(Jesse Alexander)
Alfonso de Portago practices his Ferrari 625 prior to the 1955 Pau Grand Prix, a race won by Jean Behra’s factory Maser 250F…
These superb images are from the Jesse Alexander Archive. The factory Maserati’s of #14 Behra, #16 Roberto Mieres and #18 Luigi Musso are in line astern in the Pau paddock, Saturday 10 April 1955.
(Jesse Alexander)
Jean won the race from Eugenio Castellotti in a Lancia D50 and teammate Roberto Mieres in third. de Portago was 8th and the best placed Ferrari, no factory cars were entered by the Scuderia after a poor showing at Turin a fortnight before.
Ascari had the race in hand after a great dice with Behra early but with 20 laps to go had braking problems, the Lancia mechanics did a work around which gave him brakes on the front and allowed him to finish, Jean taking a lucky win.
Eugenio’s Lancia being warmed up by the team, you can feel the staccato-blast of that lovely basso-profundo 2.5 litre V8!? (Jesse Alexander)
The nose of Lancia Team Leader Alberto Ascari’s Lancia D50. Pau 1955, he was 5th. Alberto died only 6weeks later at Monza in a tragic testing accident. (Jesse Alexander)
(Jesse Alexander)
No sign of the admiring duck this time but again its de Portago in his Ferrari, not sure who it is behind, factory Ferrari GP drives would come his way in time.
Sensational shots of a great track, and thankfully still in use.
Photo Credits…
Jesse Alexander Archive, http://www.jessealexander.com
primotipo... 
The Pau shot at the Casino is interesting to compare with some I took at the same location in 2011.
I have something similar with a Maserati in shot.
Plus almost the same alignment to the Casino in other shots but that was a Mini (proper Mini) race.
The casino looks much the same but the straw bales seem to have been discarded. I can’t think why …
Have been to France a few times when in Europe, but not Pau, I must go! M
May 2016 could be a good time to visit.
It’s a Monaco Historique year and the annual Pau Historique weekend is usually scheduled to ensure it does not clash.
Just a thought.