Lorenzo Bandini

Lorenzo Bandini (21 December 1935 – 10 May 1967) was an Italian racing driver, who competed in Formula One from to . Bandini won the 1964 Austrian Grand Prix with Ferrari. In endurance racing, Bandini won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in , as well as the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1967, both with Ferrari.

Born in Libya and raised in Florence, Bandini was initially a mechanic before competing in motorcycle racing. His racing career started in 1957, driving a borrowed Fiat 1100, before he achieved a class win at the Mille Miglia one year later. He soon progressed to Formula Junior, where he attracted the attention of Enzo Ferrari. Bandini made his Formula One debut in with Scuderia Centro Sud, before signing for Ferrari the following year. On debut for Ferrari, at the , Bandini finished third behind Bruce McLaren and teammate Phil Hill, claiming his maiden podium finish. He competed at seven Grands Prix in for both teams, amongst winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and finishing runner-up at the 12 Hours of Sebring, driving the Ferrari 250 P. Bandini retained his seat at Ferrari in , scoring his sole victory at the —amongst several further podiums—on his way to a career-best fourth in the World Drivers' Championship. He scored several podiums in his and campaigns, finishing the seasons in sixth and ninth, respectively.

During the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix, Bandini was fatally injured when his Ferrari 312 overturned and caught fire. The Lorenzo Bandini Trophy was established in memorial of Bandini, honouring individuals and teams for achievements in Formula One since 1992.

Early life

Bandini was born in Barce in Cyrenaica, Libya, then an Italian colony. The family returned to Italy in 1939 and moved near Florence. His father died when he was 15. Bandini left home and found a job as an apprentice mechanic in the Freddi workshop in Milan. He started racing cars in 1957 in a borrowed Fiat 1100. Goliardo Freddi, acknowledging Bandini's talent, decided to support him. His debut in a works Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix, finishing third.

For 1963, Bandini was retained by Ferrari for sports car races only. Along with Ludovico Scarfiotti, he won the Le Mans 24 Hours race and placed second in the Targa Florio that year, occasionally racing in Formula One for Scuderia Centro Sud.

In 1967, Bandini won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1000 km of Monza, both teamed with Chris Amon.

Accident and death On 7 May 1967, Bandini was racing at the Monaco Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari, running second to Denny Hulme. On the entry to the harbour chicane on the 82nd lap he lost control of his open-wheel 312, its left rear wheel hit the guard rail, and sent it into an erratic skid. Impacting a light pole, the car overturned, collided with protective straw bales which lined the harbour, and trapped Bandini beneath it.

Either sparks ignited fuel from a ruptured tank, or fuel leaked from it onto a hot brake line or exhaust pipe and it burst into flames. Bandini was pulled out, unconscious; a second fire occurred afterwards, due to reignition.

Bandini's funeral was held in Reggiolo on 13 May. 100,000 people attended. He was later buried in the Lambrate cemetery, in Milan.

In popular culture Bandini is portrayed by Francesco Bauco in Ford v Ferrari, a 2019 film about the rivalry between Ford and Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race.

Racing record

Complete Formula One results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete Formula One 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 19 20 21 1961 Scuderia Centro Sud Cooper T53 Maserati 6-1500 1.5 L4 LOM GLV PAU BRX VIE AIN SYR NAP LON SIL SOL KAN DAN MOD FLG Cooper T51 FLG OUL LEW VAL RAN NAT RSA 1962 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 156 Ferrari 178 1.5 V6 CAP BRX LOM LAV GLV PAU AIN INT NAP MAL CLP RMS SOL KAN MED DAN OUL MEX RAN NAT 1963 Scuderia Centro Sud Cooper T53 Maserati 6-1500 1.5 L4 LOM GLV PAU IMO SYR AIN BRM P57 BRM P56 1.5 V8 INT ROM SOL KAN MED AUT OUL Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 156 Ferrari 178 1.5 V6 RAN 1964 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 156 Ferrari 178 1.5 V6 DMT NWT SYR AIN INT SOL MED RAN 1965 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 1512 Ferrari 207 1.5 F12 ROC SYR SMT INT MED RAN 1966 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 246 Ferrari 228 2.4 V6 RSA SYR INT OUL 1967 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312/67 Ferrari 242 3.0 V12 ROC SPC INT SYR OUL ESP

Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1963 S.E.F.A.C. Ferrari Willy Mairesse Nino Vaccarella Ferrari 250 PP3.0208 2nd 2nd S.E.F.A.C. Ferrari Mike Parkes Ferrari 330 LMBP+3.072DNF(Split fuel tank) 1964 S.E.F.A.C. Ferrari John Surtees Ferrari 330 PP+3.0212 3rd 3rd 1966 SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ludovico Scarfiotti Ferrari Dino 206 SP2.0206 5th 2nd

Complete 24 Hours of Daytona results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1967 Ferrari SpA Chris Amon Ferrari 330 P3/4P+2.0666 1st 1st