1952 Formula 1 Teams

 Louis Rosier

Races: 38
Podiums: 2
Career Points: 18

Year	Team	Constructor	Points	Position	Engine	Chassis
1950	Carlos 'Charles' Pozzi	Talbot-Lago				T26C
1950	Automobiles Talbot-Darracq SA	Talbot-Lago			Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6	T26C
1950	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago			Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6	T26C
1951	Ecurie Rosier	Talbot-Lago			Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6	T26C
1952	Ecurie Rosier	Ferrari			Ferrari 500 2.0 L4	Ferrari 500 F2
1953	Ecurie Rosier	Ferrari			Ferrari 500 2.0 L4	Ferrari 500 F2
1954	Ecurie Rosier	Ferrari			Ferrari 500 2.0 L4, Ferari 625 2.5 L4	Ferrari 500 F2 Ferrari 625
1954	Officine Alfieri Maserati	Maserati			Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6, Maserati A6 2.0 L6	Maserati 250F Maserati A6GCM
1955	Ecurie Rosier	Maserati			Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	250F
1956	Ecurie Rosier	Maserati			Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	Maserati 250F

By Jeremy McMullen
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In motoracing, when it comes to the subject of a driver's legacy, being one of the 'great ones' is usually synonymous with victories and championships. Yet, there is another legacy, not measured in personal victories or championships, but, in the collective preparation of other racers and future generations of racing drivers. Louis Rosier was a very good race driver; victorious and a champion. But the depth of his legacy, it could be argued, lay in the number of other careers he helped foster.

Louis Rosier was born November 5th, 1905 in Chapdes-Beaufort, France. Louis's father was a wine merchant. As Louis grew older he became an apprentice in an automobile garage. On the side, he began to race motorcycles, mostly in hillclimbing events. Soon after, Rosier opened up his own garage. Thus began his love affair with Renault and Talbot. Louis proved to be an entrepreneur straight-away as he not only opened his own garage, but he also started his own transport company in Clermont-Ferrand. This small city would always hold a special place in Louis' heart and would prove to provide yet another entrepreneurial idea for Rosier later in life.

Toward the end of the 1930s, when Rosier was in his early 20s, he started to take motoracing more seriously. Louis competed in more hillclimbs, and even tried his hand in the 1938 24 Hours of Le Mans. Rosier co-drove a Talbot T150SS Coupe with fellow Frenchman Robert Huguet for the Italian Luigi Chinetti team. Of course, to drive a Talbot for the famously successful Chinetti was a real honor. Unfortunately, Rosier did not experience the same success at Le Mans Chinetti did. The Talbot failed to finish the race after lasting only 81 laps.

Being so close to the outbreak of World War II, Rosier's racing career would go on hold, but he did not go into hiding…well metaphorically. During the war, Rosier worked with the French Resistance. The war years were dangerous times and Rosier lived with that threat each and every day, and was not immune to the effects of those dangers. Rosier was under threat of capture by the Germans but was able to escape. Unfortunately, Rosier's wife and daughter were taken by the Germans instead. Thankfully, Rosier was able to find them at war's end after following them to Germany to try and locate them.

With the end of the war, Rosier was able to go back to his regular job and passion as a racing driver. Perhaps it was the maturity and fearlessness birthed through war experience, but whatever it was, Rosier stepped into a whole new level of competitiveness upon his return to racing. Almost immediately, Louis began to not only do well in races, but actually win them. In 1947, at the Belgian Grand Prix, the Grand Prix de Reims and the Grand Prix de Nice, Rosier was able to finish 6th gaining one point for each in the unofficial world championship at that time. Sandwiched in between those races, Louis took home his first win at the Albi Grand Prix, beating Raymond Sommer. At the last race in France during the 1947 grand prix season, Rosier showed good form yet again. At the Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France in Lyon-Parilly, Louis cam home in 4th place one lap behind race winner Louis Chiron. This result, along with his other good showings, set Rosier up for strong successful years to come.

