10 Facts About Carlo Chiti

Carlo Chiti was an Italian racing car and engine designer best known for his long association with Alfa Romeo's racing department.

Carlo Chiti worked for Ferrari and was involved in the design of the Ferrari 156 Sharknose car, with which Phil Hill won the 1961 championship.

Carlo Chiti joined Alfa Romeo in 1952 and designed the Alfa Romeo 3000 CM sports car.

At Ferrari Carlo Chiti was involved with the design of the 1958 championship winning car Ferrari 246 F1 together with Vittorio Jano and the Ferrari 156 Sharknose car, with which Phil Hill won the 1961 championship.

Carlo Chiti mentored a new generation of aspiring designers who had begun a period of apprenticeship at the team, including Mauro Forghieri and Gian Paolo Dallara.

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The ATS project was not successful and did not last long and in 1963 Carlo Chiti re-entered competitive motor racing through a new project, Autodelta.

Brabham designer Gordon Murray persuaded Carlo Chiti to produce a V12 engine to allow ground effect to be exploited by the team.

However, during the 1979 Formula One season, Brabham's owner Bernie Ecclestone announced that the team would switch to Ford for the next season, prompting Carlo Chiti to seek permission from Alfa Romeo to start developing a Formula One car on their behalf.

The team's best season was 1983, when Carlo Chiti designed a turbocharged 890T V8 engine, and Alfa Romeo achieved 6th place in the constructors' championship, largely thanks to two second-place finishes for Andrea de Cesaris.

In 1984 Carlo Chiti left Alfa Romeo to set up another company, Motori Moderni which concentrated on producing engines for Formula One.