22 Facts About Antonio Ascari

Antonio Ascari was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing champion.

Antonio Ascari won four Grands Prix before his premature death at the 1925 French Grand Prix.

Antonio Ascari was the father of two-time World Champion Alberto Ascari.

Antonio Ascari left school early and worked for some time in a blacksmith's forge.

Antonio Ascari began racing cars at the top level in 1919.

Antonio Ascari followed it up with a win in the Consuma hillclimb.

Antonio Ascari drove the same car in the 1919 Targa Florio, and was performing well until he skidded off the racetrack into a deep ravine; despite this, his bosses took note of his talent and recruited him into the Alfa Romeo team.

Antonio Ascari granted him the concession for the whole of Lombardy.

Antonio Ascari raced for Alfa Romeo in the 1920 and 1921 Targa Florio, without great success, but in 1922 he finished fourth.

Antonio Ascari was leading the 1923 race when his car broke down just short of the finish line.

Antonio Ascari got it going again, but his teammate, Ugo Sivocci, passed him to win the race, with Ascari finishing second.

Antonio Ascari entered the 1923 Italian Grand Prix, where he was to drive the new P1 car, but the team withdrew from the race after Sivocci was killed during practice.

In 1924, Antonio Ascari was again the winner at Cremona, in the first race of the new P2, designed by Vittorio Jano.

Antonio Ascari suffered frustration again in the 1924 Targa Florio when his car failed within a few hundred yards of victory; Ascari, his mechanic, Giulio Ramponi, and some spectators pushed the car over the line but he was disqualified for receiving outside assistance.

Antonio Ascari suffered a similar fate in the French Grand Prix, then went on to Monza where he won the Italian Grand Prix, leading the race from start to finish.

Antonio Ascari won the race by 21 minutes 58 seconds, with Campari having to drive twice around the circuit on his own to complete his race.

On 26 July 1925, Antonio Ascari took part in the French Grand Prix at the Autodrome de Montlhery, south of Paris.

Antonio Ascari was leading the race when, on lap 23, he swerved at a left handed corner and got caught in some wooden fencing, which caused his car to overturn.

One of his legs was almost severed, an he was bleeding heavily from several wounds, including a head wound; medical help was slow in coming, and Antonio Ascari died in the ambulance on his way to hospital.

Antonio Ascari's death led to an outpouring of grief, both in France and in Italy.

Antonio Ascari's body was put on display in Montlhery, where locals filed past it.

Antonio Ascari died behind the wheel at age 36, and on the 26th of the month.