In 1947, Rosier finished the season and the unofficial championship in 6th place. In 1948, Rosier would build on the previous year's good result and propelled himself three more places higher into 3rd. Rosier earned one win toward the end of the year in October, at the Grand Prix du Salon. This victory, and many other good results kept him up toward the top of the driver's championship. At the Grand Prix de Pau in France, the first race of that year, Louis was able to finish 4th, earning him 3 points toward the year's championship. Rosier did not race again until the next race on French soil, the Grand Prix de L'A.C.F. At this race Rosier was able to secure only 1 point with his 6th place finish. But this was another point toward the 1948 championship. Rosier competed at the next race in Torino, Italy, the Gran Premio d'Italia. The presence of Villoresi, Parnell, Sommer and Ascari meant finishing in the points would be no easy affair. Despite their presence, Louis showed his true prowess in his Talbot-Lago T26C (see Talbot-Lago T26C article) coming home once again in 6th but earning yet another point.

Rosier then ventured over to England for the next round, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, which took place in October of that year. Here, Rosier matched his best result of the season with a second 4th place finish, and yet, another 3 points toward that year's championship.

Year Chassis Engine 1956 Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 1955 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 1954 Ferrari 625 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4, Ferari 625 2.5 L4 1954 Ferrari 500 F2 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4, Ferari 625 2.5 L4 1954 Maserati A6GCM Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6, Maserati A6 2.0 L6 1954 Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6, Maserati A6 2.0 L6 1953 Ferrari 500 F2 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 1952 Ferrari 500 F2 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 1951 T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 1950 T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 1950 T26C 1950 T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6

Confidence was undoubtedly riding high for Rosier as he ventured back to home soil for the next race on the 1948 championship calendar, the Grand Prix du Salon. In the end, Rosier beat out the likes or Parnell, Bira and Chinetti (the man for whom Rosier drove for in his first 24 Hours of Le Mans back in 1938) and took his first win of the season, earning him 9 more points for his championship tally.

The last race of the '48 season took place at Spain's Gran Premio de Pena Rhin, in Barcelona. In Barcelona Rosier had to compete, one more time, against drivers like Bira, Parnell, Ascari, and Villoresi. But Rosier was truly coming into his own as a potent racing driver. Despite not winning the race, the Frenchman came home in 4th, again earning him another 3 points. In the end, Rosier finished the 1948 championship in 3rd with 20 points, some 15 behind championship winner Jean-Pierre Wimille.

In 1949, the chances of Rosier improving upon his 3rd place finish in the championship would be much tougher. With the presence now of Fangio, Farina and the incredibly potent Maserati 4CLT/48, the competition for the championship would be much tougher and tighter. Yet, Rosier proved to be up to the task. The efficiency of the Talbot-Lago's fuel burn, compared to that of the thirsty Maserati, undoubtedly help. The fuel efficiency of the normally-aspirated Talbot-Lago kept it in races though it was outpaced by the performance of the supercharged Alfa Romeos and Maserati. Rosier would again score a victory at the Grand Prix of Belgium at Spa-Francorchamps, but would also score a 3rd, a 6th and a 4th respectively. Along with the win at Spa, Rosier amassed a total of 17 points and finished the season 8th behind most all of the well-known big names of grand prix racing. Truly, Rosier did belong amongst the company of greats. This competition of man and machinery set the stage for the coming of Formula One's existence the following year, and Rosier was not about to miss out.

1950 was a busy and rather successful year for Rosier, and it proved to firmly cement Rosier's reputation as a competitive and talented driver. In 1949, Rosier had incredible duels with drivers like Fangio and Villoresi. The battle resumed in earnest at the Pau Grand Prix in April. Once again Rosier performed well, proving to be one of the top drivers. And, yet again, Rosier came in 3rd behind Fangio and Villoresi.

The promising start didn't make it to Louis' next race at the Grand Prix de Paris at the end of April of that year. Rosier's race did not go well. In fact, the race did not go well for many of the competitors of the race as there were only three finishers. Unfortunately, Rosier was not one of those who finished the race.

