Luigi Musso
Luigi Musso ( born July 28, 1924 in Rome, † July 6, 1958 in Reims ) was an Italian Formula 1 and sports car racing driver.
The son of a diplomat
Luigi Musso was the youngest of three sons of an Italian diplomat who had primarily served his country in China. The family was wealthy, so he could afford all sports a " gentleman ". Musso was considered a gifted marksman, horseman and fencer.
From his youth he was passionate about motor racing and was particularly influenced by the successful ambitions of his elder brother Giuseppe in this area. So Luigi Musso bought a small 750 cc Giannini to participate in the "Giro Sicilia " 1950. With a crash in the monument to the heroes of State Giuseppe Garibaldi and a gearbox failure ended this first race.
Breakthrough of the Maserati - junior team
Only in 1952 was able to convince one of his brothers away, to trust him with his Stanguellini with which it showed promising performance Musso. But his real breakthrough became apparent as Maserati with three young drivers a sports car - junior team planned: Sergio Mantovani, Emilio Giletti and even Luigi Musso. Soon Musso had won the title in the 2.5 -liter sports car class. First rides in a Grand Prix - seater already followed in late 1953. 1954 he played both international sports car racing, as well as with a Maserati 250F occasional Formula 1 race, where he attracted attention made to the second place in the Spanish Grand Prix and also not the World Cup belonging Pescara Grand Prix won.
The move to Ferrari
In 1955, he remained at Maserati and was again Italian masters. But at the start of the Formula 1 season 1956 he was engaged by Ferrari, where he - as was then customary in almost all pilots - completed both sports car and Formula 1 races. In Argentina, Juan Manuel Fangio took over his car and won the race, so he shared with this victory. In the 12 - hour race at Sebring, he reached the second place in the Mille Miglia in third. A new victory would have been reached, but after an accident at the 1000 km race at the Nürburgring, he was sidelined for several weeks. In September he was again somewhat recovered. At the Grand Prix in Monza, he refused to surrender his car to Fangio. He lay for a turbulent race with many lead changes and defects at the top and was on his way to victory when his car three laps from the end of the steering arm broke and he had to retire.
After this relative disappointment he remained at Ferrari as a regular team member and won in Buenos Aires in 1957, the 1000 - km race for sports cars and participated in several Grand Prix. A victory at the prestigious Targa Florio rounded off his success. His best year was the Formula 1 season 1957, he finished third in the world championship with 16 points. He also won that year the World Cup not to be counted GP at Reims.
In his 24 Formula 1 races Musso often proved its versatility and reliability, especially in Argentina and France, he showed his best performances and Fangio and Hawthorn was absolutely equal. In addition to the victory in Buenos Aires in 1956 witnessed five second places, a third, a fourth and fifth place of its class.
The fatal accident in Reims
At the French Grand Prix in 1958 in Reims Musso held tight connection to his team mate Mike Hawthorn, when his car shot into a ditch in a long fast corner with around 200 km / h and he himself was thrown out of the seat. On the serious injuries he died several hours later in a hospital in the city.