Clemente Biondetti

Clemente Biondetti
Born 18 August 1898
Buddusò, Italy
Died 24 February 1955 (aged 56)
Florence, Italy
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality Italy Italian
Active years 1950
Teams privateer Ferrari
Races 1
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podiums 0
Career points 0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First race 1950 Italian Grand Prix
Last race 1950 Italian Grand Prix

Clemente Biondetti (18 August 1898 – 24 February 1955) was an Italian auto racing driver. Born into a working-class family, Biondetti raced motorcycles before turning to automobiles where he had greater success.

Biography

Born in Buddusò, Sardinia, into a working-class family, Biondetti began his racing career in motorcycles in 1923 but in 1927 turned to automobiles. By 1931 his performance earned him a spot in Grand Prix motor racing with the Maserati factory team.

The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B MM that won the 1938 Mille Miglia driven by Clemente Biondetti. Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, Philadelphia,PA, USA

His success racing on circuits was minimal, but he was one of the best in tough endurance events. Driving an Alfa Romeo 8C 2900b, Clemente Biondetti won the 1938 Mille Miglia for sports cars and at the Coppa Ciano finished second in the voiturette class then third in the main event. In 1939, he won the Coppa Acerbo voiturette class and took second place at the Swiss Grand Prix. His racing career came to a halt following the outbreak of World War II in 1940. By the time he was able to resume racing after the war, he was already 49 years old. Nevertheless, he dominated Italian endurance racing, driving to victory in the Mille Miglia for three straight years from 1947 through 1949 and the Targa Florio in 1948 and 1949. He won more Mille Miglias than any other driver in history.

Clemente Biondetti participated in one Formula one World Championship event, the 1950 Italian Grand Prix. Driving a self-built Ferrari-Jaguar hybrid car, engine problems forced him out of the race thus he failed to score any championship points. Biondetti loved racing cars and continued to compete in sports car and endurance events, earning a second place finish in a Ferrari at the 12 Hours of Pescara in 1952 against much younger drivers. After suffering from cancer for a number of years, he was forced to retire in 1954. He succembed to cancer on 24 February 1955 in Florence.[1]

Major victories

Le Mans 1938 on Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B (with Raymond Sommer)

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 WDC Points
1950 Clemente Biondetti Ferrari 166S Jaguar Straight-6 GBR MON 500 SUI BEL FRA ITA
Ret
NC 0

Complete European Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Entrant Team 1 2 3 4 5 EDC Points
1931 Officine A Maserati Maserati ITA FRA
3
BEL 23= 19
1936 Scuderia Maremmana Maserati MON GER SUI
Ret
ITA
Ret
25 29
1937 Scuderia Maremmana Maserati BEL GER MON
Ret
SUI 15= 34
Private entry Alfa Romeo ITA
Ret
1938 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo FRA GER
Ret
SUI ITA
4
13 27
1939 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo BEL FRA GER SUI
9
16= 28

References