Clemente Biondetti

Clemente Biondetti

Born	18 August 1898(1898-08-18)
Died	24 February 1955(1955-02-24) (aged 56)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Italian
Active years	1950
Teams	privateer Ferrari
Races	1
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First race	1950 Italian Grand Prix
Last race	1950 Italian Grand Prix

Clemente Biondetti (18 August 1898 – 24 February 1955) was an Italian auto racing driver.

Biography

Born in Buddusò, Sardinia, into a working class family, Biondetti began racing motorcycles in 1923 but in 1927 turned to automobiles. By 1931 his performance earned him a spot in Grand Prix motor racing with the Maserati factory team.

The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B MM that won the 1938 Mille Miglia driven by Clemente Biondetti. Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, Philadelphia,PA, USA

His success racing on circuits was minimal, but he was one of the best in tough endurance events. Driving an Alfa Romeo 8C 2900b, Clemente Biondetti won the 1938 Mille Miglia for sports cars and at the Coppa Ciano finished second in the voiturette class then third in the main event. In 1939, he won the Coppa Acerbo voiturette class and took second place at the Swiss Grand Prix. His racing career came to a halt following the outbreak of World War II in 1940. By the time he was able to resume racing after the war, he was already 49 years old. Nevertheless, he dominated Italian endurance racing, driving to victory in the Mille Miglia for three straight years from 1947 through 1949 and the Targa Florio in 1948 and 1949. He won more Mille Miglias than any other driver in history.

Clemente Biondetti participated in one Formula one World Championship event, the 1950 Italian Grand Prix. Driving a self-built Ferrari-Jaguar hybrid car, engine problems forced him out of the race thus he failed to score any championship points. Biondetti loved racing cars and continued to compete in sports car and endurance events, earning a second place finish in a Ferrari at the 12 Hours of Pescara in 1952 against much younger drivers. After suffering from cancer for a number of years, he was forced to retire in 1954. He died in Florence early the following year at 57 years old.

Major victories

• Coppa Acerbo 1939
• Mille Miglia 1938, 1947, 1948, 1949
• Targa Florio 1948, 1949

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	WDC	Points
1950	Clemente Biondetti	Ferrari 166S	Jaguar Straight-6	GBR	MON	500	SUI	BEL	FRA	ITA Ret	NC	0

Complete European Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Entrant	Team	1	2	3	4	5	EDC	Points
1931	Officine A Maserati	Maserati	ITA	FRA 3	BEL			23=	19
1936	Scuderia Maremmana	Maserati	MON	GER	SUI Ret	ITA Ret		25	29
1937	Scuderia Maremmana	Maserati	BEL	GER	MON Ret	SUI		15=	34
	Private entry	Alfa Romeo					ITA Ret
1938	Alfa Corse	Alfa Romeo	FRA	GER Ret	SUI	ITA 4		13	27
1939	Alfa Corse	Alfa Romeo	BEL	FRA	GER	SUI 9		16=	28

Persondata
Name	Biondetti, Clemente
Alternative names
Short description	Italian auto racing driver
Date of birth	18 August 1898
Place of birth	Buddusò, Sardinia
Date of death	24 February 1955
Place of death	Florence