Eugenio Castellotti

Eugenio Castellotti (; 10 October 1930 – 14 March 1957) was an Italian racing driver, who competed in Formula One at 14 Grands Prix from to . Nicknamed "il Bello", Castellotti won the Mille Miglia and 12 Hours of Sebring, both in 1956 with Ferrari.

Born and raised in Lombardy, Castellotti began his career in sportscar racing aged 20, driving a Ferrari 166. He took his first major victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix in 1952. The following year, he won the 10 Hours of Messina; he took further podiums in sportscars at the Bari and Monaco Grands Prix in 1952, as well as the Carrera Panamericana in 1953. Castellotti debuted in Formula One with Lancia in , taking his maiden podium in Monaco and becoming the then-youngest polesitter in Formula One history in Belgium, aged 24.

Castellotti contested the final three rounds of 1955 with Ferrari, taking a podium at the to clinch third in the World Drivers' Championship. He retained his seat in , securing his third career podium at the . Amongst his Formula One duties, he continued his sportscar career, winning the 12 Hours of Sebring alongside Juan Manuel Fangio, as well as the Mille Miglia in a 290 MM. Remaining with Ferrari for his campaign, he won the 1000 km Buenos Aires. In March 1957, Castellotti died following an accident whilst testing the Ferrari 801 at Modena.

Driving career Eugenio Castellotti in his 1950 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta s/n 0058M with co-driver Sandro Matranga at Coppa della Toscana on 3 June 1951 as entry #12.48 where they ended in 8th place overall. Castellotti was born in Lodi, Italy. He acquired a Ferrari 166 MM s/n 0058M at the age of twenty, from a local benefactor, and began racing sports cars. but in mid-season the team amalgamated with Scuderia Ferrari, for whom Castellotti drove for the remainder of his career. He participated in 14 World Championship Grands Prix, achieving 3 podiums and scored a total of 19.5 championship points. He secured pole position, with Lancia, at the 1955 Belgian Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver to do so (at age 24 years, seven months and 26 days), a record that stood for 13 years until Jacky Ickx's pole position at the 1968 German Grand Prix.

Castellotti in the Ferrari 121 LM s/n 0558LM at the Swedish Grand Prix on 7 August 1955, where he got third place overall. Castellotti also participated in several non-Championship Formula One races. Castellotti won the March 1956 12 Hours of Sebring at Sebring, Florida partnered with Fangio. Castellotti's Ferrari achieved a total race time of 2 hours 10 minutes 31.1 seconds, winning the race. He was also second in the Nürburgring 1000 km race again partnered with Fangio.

Death Remains of the Ferrari 801 that Castellotti drove in the fatal accident at Modena on 14 March 1957. Castellotti died at 26 years old during a private Ferrari test session at the Aerautodromo di Modena. Castellotti was testing a new Ferrari Grand Prix car for the 1957 season. He had been told by Enzo Ferrari in person to test there and set a fast time, in order to beat an unofficial lap record that had just been set by Jean Behra for Maserati. He hit a high kerb at a chicane and was thrown out of the car; his body was hurled . The car repeatedly overturned before coming to rest in the members' stand. No other people were hurt. According to physicians, Castellotti's skull fracture caused his instant death.

Major career wins (sportscars): 1952: Coppa d'Oro di Sicilia 1952: Portuguese Grand Prix 1953: 10 Hours of Messina 1953: Circuito di Senigallia 1956: Mille Miglia 1956: 12 Hours of Sebring 1957: 1000 km Buenos Aires

Racing record

Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 WDC Points 1955 Scuderia Lancia Lancia D50 Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 ARG MON 500 BEL 3rd 12 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 625 Ferrari 107 2.5 L4 GBR Ferrari 555 Ferrari 106 2.5 L4 NED ITA 1956 Scuderia Ferrari Lancia Ferrari D50 Lancia Ferrari DS50 2.5 V8 ARG MON 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA 6th 7.5 1957 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 801 Lancia Ferrari DS50 2.5 V8 ARG MON 500 FRA GBR GER PES ITA NC 0

Non-championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1955 Scuderia Lancia Lancia D50 Lancia V8 NZL BUE VAL PAU GLO BOR INT NAP ALB CUR COR LON DAR RED DAT Scuderia Ferrari OUT AVO SYR 1956 Scuderia Ferrari Lancia D50 Lancia V8 BUE GLV SYR AIN INT NAP 100 VNW CAE SUS BRH 1957 Scuderia Ferrari Lancia D50 Lancia V8 BUE SYR PAU GLV NAP RMS CAE INT MOD MOR

Indicates shared drive with Luigi Musso