Nanni Galli.

Italian auto sport has lost one of it’s 60’s and 70’s heroes :

Nanni Galli, pictured here in the works Alfa 33/3 at the 1971 Nurburgring 1000 km, passed away at the age of 79.

Born in Bologna, his name with always be associated with Alfa Romeo. He was a works driver at the height of the touring cars era with the Alfa Romeo GTA and later in Sports Prototypes with the 33 Alfa’s under the Autodelta banner for whom he was a works driver.

His career in Formula 1 was more modest. He tried to qualify the very bad McLaren-Alfa at Monza in 1970, but failed to do so.

In 1971 he was seen in a private March, then he tried his luck in a Tecno in 1972 and the Iso-Marlboro in 1973. A total of 17 Grand Prix starts, and 9th as best result in Brazil 1973.

Just before the 1972 French Grand Prix, Galli got a call from Enzo Ferrari. Clay Regazzoni had injured his wrist while … playing football, and he was asked to replace him for that race only.

The Italian qualified 19th and finished the race in a distant 13th position, but realized his childhood dream, driving for the Scuderia.