Talbot-Lago T26C

Talbot-Lago

Company type	Company
Industry	Automotive
Headquarters	France
Products	Automobiles, Racing cars

The Talbot-Lago T26C was a single-seat racing automobile engineered by the French company Talbot-Lago. It utilized a steel box-section frame, paired with a naturally aspirated straight-six engine delivering 260 bhp, and featured a four-speed Wilson preselector transmission. Both the chassis and gearbox traced their origins to Talbot-Lago's 1930s racing models and post-war touring vehicles. Ahead of the 1950 Formula One season, the T26C received enhancements including a more robust engine with updated carburetion and dual spark plugs, designated as the T26C-DA (Double Allumage).

Racing history

The T26C made its first appearance at the 1948 Monaco Grand Prix, where driver Louis Chiron achieved a second-place finish. It claimed Grand Prix victories in 1949, with Louis Rosier triumphing at the 1949 Belgian Grand Prix and Chiron winning the 1949 French Grand Prix.

An adapted two-seat variant, known as the T26C-GS (Grand Sport), outfitted with cycle fenders and lighting equipment, secured victory at the esteemed 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, piloted by Louis Rosier alongside Jean-Louis Rosier.

Australian racer Doug Whiteford secured back-to-back wins at the 1952 Australian Grand Prix and 1953 Australian Grand Prix driving a Talbot-Lago T26C.

Technical data

Specification	T26C (F1)
Engine layout:	Front-mounted inline six-cylinder
Capacity:	4482 cm³
Bore x stroke dimensions:	93 x 110 mm
Peak power output:	260 hp at 5,000 rpm
Valve operation:	Two camshafts in block, two pushrod valves per cylinder
Compression ratio:	11.0:1
Carburetor setup:	Three Zenith 50 HN carburetors
Transmission type:	4-speed Wilson preselector gearbox
Front suspension:	Double wishbones with transverse leaf springs
Rear suspension:	Rigid axle supported by longitudinal leaf springs
Braking system:	Hydraulic drum brakes
Chassis and body:	Steel box beam frame combined with aluminum bodywork
Wheelbase length:	250 cm
Dry weight:	950 kg
Maximum velocity:	270 km/h

Factory team participation

(key)

align="left"| Eugene Martin

Year	Chassis	Engine	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1950	T26C-DA	Talbot inline six-cylinder engine		GBR	MON	500	SUI	BEL	FRA	ITA
			Yves Giraud-Cabantous	4th place	Did Not Appear		Retired	Retired	8th place		-
			Retired			style="background:#efcfff;"| Retired

* Denotes shared driving duties with Charles Pozzi in a privately entered T26C

Note that before this period, there was no official Constructors' World Championship, so points were not allocated to manufacturers.

Performance of Additional Talbot-Lago Vehicles

(key) (Bold denotes pole position; italics signify fastest lap.)

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1. "align= left "|Template:Flagicon ArgentinaJosé Froilán González'"
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1. "align= left "|Template:Flagicon FranceGeorges Grignard'"
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Year	Team	Chassis	Engine	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
1950	Ecurie Rosier	T26C	Talbot L6		GBR	MON	500	SUI	BEL	FRA	ITA
				Louis Rosier	5	Retired					4
				Henri Louveau							Retired
				Charles Pozzi		Did Not Appear
	private entries										6*
				Raymond Sommer					Retired		Retired
				Pierre Levegh	Did Not Appear			7	Retired	Retired
				Guy Mairesse							Retired
	Ecurie Belge			Johnny Claes	11	7		10	8	Retired	Retired
	Ecurie Bleue			Harry Schell				8
	Ecurie Leutitia			Eugene Chaboud					Retired
	Philippe Étancelin				'	'	'	'	'	5*	'	'
	' T26C T26C-DA'	Philippe Étancelin'		8'	Retired'	'	Retired'	'	5*'	5'	'
1951'	Ecurie Rosier'	T26C T26C-DA T26C-GS'		'	' SUI'	' 500'	' BEL'	' FRA'	' GBR'	' GER'	' ITA'	' ESP'
Louis Rosier'	9'	' '		4'	Retired'	10'	8'	7'	7'
Template:Country data MonacoTemplate:Namespace detect showall Louis Chiron'	' '	' '		Retired'	6'	Retired'	Retired'	Retired'	Retired'
' Ecurie Belge'	Johnny Claes'	13'		' '	7'	Retired'	13'	11'	Retired'	Retired'
Ecurie Belgique'	Template:Flagicon Belgium Jacques Swaters'	" "		" "	" "	" "	" "	10'	Retired'	" "
Template:Flagicon BelgiumAndré Pilette'	" "	" "		6'	" "	" "	" "	" "	" "
"rowspan=9" private entries'	Template:Flagicon FranceYves Giraud-Cabantous'	Retired'		" "	5'	7'	" "	Retired'	8'	Retired'
Template:Flagicon FrancePhilippe Étancelin'	10'	" "		Retired'	Retired'	" "	Retired'	" "	8'
Template:Flagicon FranceGuy Mairesse'	14'	" "		" "	9'	" "	" "	" "	" "
Template:Flagicon FranceEugene Chaboud'	" "	" "		" "	8'	" "	" "	" "	" "
Template:Flagicon FranceHenri Louveau'	Retired'	" "		" "	" "	" "	" "	" "	" "
Template:Flagicon FrancePierre Levegh'	" "	" "		8’	" "	" "	9’	Retired’ " "

* Denotes a shared driving effort