At the first event of the new world championship series, Rosier was determined to use his talent to achieve a good result. He entered the first event at Silverstone with his 4.5 liter Talbot-Lago T26 under his own team name of Ecurie Rosier. Rosier qualified a very respectable 9th. This meant Louis would start the race from the 3rd row of the grid. Rosier would build upon his confidence gained from qualifying. In the race Rosier was fast but steady in his T26. Louis drove a splendid race and finished 5th, turning around from the failure to finish he suffered at the GP de Paris only a couple of weeks prior. The 5th place finish meant Rosier had scored 2 points toward the driver's championship.

                       There wasn't much time for Rosier to really enjoy the result at the British Grand Prix, however, as he ventured down to Monte Carlo for the Monaco Grand Prix a week later. Rosier qualified 10th, 7.5+ seconds behind pole-sitter Fangio. The truly unfortunate part of the Monaco Grand Prix for many, including Rosier, was the first-lap incident that took out many of the competitors. Like eight other drivers, Louis' race was done without having even finished one lap. Worse yet, this meant Rosier scored no points to go toward his championship tally. This was something Louis, undoubtedly, was keen to rectify. Louis would find some sense of vindication over the course of the next few races in which he would compete.

The summer months kicked of with a bang. There have been a few father/son driver combinations who have competed in the 24 hours of Le Mans throughout its history. However, only one father/son duo has taken the overall victory at the race. That honor would go to Louis and his son Jean-Louis. This victory at the 24 hour event set Rosier up for a strong run through the rest of the racing season.

The grand prix venture got back on the right track when the championship headed to Switzerland for the Swiss Grand Prix, held at Bremgarten. Rosier showed up racing the usual straight-six Talbot-Lago people grew accustomed to seeing him in, but this time he arrived with the Automobiles Talbot-Darracq SA team. This was to prove to be a good move in the short-term for Louis. Louis qualified in 10th. His performance in the race, however, was even better as he climbed all the way up to a 3rd place finish and 4 points toward the championship.

F1 Drivers From France
Jean Alesi Philippe Alliot René Alexandre Arnoux Marcel Lucien Balsa Élie Marcel Bayol Jean Marie Behra Paul Alexandre Belmondo Jean-Pierre Maurice Georges Beltoise Éric Bernard Christophe Bouchut Jean-Christophe 'Jules' Boullion Sébastien Olivier Bourdais Albert François Cevert Goldenberg Eugene Chaboud Bernard Marie François Alexandre Collomb-Clerc Érik Comas Yannick Dalmas Patrick André Eugène Joseph Depailler Louis José Lucien Dolhem Pascal Fabre Patrick Gaillard Yves Giraud-Cabantous Aldo Gordini	Jean-Marc Gounon Georges Grignard Romain Grosjean Olivier Grouillard André Guelfi François Hesnault Jean-Pierre Alain Jabouille Jean-Pierre Jacques Jarier Max Jean Robert La Caze Jacques-Henri Laffite Franck Lagorce Gérard Larrousse Michel Leclère Pierre Levegh Guy Ligier Henri Louveau Roger Loyer Jean Lucas Jean Lucienbonnet Guy Mairesse Robert Manzon Eugène Martin	François Mazet François Migault Franck Montagny Olivier Panis Henri Pescarolo Charles Pic François Picard Didier Joseph-Lovis Pironi Jacques Pollet Carlos 'Charles' Pozzi Alain Marie Pascal Prost Pierre-Henri Raphanel Louis Rosier Stéphane Sarrazin Jean-Louis Schlesser Joseph Schlesser Georges-Francis 'Johnny' Servoz-Gavin André Simon Raymond Sommer Mike Sparken Philippe Streiff Patrick Daniel Tambay Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant Jean-Eric Vergne

