26 Facts About Luigi Villoresi

Luigi Villoresi was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver who started racing in Formula One at the time of its inception.

From a prosperous family, Luigi Villoresi could afford to buy a car and began competing in local rallies at the age of twenty-two with a Lancia Lambda and a few years later acquired a Fiat Balilla with which he and his brother Emilio competed in the Mille Miglia.

In 1938, Luigi Villoresi became part of the Maserati team, driving the 8CTF model that Maserati had designed to compete with the dominant German Silver Arrows.

In 1939, Maserati introduced the Maserati 4CL which Luigi Villoresi drove to victory at the 1939 South African Grand Prix.

Luigi Villoresi's racing career was interrupted by the onset of World War II.

Luigi Villoresi finished second in the 1949 Buenos Aires Grand Prix-President Juan Peron Grand Prix.

Luigi Villoresi won the first Grand Prix de Bruxelles, beating Alexander Orley of the United States.

Luigi Villoresi took the lead following 23 laps and came across the finish line in front of Villoresi.

Luigi Villoresi was third in a 60-mile international race at Silverstone in September 1949.

Luigi Villoresi skidded on oil, penetrated a barrier, and killed three spectators at the Grand Prix des Nations race in Geneva.

Luigi Villoresi broke his left leg and suffered head injuries which were treated at a hospital.

Luigi Villoresi finished third, two laps behind the winner, with an average speed of 95.39 miles per hour.

In July 1952 Luigi Villoresi won the French Grand Prix at Les Sables d'Olonne, driving a Ferrari.

Luigi Villoresi captured the three-hour, 208-mile race, with an average speed of 69.3 miles per hour.

Luigi Villoresi drove a Ferrari to win the 1952 Grand Prix of Modena in 1:5:21 over a distance of 100 laps, 230.6-kilometre.

Luigi Villoresi displayed his agility as a driver in the 1953 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Luigi Villoresi then finished third after winner Fangio and Farina, who was two seconds behind at the end.

Already 41 years old, Luigi Villoresi served as an elder statesman for the Formula One team, notably as Alberto Ascari's mentor who became his closest friend.

Luigi Villoresi was critically injured while testing a Lancia Aurelia near Rimini, Italy in April 1954.

Luigi Villoresi was riding with his mechanic when he skidded while attempting to avoid a Fiat driving in the opposite direction.

Luigi Villoresi sustained a number of deep head wounds, facial lacerations, and bruises all over his body.

Luigi Villoresi was listed in serious, but not critical condition.

Luigi Villoresi wrecked his car in the 1956 Grand Prix of Rome, a 2-Litre sports car event.

Luigi Villoresi was one of nine drivers, from a starting field of 303, in a January 1958 Monte Carlo auto rally, who completed the first leg of the rigorous touring car event, without incurring a penalty.

Luigi Villoresi retired from Grand Prix racing in 1957 after 31 Formula One championship starts without a victory but made it to the podium eight times while scoring a total of 49 championship points.

Luigi Villoresi continued rally racing and won the Acropolis Rally in Greece in 1958 before retiring to a home in Modena.