Clemente Biondetti

Clemente Biondetti (18 October 1898 – 24 February 1955)[1] was an Italian auto racing driver.[2] Born into a working-class family, Biondetti raced motorcycles before turning to automobiles where he had greater success.

Clemente Biondetti
Biondetti in 1938
Born(1898-10-18)18 October 1898
Buddusò, Italy
Died24 February 1955(1955-02-24) (aged 56)
Florence, Italy
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality Italian
Active years1950
Teamsprivateer Ferrari
Entries1
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1950 Italian Grand Prix
Last entry1950 Italian Grand Prix

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.

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.

  • Biondetti and Stefano wins 1938 Mille Miglia
  • Biondetti wins 1947 Mille Miglia
  • Biondetti and Navone wins 1948 Mille Miglia in Ferrari 166 S.
  • Biondetti wins Mille Miglia 1949

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 succumbed to cancer on 24 February 1955 in Florence.[3] As a result, he became the first Formula One World Championship driver to die of natural causes.

Major victories

Racing record

Complete European Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 EDC Pts
1931 Officine A. Maserati Maserati 26M Maserati 2.5 L8 ITA FRA
3		 BEL 12th 19
1936 Scuderia Maremmana Maserati 6C-34 Maserati 3.7 L6 MON GER SUI
Ret		 ITA
Ret		 25th 29
1937 Scuderia Maremmana Maserati 6C-34 Maserati 3.7 L6 BEL GER MON
Ret		 SUI 15th 34
Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo 12C-36 Alfa Romeo 4.1 V12 ITA
Ret
1938 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo Tipo 312 Alfa Romeo 3.0 V12 FRA GER
Ret		 SUI 13th 27
Alfa Romeo Tipo 316 Alfa Romeo 3.0 V16 ITA
4
1939 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 158 Alfa Romeo 1.5 L8 BEL FRA GER SUI
9		 16th 28
Source:[4]

Post WWII Grandes Épreuves results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5
1948 Scuderia Inter Ferrari 166SC Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 MON SUI
Ret		 FRA ITA
1949 Luigi Platé Talbot 700 Talbot 700 1.5 L8s GBR BEL SUI
Ret		 FRA
Enrico Platé Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s ITA
Ret
Source:[5]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 WDC Pts
1950 Scuderia Milano Maserati 4CLT/50 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s GBR MON
DNA		 500 SUI BEL FRA NC 0
Clemente Biondetti Ferrari 166S Jaguar XK 3.4 L6 ITA
Ret
Source:[6]

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1938 Raymond Sommer Raymond Sommer Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring 5.0 219 DNF DNF
1951 Jaguar Cars Ltd Leslie Johnson Jaguar XK-120C S 5.0 50 DNF DNF
1953 Scuderia Lancia José Froilán González Lancia D20 S 8.0 213 DNF DNF
Source:[7]
gollark: I'm going *next* year, but because UK I have to apply this year.
gollark: They have a few issues.
gollark: I used an orbital mind control laser in reverse mode.
gollark: 2024.
gollark: And schools spend time on "fractions" even though these are obviously just a commutative ring.

References
  1. "Clemente Biondetti | Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motor Sport Magazine. June 12, 2017.
  2. "Clemente Biondetti". kolumbus.fi. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  3. "DRIVERS: CLEMENTE BIONDETTI". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  4. "THE GOLDEN ERA – OF GRAND PRIX RACING". kolumbus.fi. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  5. "Clemente Biondetti – Biography". MotorSportMagazine. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  6. "Clemente Biondetti – Involvement". statsf1.com. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  7. "All Results of Clemente Biondetti". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
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