About Franco Cortese
Lived 1903 – 1986 (aged 83). Franco Cortese was an Italian racing automobile driver.
Franco Cortese (10 February 1903 in Oggebbio, Piedmont – 13 November 1986 in Milan) was an Italian racing driver. He entered 156 races between 1927 and 1958, of which one was a Formula 1 Grand Prix and three were Formula 2 Grands Prix. Cortese holds the record of most finishes in a Mille Miglia race: fourteen.
Besides having entered many races in an Alfa Romeo, Cortese became most famous for his affiliation with Ferrari between 1947 and 1949, driving the first race car built by Ferrari in 1947, the Ferrari 125 S, which brought victories at four races in 1947. In 1950, he co-founded the Formula One team Scuderia Ambrosiana with Giovanni Lurani, Luigi Villoresi and Eugenio Minetti.
Complete results
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Franco Cortese's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Franco Cortese's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Franco Cortese?
racecar driver
When was Franco Cortese born?
Franco Cortese was born on 10 February 1903 in Oggebbio.
When did Franco Cortese die?
Franco Cortese died on 13 November 1986 in Milan.
What was Franco Cortese's occupation?
Franco Cortese was a racing automobile driver.
What nationality was Franco Cortese?
Franco Cortese was Italian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Franco Cortese. https://biography.guide/franco-cortese/
MLA: "Franco Cortese." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/franco-cortese/.
Chicago: "Franco Cortese." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/franco-cortese/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:05 UTC