- Achille Varzi
Infobox Person
image_size = 150px
name = Achille Varzi
birth_date = birth date|1904|08|08
birth_place =Galliate ,Italy
death_date = Death date and age|1948|07|01|1904|08|08
death_place = Bremgarten,Switzerland
occupation = Racing driverThis article is on Achille Varzi, Italian racecar driver. See also
Achille Varzi (disambiguation) .Achille Varzi (
August 8 ,1904 –July 1 ,1948 ), was an Italian Grand Prix driver.Career
Born in
Galliate ,province of Novara (Piedmont ), Achille Varzi was the son of a prosperous textile manufacturer. As a young man, he was a successfulmotorcycle racer of a Garelli before switching to auto racing in 1928 where, for the next ten years he would rival the greatTazio Nuvolari .Varzi's first race car was a Type 35
Bugatti but he shortly changed to driving an Alfa Romeo, a brand with which he would score a great many victories during the 1929 Italian racing season. In 1930 Varzi acquired a vehicle from the relatively newMaserati company. He drove it as well as an Alfa Romeo earning his country's racing championship, a feat he would repeat in 1934. One of his big victories came at the prestigiousTarga Florio where he upset the favoredLouis Chiron . Following his win at the 1933Tripoli Grand Prix , Varzi was at the forefront of allegations that the race had been fixed.Varzi won 6 Grand Prix in 1934 driving the
Alfa Romeo P3 , at Alessandria, Tripoli, Targa Florio, Penya Rhin at Barcelona, Coppa Ciano and Nice.With Alfa Romeo he had worked under the management of
Enzo Ferrari , but Varzi decided to join theAuto Union team, racing for them between 1935 and 1937. A lover of the good life, Varzi began having serious personal problems, including an addiction tomorphine and a difficult affair with Ilse Engel/Hubach/Pietsch/Feininger, the wife of a fellow driverPaul Pietsch . Quickly overshadowed by team-mateBernd Rosemeyer , his trips to the winners circle dropped to only four, but he did win his third Tripoli Grand Prix in his third different vehicle. By 1938 he had dropped out of sight and the advent ofWorld War II ended racing in Europe. During the war, Varzi overcame his drug addiction and settled down with his new wife, Norma Colombo. At the end of the War, Varzi made a remarkable comeback at the age of 42. In 1947, he won three minor Grand Prix races and traveled toArgentina to race in theBuenos Aires Grand Prix . However, during practise runs for the 1948Swiss Grand Prix a light rain fell on the Bremgarten track. His car skidded on the wet surface, flipping over and crushing him to death. Varzi's death resulted in the FIA mandating the wearing of crash helmets for racing, which had been optional previously.cite book |first=Philip W|last=Plumb|title=The Clipper Book of Motor Racing Facts|publisher=Clipper Press |location=London |isbn=0851080081 |pages=pp. 42]Buried in his hometown, Achille Varzi is still a racing icon in his native Italy. His relative and namesake, Achille C. Varzi, is Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University. In 1991, author
Giorgio Terruzzi told his story in a book titled "Una curva cieca - Vita di Achille Varzi ". During his career, Achille Varzi competed in 139 races, winning 33. Some of his major victories include:*
Avusrennen 1933
*Coppa Acerbo 1930, 1935
*Coppa Ciano 1929, 1934
*French Grand Prix 1931
*Grand Prix de Monza 1929, 1930
*Grand Prix de Nice 1934
*Gran Premio del Valentino 1946
*Mille Miglia 1934
*Monaco Grand Prix 1933
*Penya Rhin Grand Prix 1934
*Targa Florio 1930, 1934
*San Remo Grand Prix 1937
*Spanish Grand Prix 1930
*Tripoli Grand Prix 1933, 1934, 1936
*Tunis Grand Prix , 1931, 1932
*Turin Grand Prix 1946Complete European Championship results
() (Races in bold indicate pole position)
References
External links
[http://www.achillevarzi.org/default.php Achille Varzi: The Official Website] (Italian)
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