Roberto Mieres

Roberto Casimiro Mieres (3 December 1924[1] – 26 January 2012) was a racing driver from Mar del Plata, Argentina.[1] He participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 7 June 1953. He scored a total of 13 championship points.

Roberto Mieres
Mieres in 1953
Born(1924-12-03)3 December 1924
Mar del Plata, Argentina
Died26 January 2012(2012-01-26) (aged 87)
Punta del Este, Uruguay
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality Argentine
Active years1953–1955
TeamsGordini, Maserati
Entries17
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points13
Pole positions0
Fastest laps1
First entry1953 Dutch Grand Prix
Last entry1955 Italian Grand Prix

Formula One and sports car racer

Mieres competed in a number of different sports, including rowing, sailing, rugby and tennis. He first took up motorsport in Argentina with an MG, which he later replaced with a Mercedes-Benz SSK and then a Bugatti formerly driven by Achille Varzi, using the latter to win the Argentine sports car championship. As a reward, he was invited to join his compatriots Juan Manuel Fangio and José Froilán González on a trip to Europe, during which he finished fourth in the 1950 Circuit des Nations in Geneva driving a Maserati 4CLT/48 Formula Two car. After returning to Argentina, he was recruited by the Gordini team to replace the injured Jean Behra, allowing him to make his début in the World Championship at the 1953 Dutch Grand Prix. He also competed in the French and Italian Grands Prix, taking a best finish of sixth at Monza.[2]

Mieres scored his best result of 1953, however, in the non-championship Grand Prix de l'Albigeois held in Albi, France, finishing in fourth place.[3] He also finished third in a sports car handicap race at Caen in July 1953, which was won by Jean Chancel.[4] In January 1954 Mieres came in second at the Buenos Aires Grand Prix. Maurice Trintignant was victorious after Mike Hawthorn skidded close to the finish.[5] The tail of Mieres' Maserati caught fire during the 1954 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps. After belatedly realising this, he slammed on the brakes and jumped to safety.[6] Mieres then finished fifth in a Maserati at the 1954 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.[7] In the 1957 City of Buenos Aires sports car race Mieres drove a 3.5 litre Jaguar to a fourth-place finish. His driving partner was Ninian Sanderson of Scotland.[8] Mieres later teamed with Anton Van Dorey for a win in the 1959 USAC Road Racing Championship Daytona 1,000 km, the predecessor to the modern Rolex 24 at Daytona.

It is likely that an oil slick dropped by Mieres' Porsche caused a tragic accident at the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix, in which at least four people were killed and fifty more injured. Ferrari driver Armando Garcia Cifuentes skidded on a large oil slick which had been deposited on the track and crashed into a grandstand; one lap earlier, Mieres had pitted to replenish oil he had lost with a broken oil line.[9]

Retirement

After his racing career wound down in the late 1950s, Mieres returned to his other interest of sailing, and represented Argentina in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.[10] He competed against fellow former racing driver, Prince Bira in the Star class, finishing 17th and beating his old rival in the process.[11] Only five others have competed in both the Formula One World Championships and the Olympics.[11] He died at the age of 87 in Uruguay.[12]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Points
1953 Équipe Gordini Gordini Type 16 Gordini
Straight-6		 ARG 500 NED
Ret		 BEL FRA
Ret		 GBR GER SUI ITA
6		 NC 0
1954 Roberto Mieres Maserati A6GCM Maserati
Straight-6		 ARG
Ret		 500 BEL
Ret		 FRA
Ret		 GBR
6		 11th 6
Maserati 250F GER
Ret
Officine Alfieri Maserati SUI
4		 ITA
Ret		 ESP
4
1955 Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati 250F Maserati
Straight-6		 ARG
5		 MON
Ret		 500 BEL
5 *		 NED
4		 GBR
Ret		 ITA
7		 8th 7
* Indicates shared drive with Jean Behra.
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References
  1. Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
  2. Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Enfield: Guinness Publishing. pp. 254–255. ISBN 0-85112-702-9.
  3. Frenchman Wins Automobile Race, Los Angeles Times, June 1, 1953, Page C2.
  4. Bayol Takes Auto Race, New York Times, July 27, 1953, Page 23.
  5. Sports In Brief, Los Angeles Times, February 1, 1954, Page C2.
  6. Hot Race, New York Times, June 24, 1954, Page 37.
  7. Argentine Driver Triumphs In Rain, New York Times, July 18, 1954, Page S4.
  8. Ferrari Is First At Buenos Aires, New York Times, January 21, 1957, Page 41.
  9. Crash Kills 4 In Cuba Auto Race; Rebel Kidnappers Free Fangio, New York Times, February 25, 1958, Page 1.
  10. "Roberto Mieres". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  11. Viva F1. "Formula One at the Olympics". Archived from the original on 2012-08-08. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  12. "Former Maserati grand prix driver Roberto Mieres dies aged 87". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
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