Casoni, gentleman-driver

Mario Casoni at the wheel of the ATE Team Porsche 908/03, which he shared with Reinhold Joest, at the 1972 Brands Hatch 1000 km (photo above). This crew retired after 110 laps due to a broken engine mount.

The race, like the entire 1972 manufacturers’ championship (except Le Mans), was dominated by the Ferrari 312 PB. The Ickx-Andretti crew took the victory ahead of the sister car of Peterson-Schenken, while Revson-Stommelen secured third place in an Alfa Romeo T33/TT/3.

Mario Casoni, born on September 4, 1939, is a former Italian entrepreneur and racing driver. His motorsport career began in 1963 in Italian Formula Junior and ended in 1982 when he drove a Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo in the 1000 km of Monza.

Casoni won the 1965 Mugello 500 km in a Ferrari 250 LM and finished third (with Lucien Bianchi) in the 1968 Targa Florio in an Alfa Romeo Tipo 33. Casoni also participated six times in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and achieved a fine third place (with Reinhold Joest) in 1972 and a fourth place in 1975, again with Joest.