Consalvo Sanesi

Consalvo Sanesi

Born	28 March 1911(1911-03-28)
Died	28 July 1998(1998-07-28) (aged 87)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Italian
Active years	1950 – 1951
Teams	Alfa Romeo
Races	5
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	3
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First race	1950 Italian Grand Prix
Last race	1951 British Grand Prix

Consalvo Sanesi (28 March 1911, Terranuova Bracciolini, Arezzo - 28 July 1998, Milan) was best known as the Alfa Romeo works' test driver in the period following World War II, but he also competed in five Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on September 3, 1950. Although, on his day, his experience with the cars meant that he was often one of the fastest men on the racetrack, somehow this rarely translated into good results. He scored only 3 championship points. He found some success driving in sports car racing, continuing into the mid-1960s.

On the 1953 Mille Miglia he posted the fastest stage average speed, 112.8 mph (181.5 km/h), beating greats such as Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, but on this occasion his car let him down and he failed to finish.^[1] A year later he won his class in the Carrera Panamericana.

Sanesi entered an Alfa Romeo in the November 1954 Pan American race in Mexico. In the European touring car class of the event he led at one juncture with a total time of 8 hours, 29 minutes, and 24 seconds. He was overtaken by fellow Italian and Alfa Romeo drivers, Sergio Mantovani and Mario Della Favera.^[2] A couple of days later Sanesi established a 17 minute lead in his car, with the Alfa Romeo marque sweeping the first five positions of the European touring car division.^[3]

He gave up front line racing following a near-death accident during the 1964 12 Hours of Sebring race, when following a crash his Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ burst into flames. Only the prompt and courageous actions of Jocko Maggiocommo, a fellow driver watching at the trackside who dived into the flames and pulled Sanesi clear, saved his life. Sanesi was paired with driver Roberto Bussinello in the event.^[4]

Maggiacomo received a Gentleman of the Road award in November 1964 for his effort in rescuing Sanesi. Maggiacomo was the proprietor of Jocko's Speed Shop in Poughkeepsie, New York. The commendation was presented by the Milan Automobile Club.^[5]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	WDC	Points
1950	Scuderia Alfa Romeo SpA	Alfa Romeo 158	Alfa Romeo Straight-8	GBR	MON	500	SUI	BEL	FRA	ITA Ret		NC	0
1951	Scuderia Alfa Romeo SpA	Alfa Romeo 159	Alfa Romeo Straight-8	SUI 4	500	BEL Ret	FRA 10	GBR 6	GER	ITA	ESP	12th	3

References

1. ^ "Public Proving Ground". TIME. May 4, 1953. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,818396,00.html?iid=chix-sphere. Retrieved 2007-04-05. 
2. ^ Hill Pacing Mexican Auto Race By 39 Seconds After 657 Miles, New York Times, November 21, 1954, Page S1.
3. ^ Co-Pilot Is Killed In Mexican Event, New York Times, November 23, 1954, Page 31.
4. ^ Race Drivers Picked, New York Times, March 18, 1964, Page 51.
5. ^ Italians Honor U.S. Mechanic, New York Times, November 9, 1964, Page 10.

Persondata
Name	Sanesi, Consalvo
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 28, 1911
Place of birth
Date of death	July 28, 1998
Place of death