Luigi Cimarosti

01. Feb 2022

by Ziv Knoll

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Luigi Cimarosti (1930–2019) was a legendary Italian-born Belgian race car tuner and engineer, famously known as the “Sorcier de Comblain-au-Pont” (the Wizard of Comblain-au-Pont). Luigi is seen here-above with one of his drivers Claude Dewael, on the Francorchamps pitwall. He was the founder of Luigi Racing, a premier Belgian racing team that became one of the most successful names in European touring car history.

Professional Career and Accomplishments:

Cimarosti emigrated from Italy to Belgium after World War II, initially working as a coal miner before following his passion for mechanics. He established a workshop and BMW dealership in Comblain-au-Pont, which served as the hub for his racing operations.

Vehicle Specialties: He was most renowned for his work with the BMW 3.0 CSL, but he also prepared competition versions of the Alfa Romeo GTV6, Ford Sierra Cosworth, Chevrolet Camaro, and was the first to build a racing version of the Dodge Viper.
Major Victories:
- 24 Hours of Spa: Secured back-to-back overall victories in 1974 and 1975.
- 24 Hours of Le Mans: Won the IMSA class in 1977 with a BMW 3.0 CSL.
Notable Drivers: His team hosted legendary drivers such as Hans-Joachim Stuck, Pierre Dieudonné, Gunnar Nilsson, and Jean Xhenceval.

Personal Life and Legacy:

Cimarosti died on December 20, 2019, at the age of 89. His life story and contributions to motorsport are documented in the biography Luigi, une vie pour la course (Luigi, a life for racing), published in 2021. In July 2025, the “Luigi Festival” was held to honor his enduring legacy in the racing world.