works era from the 1950s into 1960. His decisions ultimately shaped the withdrawal from factory racing that defines this milestone.
What vehicles were associated with Final Original Era Race 1960?
The vehicle focus centered on the DBR series and early Formula One attempts rather than sustained championship campaigns. While renowned for Sports Car dominance at Le Mans, F1 efforts were part of this broader engineering chapter.
How does the story of Final Original Era Race 1960 conclude?
The era concludes with Aston Martin's withdrawal from factory racing after a period defined by significant motorsport achievements. This outcome established the historical status that modern heritage programs now celebrate.
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