10th, Stirling Moss's Epic Victory in a Underdog Cooper-Climax Shocks Ferrari Dominance
The 1958 Argentine Grand Prix is rightly regarded as one of Moss’s greatest races, but until late in the day it had seemed as if Stirling would not even be taking part.
Over the winter it had been decreed by the FIA that henceforth Formula 1 cars should run on commercially available aviation fuel rather than the alcohol-based ‘dope’ fuels of the past. Vanwall, to whom Moss was contracted, and BRM declared there was insufficient time to modify their engines appropriately, and they would not be going to Buenos Aires.
Although Maserati had officially withdrawn from racing, half a dozen privately-entered 250Fs were entered, and Moss was offered one of the Scuderia Centro-Sud cars. This he didn’t fancy too much, so he approached Rob Walker, suggesting that his Cooper, with 2-litre Climax engine, be entered. Rob agreed, but declined to make the trip himself, a decision he was always to regret.