Racer 500 from Elie Bayol - 1950
Elie Bayol
Élie Marcel Bayol was born on 28th February 1914 in Marseille, who raced in Formula One for the O.S.C.A. and Gordini teams.
He started his career in 1950 racing 500cc Formula 3 DB-Panhards and progressed to Formula 2 races and hillclimbs around France. His best result was a fourth place in the Circuit de Cadours, in 1951 driving a "Rene Bonnet" 750cc, giving him a budding speedster reputation.
In 1952 he ran his own OSCA F2 car, built by the Maserati Brothers, and finished fourth at Pau.
In 1953, he ran 3 Grand prix, France, Switzerland and Italy driving an Osca with Louis Chiron.
Bayol @ Italian GP 1953
he was fourth again at Pau and obtained a pole position at Albi on the local racing calendar.
He also succeeded the same year to win the Aix les Bains Circuit du Lac Grand Prix (Formula 2).
His Formula One World Championship career consisted of entering 8 races over a 5 year span. After two years with an OSCA, he joined the Gordini team in 1954 with Jean Behra. He was fired on the spot by Amedee Gordini at the "Bordeaux GP" for failing to listen to team order asking him to let Behra take over the drive and finish the race. He then had to finish the race on foot.
In 1955,Gordini calls him back and he drives a "Gordini 16" in Argentina and Monaco. He scored his only 2 championship points with a fifth place finish in Argentina. He also finished fourth at a non-championship event at Pau.
Gordini T16
He then proceeded to race at the "24 hrs of Le Mans" until 1954 - when he suffered head injuries during practice in 1955
In 1956 he raced a few times - mainly Monaco driving a "Gordini T32" and at the "12 hrs of Rheims" - but disappeared from single-seater racing after that.
Gordini T32
He died on 25th May 1995 in La Ciotat, outside of Marseilles.
All photos with permission from www.f1-photo.com Mr paul Henri Cahier
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