Eugenio Castellotti

Former F1 driver
Name = Eugenio Castellotti
Nationality = flagicon|Italy Italian
Years = F1|1955 - F1|1957
Team(s) = Lancia, Ferrari
Races = 14
Championships = 0
Wins = 0
Podiums = 3
Points = 19.5
Poles = 1
Fastest laps = 0
First race = 1955 Argentine Grand Prix
First win =
Last win =
Last race = 1957 Argentine Grand Prix

Eugenio Castellotti (October 10, 1930 - March 14, 1957) was a Formula One driver from Italy.

Driving career

Castellotti was born in Lodi. After being signed by Scuderia Ferrari, Eugenio Castellotti participated in 14 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on January 16, 1955. He secured one pole position, achieved 3 podiums, and scored a total of 19.5 championship points.

He also participated in several non-Championship Formula One races. Castellotti won the March 1956 12 Hours of Sebring at Sebring, Florida. He followed this triumph by winning the Mille Miglia race in Brescia and the Grand Prix for sports cars in Rouen, France."Castellotti, Ace Italian Driver, Killed Testing New Racing Car", New York Times, March 15, 1957, Page 29] Castellotti's Ferrari achieved a time over the convert|210|mi|km|0|sing=on Essarts Circuit of 2 hours 10 minutes 31.1 seconds. ["Castellotti Auto First", New York Times, July 9, 1956, Page 29.]

Born to a wealthy northern Italian family, he acquired a Ferrari at the age of twenty and began racing sports cars in 1952 He was known for his manner and tailored clothes, gaining publicity for his relationship with ballerina and actress, Delia Scala.

Tragic death

He was killed at only 26 years old during a private Ferrari test session at the Modena Autodrome. [Eugenio Castellotti [http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/drv-caseug.html www.grandprix.com] Retrieved 15 February 2007.] Castellotti was testing a new Ferrari for the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring. He crashed against a curve of the Autodrome and his body was hurled convert|100|yd|m|1. He had just been told to accelerate his speed so that he could average 85.127 miles per hour (136.999 km/h). The car turned over several times and ran into a fence where spectators gathered to watch test runs. No one else was injured. Doctors said Castellotti died instantly from a fractured skull.

Legacy

Four years later, another Italian driver, Giulio Cabianca, Castellotti's best friend, fatally crashed in the same Autodrome. Castellotti was considered the greatest Italian driver since Alberto Ascari, who died testing a car on May 26, 1955.

Major career wins (sportscars):
*Mille Miglia
*12 Hours of Sebring
*Sicily Gold Cup
*Circuito di Senigallia
*Portuguese Grand Prix
*1000 km Buenos Aires

Complete Formula One results

() (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.forix.com/8w/castellotti.html The dashing Milanese that stayed young forever. Article on Castellotti at 8w]