31 Facts About Lorenzo Bandini

Lorenzo Bandini was an Italian racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1961 to 1967.

In endurance racing, Bandini won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1963, as well as the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1967, both with Ferrari.

Lorenzo Bandini's racing career started in 1957, driving a borrowed Fiat 1100, before he achieved a class win at the Mille Miglia one year later.

Lorenzo Bandini soon progressed to Formula Junior, where he attracted the attention of Enzo Ferrari.

Lorenzo Bandini made his Formula One debut in 1961 with Scuderia Centro Sud, before signing for Ferrari the following year.

On debut for Ferrari, at the Monaco Grand Prix, Lorenzo Bandini finished third behind Bruce McLaren and teammate Phil Hill, claiming his maiden podium finish.

Lorenzo Bandini scored several podiums in his 1965 and 1966 campaigns, finishing the seasons in sixth and ninth, respectively.

The Lorenzo Bandini Trophy was established in memorial of Bandini, honouring individuals and teams for achievements in Formula One since 1992.

Lorenzo Bandini was born in Barce in Cyrenaica, Libya, then an Italian colony.

Lorenzo Bandini left home and found a job as an apprentice mechanic in the Freddi workshop in Milan.

Lorenzo Bandini made his way into auto racing from competing on motorcycles.

Lorenzo Bandini started racing cars in 1957 in a borrowed Fiat 1100.

Lorenzo Bandini achieved a first class victory at the Mille Miglia, in a Lancia Appia Zagato, in 1958, and a class win the same year in the 500cc Berkeley in the 12-hour race at Monza.

Lorenzo Bandini then purchased a Volpini Formula Junior car and placed third in his first race in Sicily.

Ferrari opted for Baghetti, and Lorenzo Bandini went to drive for Guglielmo "Mimmo" Dei's Scuderia Centro Sud.

Lorenzo Bandini drove his first world championship race at Spa later in 1961.

In 1962 Lorenzo Bandini was hired by Ferrari for the 1962 and 1963 seasons, and moved to Maranello, near the team's headquarters.

For 1963 Lorenzo Bandini was retained by Ferrari for sports car races only.

Lorenzo Bandini won the first Austrian Grand Prix at the Zeltweg circuit and scored two more podiums in Germany and Italy.

At the Mexican Grand Prix, Lorenzo Bandini was running second when he decided to let his teammate John Surtees pass, enabling him to score enough points to win the World Championship.

Lorenzo Bandini was unlucky not to win the French and US Grands Prix that year which he dominated before mechanical problems struck while holding a huge lead.

Lorenzo Bandini's best finish was a second place at the Monaco Grand Prix in a 2.4 liter V-6 Ferrari behind Jackie Stewart's BRM.

Later in the season Lorenzo Bandini helped director John Frankenheimer with his movie Grand Prix.

Lorenzo Bandini recommended the location at the harbour chicane for a crash scene in the movie filmed at the Monte Carlo circuit.

Grand Prix was praised for its realism of racing, to which Lorenzo Bandini played a big role.

In 1967 Lorenzo Bandini won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1000 km of Monza, both teamed with Chris Amon.

On 7 May 1967 Lorenzo Bandini was racing at the Monaco Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari, running second to Denny Hulme.

Lorenzo Bandini was pulled out, unconscious; a second fire occurred afterwards, when the fuel tank itself burst into flames.

Lorenzo Bandini, who had only ever had a minor accident in his racing career, during a 1957 Formula Junior race, was gravely injured.

Lorenzo Bandini was later buried in the Lambrate cemetery, in Milan.

Lorenzo Bandini is portrayed by Francesco Bauco in Ford v Ferrari, a 2019 film about the rivalry between Ford and Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race.