Crushing one-two for Ferrari with Willy Mairesse and Lorenzo Bandini in Naples GP (1962). Crushing one-two for Prancing Horse in Naples GP.

On 20th May 1962, the twentieth Naples Grand Prix was held on the 2.490 kilometre Posillippo circuit. Two Ferraris were entered by the Scuderia, both 156 F1s, one for the Italian Lorenzo Bandini and the other for Belgium’s Willy Mairesse. 17 cars took part, watched by a big crowd, attracted in part by fine weather in the area.

Only the 10 fastest cars in qualifying were allowed to start the race, leaving a number of the more unusual entrants on the sidelines.

The Ferraris were in a class of their own, dominating the race, with Lorenzo Bandini and Willy Mairesse enjoying a head to head duel for much of the race, lapping the entire field. The win went to Mairesse with Bandini right behind. In the race for the others, Englishman Keith Greene was making a go of it in the Climax-powered Gilby. He finished ahead of Italy’s Carlo Maria Abate in the Porsche entered by Scuderia Reppublica de Venezia.

1962 Naples Grand Prix – Race details
Date: 20 May 1962
Official name: XX Gran Premio di Napoli
Location: Posillipo Circuit, Posillipo, Naples
Course: Permanent racing facility
Course length: 2.491 km (1.548 mi)
Distance: 60 laps, 149.444 km (92.86 mi)

Pole position: Lorenzo Bandini, Ferrari
Time: 1:18.7

Fastest lap
Willy Mairesse, Ferrari
Lorenzo Bandini, Ferrari
Time: 1:17.7

Podium
Willy Mairesse, Ferrari
Lorenzo Bandini, Ferrari
Keith Greene, Gilby-Climax