STORY OF THE DAY: Von Trips Proves Ferrari’s New Direction

Wolfgang von Trips won the non-championship Formula Two race at the Solitude circuit on 24 July 1960 in the number 7 Ferrari 156 Dino F2. Against strong opposition from Porsche and Lotus, the victory demonstrated that Ferrari’s emerging rear-engined design could defeat established specialists on one of Europe’s most demanding road circuits.

The long Solitudering combined rapid descents, climbing sections, sweeping bends and tight corners through woodland near Stuttgart. Von Trips controlled these varied demands and defeated Porsche on home ground, turning an experimental appearance into a significant competitive breakthrough for Ferrari.

The 156 Dino F2 developed the rear-engined principles first raced by Ferrari at Monaco earlier that year. It used a 1.5-litre Dino V6 mounted behind the driver in a tubular chassis and became an important precursor to the Ferrari 156 that contested the new 1.5-litre Formula One championship in 1961.

German driver Wolfgang von Trips came from an aristocratic Rhineland family and built his career in sports cars before becoming a leading Ferrari works driver. His Solitude victory displayed the speed and judgment that would carry him to two World Championship Grand Prix wins and a serious title challenge in 1961.