For the History of F1 column today we remember a missed great champion and a talent discovered by Drake, but whose dream ended too soon. Let's get the handkerchiefs ready: today we will tell the story of Lorenzo Bandini.
The origins of Lorenzo Bandini
Lorenzo Bandini was born in el Merj in Libya, on December 21st 1935, from parents Ravenna, when Libya was still an Italian colony. In the 1941 the Bandinis returned to Italy, a Brisighellawhere his father was born and raised John. questi he died by shooting during the Italian Civil War in 1945. After this tragic event, the Bandini family moved to reggiolo. There Lorenzo became a mechanical. He thus got a new one transfer, but this time in Lombardia. More precisely a Milan, in the workshop of what would become the his father-in-law. In fact, working in this workshop made him discover his own two great loves: the wife Margherita and car racing.
As a pilot, Bandini made his debut in 1956 in local races on Fiat. The first success it is dated 1958, at Mille Miglia , its Lancia Appia. He participated in increasingly important competitions, winning in the 500 class a Monza, in Ascari Trophy since 1959 and in Formula Junior.
The arrival in Formula 1
He then attempted thelanding in Formula 1. He succeeded, but with the Central South stable, rather than with the desired Ferrari. The Central South car did not stand out for its performance and Bandini never scored in the points... But finally Enzo Ferrari noticed the abilities of the young pilot. Therefore I call him in his stable in 1962. Unfortunately, however, this too season turned out disappointing for Lorenzo Bandini, except the first race. In fact, at the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix, Lorenzo Bandini achieved a good third place and took part in a few races valid for the world title. The only success of the year was the Mediterranean Grand Prix, disputed at Enna, but this race was not a world championship.
Il 1963 he also went to Formula 1 worse: few appearances on the track and zero podiums. In return, received the title of Absolute Italian Champion thanks to the placings in official and unofficial competitions and the victory of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was in 1964 that the long-awaited one arrived first victory in Formula 1. It was the Austrian Grand Prix, in Zeltweg. The same circuit where 11 years later Vittorio Brambilla he achieved his only victory in Formula 1. The first victory was also the only one for Bandini, but finally the 1964 season was positive, with several podiums. Furthermore, at the time it was not uncommon to win a world championship with just one victory.
Unfortunately, the 1964 it also turned out to be thelast good season for both Lorenzo bandini Both for the Ferrari. In 1965 his Ferrari engine broke several times, so that year they only counted each other two podiums at the start of the season.
His triumphs
So let's summarize i triumphs achieved by Bandini so far: a win, eight podiums and an fourth place overall in the world championship Formula 1. In Formula Juniorinstead, they are counted ten victories. Lorenzo Bandini also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans of the 1963 together with Ludovico Scarfiotti, the 24 Hours of Daytona since 1967 , 1000 km of Monza, always in the 1967.
The dramatic end of Lorenzo Bandini
After another anonymous season in Formula 1, Lorenzo Bandini had sete di win il world. But unfortunately, in his Monaco, the one that had seen him triumph at his debut in '63, found his death, in the '67. After a good start from second place, the driver immediately took command of the race. A few laps later the first unexpected event occurred: Lorenzo Bandini lost his Ferrari when he slipped on an oil stain on Jack Brabham's car. At the restart he found himself third, but with a significant gap from the leaders. It was thestart of a great comeback. Bandini: with less than forty laps to go he was in a strong recovery at the head of the race.
But the Monaco of that time is not the one of today's 78 laps. At the time in Munich it had to be done 100 laps! And after sixty returns the concentration drops. It was therefore tiredness that cost him his life. To recover, Lorenzo Bandini arrived too quickly at the port chicane, hitting a ship's mooring bollard with his Ferrari. Pilot and car took off and landed upside down, catching fireUnfortunately, the rescuers did not realize that the pilot was trapped in the car: they thought he had ended up in the sea. He was the then prince of Spain Juan Carlos that the gravity of the situation was realized, but by now there was nothing left for Bandini to do. With a injury to the spleen ed burns on 60% of the body, the doctors they all tried, but Bandini passed away seventy hours later. It was the 10 May of the 1967.
The memory of Lorenzo Bandini
Following the death of Lorenzo Bandini, some were opened investigations into the dynamics of the accident. Too many already for the time they were the elements on the track that they could prevent tragedy. From metal sheets bollards inside the track, From slowness to the disorganization of the rescuers, without fire suits and powerful fire extinguishers. Unfortunately, in car racing security has not yet been perfected, if we think about the little Dilano Van T'Hoff.
To remember his fellow villager, the Municipality of Brisighella established in 1992 il Lorenzo Bandini Trophy. And Margherita pizza? Margherita remarried years later and then became a mother. In the 1967, however, the Lorenzo's dream was that of also win in Formula 1, perhaps retire, at least from that championship, and become a dad.
Source: motorimagazine.it
