15 Facts About Nicola Larini

Nicola Larini was born on 19 March 1964 and is an Italian former racing driver, who competed in Formula One between 1987 and 1997.

In touring car racing, Larini won the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft in 1993 and the Italian Superturismo Championship in 1992, both with Alfa Romeo.

Nicola Larini participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting at the 1987 Italian Grand Prix.

Nicola Larini finished second in the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix as a substitute for Ferrari, but only scored points once more in his career.

Nicola Larini enjoyed greater success in touring car racing, primarily for Alfa Romeo.

Nicola Larini started in Italian Formula Three the same season.

Nicola Larini failed to qualify for the Italian Grand Prix, but got into the Spanish Grand Prix, only to retire early on.

Nicola Larini would continue with Osella in the 1989 season, their much-improved car suffering from the lottery of pre-qualifying.

However, Nicola Larini continued to shine, running 6th at the San Marino Grand Prix until a hub failure, and running third at the Canadian Grand Prix until an electrical failure.

Nicola Larini then moved to the new Modena team for the 1991 season, having to face pre-qualifying.

Nicola Larini got through in the opening round, the United States Grand Prix, and held on for seventh place, but the team would develop acute financial difficulties, and were unable to progress.

Nicola Larini kept his racing instincts sharp by winning the Italian Touring Car Championship for Alfa Romeo, and was called up to the Ferrari Formula One team for the end of the year, replacing Ivan Capelli to race-test the active suspension car.

Nicola Larini made a fair impression, but started both races from the back of the grid for technical reasons.

Alfa would drop off the pace for the next two years, with Nicola Larini placing sixth in the German series in 1995, and 11th in the ITC in 1996.

Nicola Larini scored a point on his return at the Australian Grand Prix, but left after five races after a series of disagreements with Peter Sauber.