Gianni Marzotto
Conte Giannino " Gianni" Marzotto ( born April 13, 1928 in Valdagno; † July 14, 2012 in Padua ) was an Italian race car driver and entrepreneur.
Career
Gianni Marzotto was the youngest of four brothers Marzotto - Paolo and Vittorio Umberto - all of which operated in the late 1940 's and early 1950's as amateurs in Italy motorsport. Gianni Marzotto was born into a wealthy aristocratic family into it. His grandfather Luigi Marzotto founded a textile company, which became one of Italy's largest fashion groups. The Group also managed a variety of real estate. Today, the Marzotto Group is part of Valentino Fashion Group. All four Marzotto brothers were very popular for their active time in Italy. From this popularity, the youngest still sticking out. On the one hand it was his age. An almost 20 years younger plus successful racing driver was at this time, shortly after the Second World War, something very unusual. Successful racers were then seasoned men, some well over 40 years old. After his second overall victory in the Mille Miglia 1953, he was briefly the most popular athletes of Italy. Part of its popularity was also its elegant appearance. He was always perfectly dressed and in a race car he was sitting with extra tailored for him overalls.
He began his career at the age of 20 years in 1948 at the Targa Florio. But on a Lancia Aprilia he could not finish the race. In 1950, he was already works driver at Ferrari when he won his first Mille Miglia. ( 1948, debuting in this race ). He won on a Ferrari 195 Sport Touring Berlinetta Le Mans. In the same year he also celebrated successes in the 3- hour race at Rome and in the Coppa d' Oro delle Dolomiti. Then to hero worship in Italy it came to his second overall victory in the Mille Miglia in 1953. His duel with the Argentine Formula 1 world champion Juan Manuel Fangio million people watched on the radio.
Once he was in the 24- hour race at Le Mans at the start. In 1953, he was with his brother Paolo fifth in the overall standings. In 1954, after his retirement at the Mille Miglia, at the age of only 26, he withdrew from racing back to the family's textile company to work.