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Lorenzo Bandini

25. Mar 2023 
by Ziv Knoll
5384 views

Lorenzo Bandini (1935-1967) was an Italian racing driver who raced in Formula 1 and in Sports Cars for the Scuderia Centro Sud and for Ferrari.

He achieved his first class victory at the Mille Miglia in 1958, driving a Lancia Appia Zagato. In 1959 and 1960, he drove a Formula Junior Stanguellini and caught the attention of Formula 1 teams. He then moved to F1 in 1961 with the Scuderia Centro Sud, and finished third at the non-championship race in Pau.

Early 1962, Bandini was hired by Ferrari, and on his debut for the famous Scuderia finished an excellent third at the Monaco Grand Prix. For 1963, the Italian was retained by Enzo Ferrari for sports cars races only, and along with Ludovico Scarfiotti, he won the Le Mans 24 Hours and finished second in the Targa Florio.

In 1964, Lorenzo Bandini had his best Formula One season. He won the Austrian Grand Prix at the Zeltweg circuit and helped team mate Surtees win the drivers’ title, by letting him pass at the Mexican Grand Prix.

In 1965 Bandini won the Targa Florio again, and in 1966, still with the Scuderia Ferrari, he was unlucky not to win the French and the US Grand Prix, due to mechanical problems.

The 1967 season had started well; Lorenzo Bandini and Chris Amon won the Daytona 24 Hours and the 1000 km of Monza. Sadly, disaster struck, on the 7th of May 1967, when Bandini was racing at the Monaco Grand Prix. Running second to Denny Hulme on the 82nd lap (races where very long back then), he lost control of his car at the chicane, he impacted a pole and the car overturned and caught fire.

The unfortunate driver was very badly burned over 70% of his body and succumbed to his injuries three days later. Bandini’s funeral was held in Reggiolo on 13th May. More than hundred thousand people attended the funeral.

Source: DR

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