1953 Argentine Grand Prix

Entrants

The inaugural Argentine World Championship Grand Prix gathers four major works teams at the Autódromo Gálvez in Buenos Aires. Ferrari line up reigning champion Alberto Ascari, Nino Farina, Luigi Villoresi, and new signing Mike Hawthorn, who drove a privateer Cooper last year. Maserati bring the returning 1951 champion Juan Manuel Fangio — absent from the championship since clinching his title in Spain — alongside fellow Argentines José Froilán González and Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, and Italian Felice Bonetto. Cooper enter their first works season with the British pair of Alan Brown and John Barber alongside local driver Adolfo Schwelm Cruz. Gordini field Maurice Trintignant, Jean Behra, and Robert Manzon, with Argentine duo Carlos Menditeguy and Pablo Birger (in a Simca-Gordini) rounding out the team.

President Juan Perón has allowed free access to the circuit, and an extraordinary number of spectators are expected along the track for this first World Championship race in South America. Ascari takes his fourth consecutive championship pole position, with Fangio splitting the Ferrari runners on the front row.