Charles Pozzi

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Charles Pozzi, born August 27, 1909 – died February 28, 2001, was a French Grand Prix motor racing driver who participated in one Formula One race in the year of its inception.

Born Carlos Alberto Pozzi in Paris, France of Italian parentage, he became known as Charles, the French translation of his name. He was working as an automobile broker and his career as a racecar driver only began when he was already 37 years old. In 1946, he competed in the Grand Prix of Dijon and the Grand Prix of Nantes driving a Delahaye. He appeared in several events the following year including the French and Italian Grands Prix, finishing 5th and 7th respectively. In 1948 he won the Grand Prix du Comminges in the year that it was also the French Grand Prix, and after finishing 6th at the 1950 F1 French Grand Prix he earned a strong second place result at the Grand Prix de Rouen.

Charles Pozzi also raced in endurance events, making five appearances at the 24 hours of Le Mans and winning the Casablanca 12 hours race in 1952 and the next year won the two litre category at the 12 hours of Hyeres. In 1954, he repeated as winner of the Hyeres event and also won the Reims 12 hour race and the "Course de cote de Planfoy."

After his retirement from racing, he founded Charles Pozzi S.A., the official importer of Ferrari and Maserati motor vehicles in France. In 2003, the company was acquired by the Ferrari company.

Pozzi died in 2001 in Levallois-Perret, a suburb in eastern Paris.