Paolo Barilla
By Paolo Barilla (* April 21, 1961 in Milan ) is an Italian industrial managers and former race car driver. It acts as a " vice chairman" ( deputy chairman ) of the Italian pasta manufacturer and global market leader Barilla.
Sporting career
As a scion of the famous Italian pasta Barilla Barilla dynasty in 1983 came with a privately entered by him Lancia LC2 Group C in the international motorsport. After some good results (the best was sixth rank with Giorgio Francia at the 1000 km of Spa -Francorchamps ) he got from Lancia a work contract for the 1984 season.
In the very first race - the 1000 km race at Monza - Barilla reached with Mauro Baldi as a teammate in third. This was followed by a fourth place at Silverstone with Baldi, a third place at the 1000 km at the Nurburgring with Alessandro Nannini and end of the season, a second place at the 1000 km from Kyalami with Bob Wollek.
In 1985 Barilla in the Joest Racing team. With this team and the Porsche 956 he celebrated the biggest success of his career: He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Klaus Ludwig and Louis Krages.
In 1987, Barilla joined the single-seater racing and drove for several teams, two little successful years in Formula 3000th Due to his friendship with Giancarlo Minardi, founder and former owner of the Minardi team, as well as the financial support rose by its industrial family Barilla in the season 1989 in formula 1. He made his debut at the Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka and started the following season to eight other Grand Prix. With six events he could not qualify for the race start, a total of Barilla only reached four times the target. Points he could not win it. His best finish was the eleventh place finish at the Grand Prix of San Marino, his best grid position of 14th place at the U.S. Grand Prix. Due to lack of success, he was replaced before the end of the season by his compatriot Gianni Morbidelli. Barilla then ended his motorsport career and joined the family business.
Entrepreneur
Barilla decided after the failure of his sporting career for entry into the parental -established company that has been run by the third generation of his father Guido. Meanwhile, he has moved up together with his brothers Luca and Emanuele to the rank of vice chairman.