The 1953 season was the second season to be run under Formula 2 rules and the first season to have a race outside Europe. Unfortunately an accident at the Buenos Aries race led to 9 deaths in the crowd. Alberto Ascari drove his Ferrari to his second consecutive drivers championship. After a year injured, Juan Manuel Fangio was back and challenging in his Maserati. The French Grand Prix at Reims saw Mike Hawthorn take his first race victory, the first race win for a British driver.