Achille Varzi

This is the great Achille Varzi (1904-1948), Italian racing driver, driving like a madman in the Auto Union at rain sodden Monaco Grand Prix in 1936 (picture above), where he finished second behind the Mercedes of Rudy Caracciola.

Team mate Bernd Rosemeyer crashed earlier in that chaotic and amazing race, but the great champion held it till the end and finished in the same lap as the winner.  Just look at Varzi’s position behind the wheel.

One of Achille Varzi’s big victories came at the prestigious 1934 Targa Florio, where aboard his Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3, he upset the race favorite, Louis Chiron (Bugatti). Varzi also won six Grand Prix that year, driving the P3. He also became the first driver in history to hold both the Targa Florio and Mille Miglia title in one season.

At the end of the War, Varzi made a remarkable comeback at the age of 42. In 1946 he attempted to race a Maserati for the Indianapolis 500, but failed to qualify. He won a few minor races in 1947, but sadly suffered a fatal accident at the 1948 Swiss Grand Prix, when his Alfa Romeo skidded off the track on the wet surface.