Eugenio Castellotti

Castellotti was the archetypal Italian racing driver of the fifties: dashing, handsome, very fast, but wild and erratic. He often charged into the lead at the start of a race, only to be overhauled as his tyres gave out or the car cried enough in response to the punishing treatment to which it had been subjected.

Having been presented with a Ferrari sports car by a local benefactor in 1950 when aged only 20, Eugenio entered the spotlight in 1952 with a win in the Portuguese GP, third place in the Bari GP and second in the Monaco GP (held for sports cars that year), as well as a class win in the Circuit of Sicily. The following season saw him claim the first of his three Italian mountain championships, win the Messina 10 Hours in a Ferrari and finish third in the Carrera Panamericana in a Lancia.

Castellotti signed for Lancia for 1954, racing sports cars while waiting patiently for the chance to drive one of their much anticipated Grand Prix cars. In fact it was 1955 before he got his wish, making his Grand Prix debut at the Argentine GP, where he suffered from sun-stroke in the intense heat and finally crashed the car. Back in Europe, however, he made amends, finishing fourth in the Turin GP and second at Pau and – after Ascari had crashed his car into the harbour – Monaco. Days later Ascari was killed in a testing accident, and Castellotti led the team for one race, at Spa, before it was amalgamated with the Scuderia Ferrari, for whom he finished the season, taking third in the drivers’ championship.

The 1956 season saw the Ferrari squad almost embarrassed by an over-supply of cars and drivers, which led to some friction within the team. This was particularly acute between Musso and Castellotti, the two Italians waging their own private duel in the Italian GP at Monza. Eugenio was by now at his peak, particularly in sports cars. A stunning win in atrocious conditions in the Mille Miglia made up in part for his disappointment the previous year when he destroyed his tyres racing too hard too early. Added to this was a victory in the Sebring 12 Hours and second in the Nürburgring 1000 Km (both with Fangio).

More sports car success lay ahead in 1957, Eugenio sharing the first and third cars in the Buenos Aires 1000 Km. On his return to Europe, he was recalled from a holiday to test the latest GP Ferrari at Modena. In wet conditions, the car crashed into a concrete barrier; 27-year-old Castellotti was hurled from the car and killed instantly.