Toulo de Graffenried

Former F1 driver
Name = Emmanuel de Graffenried
Nationality = flagicon|Switzerland Swiss
Years = F1|1950 - F1|1954, F1|1956
Team(s) = Maserati, Alfa Romeo
Races = 23 (22 starts)
Championships = 0
Wins = 0
Podiums = 0
Poles = 0
Points = 9
Fastest laps = 0
First race = 1950 British Grand Prix
First win =
Last win =
Last race = 1956 Italian Grand Prix
Baron Emmanuel 'Toulo' de Graffenried (18 May 1914, Paris, France – 22 January 2007, Lonay, Switzerland) was a Swiss motor racing driver. He participated in 23 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 13, 1950, and scored a total of 9 championship points. He also participated in numerous non-Championship Formula One races. [cite web | url = http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/archive/f1/title.html | title = The Formula One Archives | accessdate = 2007-08-04]

Toulo de Graffenried began his racing career in 1936, driving his own Maserati voiturette. Some of his most memorable results came at his home track: the challenging, cobbled, street circuit at Bremgarten near Bern. He won the 1949 British Grand Prix, a year before the FIA World Championship began. In that inaugural year de Graffenried contested five of the season's seven races, with mixed results. He continued to drive in occasional races over the next six years, with his best finish being fourth place at the 1953 Belgian Grand Prix.

Following his retirement from racing, de Graffenried earned his keep operating his car dealership in Lausanne, selling Alfa Romeo, Rolls-Royce and Ferrari automobiles. He also acted as stunt double for Kirk Douglas during the filming of "The Racers". Latterly, he became a common figure at Formula One events during the 1970s and '80s, acting as a corporate ambassador for Phillip Morris's Marlboro cigarette brand.

In recognition of his win at the first British Grand Prix, Toulo de Graffenried made his last appearance at the wheel of a racing car during the 1998 celebrations of Silverstone's 50th anniversary, aged 84. At the time of his death he was the last surviving starter from the inaugural Formula 1 World Championship race, the 1950 British Grand Prix, following the death of Eugène Martin three months previously.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

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References

*"Obituary: 'Toulo' de Graffenried". (2007) Motor Sport, LXXXIII/4, p. 15
*cite web |title= Drivers: Emmanuel de Graffenried | url= http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/drv-degemm.html |work= www.GrandPrix.com |accessdate= 2007-03-02
*cite web |date= 22 January 2007 |url= http://www.f1racing.net/en/news/2007/01/22/former_f1_driver_graffenried_passes_away |title= Former F1 driver Graffenried passes away |accessdate= 2007-03-02 |format= |work= www.F1Racing.net
*cite web |title= Baron Emmanuel "Toulo" de Graffenried |url= http://www.historicracing.com/search_nation.cfm?start=1&page_no=1&driverID=2245&orderType=name&countryCode=CH |work= www.HistoricRacing.com |accessdate= 2007-03-02
*cite web |url= http://www.gpracing.net192.com/drivers/careers/248.cfm |title= Emmanuel de Graffenried |work= www.GPRacing.net192.com |accessdate= 2007-03-02