CX's gone mad! - Human Side of Racing

Bruno Giacomelli beat Jack Brabham, Derek Bell, Dan Gurney, Patrick Tambay, John Watson, Stirling Moss, Roy Salvadori, Innes Ireland, Phil Hill, Richard Attwood, Denny Hulme and… Juan Manuel Fangio at the end of a crazy race between identical Citroën CXs on the Dubai circuit in 1982.

This race, which obviously did not count towards any championship, pitted Formula 1 drivers from all eras against each other, and it was Bruno Giacomelli, an Alfa Romeo driver in the 1982 F1 world championship, who emerged victorious.

Bruno Giacomelli dominated the European F2 championship in 1978, and subsequently participated in 82 Formula 1 Grands Prix for McLaren, Alfa Romeo, Toleman, and Life. In his Alfa 179, he secured pole position for the 1980 US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, led the race, and looked poised to win, but was forced to retire due to an electrical problem (photo below).

The amicable Italian will unfortunately never have such an opportunity to win a Formula One Grand Prix.