Piero Taruffi
Piero Taruffi ( born October 12, 1906 in Rome, † 12 January 1988 ) was an Italian Formula 1, sports car and motorcycle racing and Motorradweltrekordler.
The intelligent Romans, who had to have a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering, was due to his prematurely white hair everywhere main only as the " Silver Fox" known.
- 2.1 Achievements
- 2.2 Grand Prix wins
- 2.3 Le Mans results
- 3.1 Literature
- 3.2 External links
- 3.3 Notes and references
Life
The traveling engineer
To the legendary Gilera motorcycle team advance as extremely versatile sportsman related Taruffis his engineering skills for decades technically and driving skills. His racing career started already on two wheels beginning of the 1920s to a Fiat to contest soon after 1923, the first car race.
At the Mille Miglia he first took part in 1930 and three years later was even recorded an excellent third place in this showpiece race for sports cars - to a victory however it should be enough until the end of his career.
In 1932, he won on the Pista del Littorio in Rome on a set up by the Scuderia Ferrari Norton motorcycle championship in the 500 cc class.
However, in other respects, he was able to record another Zenit: 1937 he succeeded on a Gilera at that time motorcycle world record with 274.181 km / h over the so-called " flying kilometer ".
Formula 1
In the 1950 Formula 1 season saw the 44 -year-old Piero at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo 158 at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The following year - before retreating Alfas from the World Cup - Taruffi moved to rivals Ferrari and finished right at the Grand Prix of Switzerland behind Juan Manuel Fangio on the Alfetta an excellent second place. Thanks another good placings he ranked in the final standings at the sixth position.
The Formula 1 1952 season should be his best year. At the Grand Prix of Switzerland, which was again held in Bremgarten bei Bern, Taruffi reached his first and only victory. He benefited from the absence Alberto Ascaris, who raced in the Indianapolis 500, as well as by the failure of Giuseppe Farina. Also with the other races of the Italians scored well and reached in the final with 22 points a good third place.
After he had signed in 1954 a contract with Lancia to deny sports car racing with this brand, " dried up " Piero Taruffis Formula 1 career literally - after he played only sporadically some races on Mercedes, Maserati and Vanwall to 1956 completely from withdraw seater sports.
Late Coronation of the sports car career and author
During his time Ferrari could Taruffi 1951, the Carrera Panamericana win.
His move to Lancia should the man from Rome still not regret it since 1954 both him the victory at the Targa Florio and the Giro di Sicilia succeeded, while also in 1955 was won by the latter race.
1957 could the Italians with a victory for Ferrari at the last Mille Miglia, the old score to settle with his favorite race. This he felt the circle of his active career decided and retired with 51 years of racing finally back.
The book written by him " Tecnica e della guida pratica Automobilistica since corsa " (1958) is particularly true in English professional circles as a classic of motorsport literature.