Eugenio Castellotti

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Eugenio Castellotti
Nationality	Italian
Years	1955 - 1957
Team(s)	Lancia, Ferrari
Races	14
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	3
Points	19.5
Poles	1
Fastest laps	0
First race	1955 Argentine Grand Prix
First win
Last win
Last race	1957 Argentine Grand Prix

Eugenio Castellotti (October 10, 1930 - March 14, 1957) was a Formula One driver from Italy.

Driving career

Castellotti was born in Lodi. After being signed by Scuderia Ferrari, Eugenio Castellotti participated in 14 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on January 16, 1955. He secured one pole position, achieved 3 podiums, and scored a total of 19.5 championship points.

He also participated in several non-Championship Formula One races. Castellotti won the March 1956 12 Hours of Sebring at Sebring, Florida. He followed this triumph by winning the Mille Miglia race in Brescia and the Grand Prix for sports cars in Rouen, France. Castellotti's Ferrari achieved a time over the 210mi Essarts Circuit of 2 hours 10 minutes 31.1 seconds.

Born to a wealthy northern Italian family, he acquired a Ferrari at the age of twenty and began racing sports cars in 1952 He was known for his manner and tailored clothes, gaining publicity for his relationship with ballerina and actress, Delia Scala.

Tragic death

He was killed at only 27 years old during a private Ferrari test session at the Modena Autodrome. Castellotti was testing a new Ferrari for the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring. He crashed against a curve of the Autodrome and his body was hurled 100yd. He had just been told to accelerate his speed so that he could average 85.127 miles per hour (136.999 km/h). The car turned over several times and ran into a fence where spectators gathered to watch test runs. No one else was injured. Doctors said Castellotti died instantly from a fractured skull.

Legacy

Four years later, another Italian driver, Giulio Cabianca, Castellotti's best friend, fatally crashed in the same Autodrome. Castellotti was considered the greatest Italian driver since Alberto Ascari, who died testing a car on May 26, 1955.

Major career wins (sportscars):

• Mille Miglia
• 12 Hours of Sebring
• Sicily Gold Cup
• Circuito di Senigallia
• Portuguese Grand Prix
• 1000 km Buenos Aires

Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Yr	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Team	WDC	Points
1955	Lancia	ARG Ret	MON 2	500	BEL Ret	NED 5	GBR 6	ITA 3		Ferrari	3rd	12
1956	Ferrari	ARG Ret	MON 4	500	BEL Ret	FRA 2	GBR 10	GER Ret	ITA 8	Ferrari	6th	7.5
1957	Ferrari	ARG Ret	MON	500	FRA	GBR	GER	PES	ITA	Ferrari	-	0

External links

• The dashing Milanese that stayed young forever. Article on Castellotti at 8w