Two weeks later, Rosier was again behind the wheel of one of Automobiles Talbot-Darracq SA's Talbot-Lagos for the Belgian Grand Prix held on the old course at Spa Francorchamps. Setting a time some 16+ seconds behind pole-sitter Farina, Louis qualified 8th, solidly in the middle of the field. This was not indicative of being off the pace however; a fact proven by the race itself. The Alfas of Fangio and Fagioli proved to be powerhouses. However, Louis was able to out-duel the other Alfa of Farina to finish 3rd. A testament to the overwhelming performance of the Alfa Romeos, despite how thirsty the engine may have been, can be seen by the fact Rosier finished the high-speed course over 2 minutes behind!

The next race, the French Grand Prix at Reims, would be Rosier's home grand prix on the world championship calendar and an event full of pride for the Frenchman. A good result at his home grand prix, and at a track he knew rather well, would have given him such confidence going into the final world championship event in Italy, a little over a month later. Rosier qualified rather well in 6th. After 10 laps Rosier's Talbot-Darracq's T26C came to an end with overheating issues. But this is the French Grand Prix in the first ever 'official' world championship series. A Frenchman cannot say, 'die'. And Rosier did no such thing. Fellow Frenchman Charles Pozzi ended up pulling over after only 14 laps and let Rosier take over behind the wheel of his Talbot-Lago for the remainder of the race. Looking into the details it is easy to surmise there wasn't much chance of a podium finish for Rosier, but in the grander scope of things, Rosier and Pozzi were able to finish the race in 6th. Of course, never mind the fact they were the last car running on the track finishing the race some 8 laps down to race winner Fangio.

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Sources:
Cloud, Quintin. 'Formula One Homepage of GP Results and History.' www.fortunecity.com/olympia/grange/54/
http://www.fortunecity.com/olympia/grange/54/

Jenkins, Richard. 'The World Championship drivers - Where are they now?'. OldRacingCars.com. http://www.oldracingcars.com/driver/Louis_Rosier. Retrieved 2007-07-29.

Rosier First In Auto Race, New York Times, June 26, 1950, Page 36.

Grand Prix To Villoresi, New York Times, October 3, 1948, Page S10.

De Graffenried Annexes Grand Prix Auto Classic, New York Times, May 15, 1949, Page S6.

Wikipedia contributors. 'Louis Rosier.' Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2010.

Formula One World Drivers' Champions
1950 G. Farina 1951 J. Fangio 1952 A. Ascari 1953 A. Ascari 1954 J. Fangio 1955 J. Fangio 1956 J. Fangio 1957 J. Fangio 1958 M. Hawthorn 1959 S. Brabham	1960 S. Brabham 1961 P. Hill, Jr 1962 N. Hill 1963 J. Clark, Jr. 1964 J. Surtees 1965 J. Clark, Jr. 1966 S. Brabham 1967 D. Hulme 1968 N. Hill 1969 S. Stewart	1970 K. Rindt 1971 S. Stewart 1972 E. Fittipaldi 1973 S. Stewart 1974 E. Fittipaldi 1975 A. Lauda 1976 J. Hunt 1977 A. Lauda 1978 M. Andretti 1979 J. Scheckter	1980 A. Jones 1981 N. Piquet 1982 K. Rosberg 1983 N. Piquet 1984 A. Lauda 1985 A. Prost 1986 A. Prost 1987 N. Piquet 1988 A. Senna 1989 A. Prost	1990 A. Senna 1991 A. Senna 1992 N. Mansell 1993 A. Prost 1994 M. Schumacher 1995 M. Schumacher 1996 D. Hill 1997 J. Villeneuve 1998 M. Hakkinen 1999 M. Hakkinen	2000 M. Schumacher 2001 M. Schumacher 2002 M. Schumacher 2003 M. Schumacher 2004 M. Schumacher 2005 F. Alonso 2006 F. Alonso 2007 K. Raikkonen 2008 L. Hamilton 2009 J. Button	2010 S. Vettel 2011 S. Vettel 2012 S. Vettel