The Gordini T32 was an
open-wheel
An open-wheel car is a car with the wheels outside the car's main body, and usually having only one seat. Open-wheel cars contrast with street cars, sports cars, stock cars, and touring cars, which have their wheels below the body or inside fend ...
formula racing
Formula racing, also known as open-wheel racing in North America, is any of several forms of open-wheeled single-seater motorsport. A "formula", first devised by FIA for its post–World War II single-seater races, is a set of regulations for ...
car, designed, developed and built by French manufacturer
Gordini
Gordini () is a division of Renault Sport Technologies (Renault Sport). In the past, it was a sports car manufacturer and Car tuning, performance tuner, established in 1946 by Amédée Gordini (1899–1979), nicknamed "Le Sorcier" (The Sorcerer) ...
, for the and
Formula One
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
World Championship seasons.
Background
In 1955,
Gordini
Gordini () is a division of Renault Sport Technologies (Renault Sport). In the past, it was a sports car manufacturer and Car tuning, performance tuner, established in 1946 by Amédée Gordini (1899–1979), nicknamed "Le Sorcier" (The Sorcerer) ...
presented a completely new
Formula 1
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
racing car. The T32 was unveiled at the
Montlhéry circuit. While Gordini had retained the ladder-type frame construction, the T32 had independent wheel suspension and disc brakes. The eight-cylinder in-line engine had a displacement of 2.5 liters and delivered 250 hp.
However, the car was too heavy and the two copies built were inferior to the competition. Another problem was the cooling of the internal rear brakes. This was remedied by air slots in the body.
Élie Bayol
Élie Marcel Bayol (28 February 1914 in Marseille – 25 May 1995 in La Ciotat) was a French racing driver who raced in Formula One for the O.S.C.A. and Gordini teams. Bayol also raced sports cars, mostly driving DB-Panhards for the Deutsch Bon ...
and
André Pilette
André Théodore Pilette (6 October 1918 – 27 December 1993), son of former Indy 500 participant Théodore Pilette, was a racing driver from Belgium. He participated in 14 Formula One
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide ...
scored their first points with the T32 at the
1956 Monaco Grand Prix
The 1956 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 13 May 1956 at Monaco. It was race 2 of 8 in the 1956 World Championship of Drivers.
The Owen's BRM made their first appearance but after qualifying both cars were withdrawn du ...
, where they shared sixth place. It should remain the only placement with a T32 in the points at a world championship race.
References
{{Reflist
Formula One cars
Open wheel racing cars
1950s cars
Cars of France