[1][2] After two fairly poor seasons, Connaught were close to running out of money, and were considering withdrawing from racing altogether.

However they received an invitation to the Syracuse Grand Prix which included an offer of substantial starting money, so decided they would enter.

The Connaughts had yet to arrive, however, so Brooks and Leston attempted to learn the circuit on borrowed Vespas.

This was cause for concern in the Maserati pits, so Musson and Villoresi went back out to try to hold onto the first two starting positions.

None of the other drivers came close, with Robert Manzon in sixth place in the first of the two Gordinis and a second behind Schell.

At the end of the first lap, Musso lead Villoresi, Schell and Brooks, followed by Leston in fifth place after starting from the fifth row of the grid.