Alessandro Nannini

Alessandro "Sandro" Nannini (born 7 July 1959)[1] is a former racing driver from Italy.[2] He is the younger brother of singer Gianna Nannini.[3] His five-year F1 career resulted in a win at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix but ended less than a year later after a helicopter crash severed his right forearm.

Alessandro Nannini
Born (1959-07-07) 7 July 1959
Siena, Italy
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality Italian
Active years1986–1990
TeamsMinardi, Benetton
Entries78 (76 starts)
Championships0
Wins1
Podiums9
Career points65
Pole positions0
Fastest laps2
First entry1986 Brazilian Grand Prix
First win1989 Japanese Grand Prix
Last win1989 Japanese Grand Prix
Last entry1990 Spanish Grand Prix

Biography

Nannini was born in Siena. He began racing in a Lancia Stratos at national rally events before switching to Formula Italia in 1981. From 1982 to 1984, he raced for Minardi in Formula 2, attracting some attention for his speed in the uncompetitive car. Though his best season saw him only seventh overall in 1983, he was signed by Lancia to drive their fast but fragile LC2 prototype in the World Sportscar Championship, setting fastest lap at the 1984 24 Hours of Le Mans where he finished eighth with Bob Wollek, and later that year winning the 1984 1000 km of Kyalami with Riccardo Patrese. For 1985, Giancarlo Minardi wanted Nannini to drive his new Formula One car, but Nannini was controversially denied an FIA Super Licence with his former F2 teammate Pierluigi Martini taking the drive instead. Nannini continued with Lancia instead, his best result being third in the 1000km Monza.

For 1986, Nannini was finally granted a Super Licence and signed up with Minardi's Grand Prix team, where he stayed until 1987. The car was uncompetitive and unreliable (Nannini was classified only four times from 30 starts with the team), largely due to its disappointing Motori Moderni V6 engine. However, Nannini's speed was noticed by many, especially after he largely outperformed experienced teammate Andrea de Cesaris in 1986.

Nannini driving for Benetton at the 1988 Canadian Grand Prix.

Benetton signed Nannini for 1988 to drive alongside Thierry Boutsen. He generally performed very well, often out-pacing the highly regarded Belgian if not matching his consistency. He scored his first point in his second race for the team and took two third places on his way to tenth overall in the championship.

With Boutsen leaving for Williams Nannini was promoted to team leader at Benetton alongside young Englishman Johnny Herbert and delivered a number of strong performances, especially at Suzuka. There he lay third behind the two McLaren cars of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost when they collided, giving Nannini the lead. Prost retired whereas Senna rejoined after being push-started and pitted to replace his front wing, trailing Nannini in the race. Nannini was eventually passed by Senna who went on to cross the finish line first, however, the Brazilian was subsequently disqualified for missing the chicane following his collision with Prost. The disqualification handed Nannini what proved to be his only Formula One win. He rounded off the season with an impressive second place in torrential rain at Adelaide, moving him to sixth overall in the championship.[3]

For 1990, he was joined in the team by Nelson Piquet and reverted to being the number two driver. However, he impressed by largely matching the pace of the three-times World Champion. At Hockenheim he led the race by deciding against stopping for tyres, resisting Senna for 16 laps before fading grip dropped him to second. He also challenged at the following Hungarian Grand Prix, hounding leader Boutsen until being controversially pushed off by the following Senna.

On 12 October 1990, the week after the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix, where he had finished third, Nannini was involved in a helicopter crash over his Siena wineyard, suffering a severed right forearm.[4] The injury healed thanks to microsurgery but it ended his Formula One career. Nannini had been reconfirmed by Benetton for 1991 but Ferrari had a long-standing interest in the driver and were considering him as a replacement for the departing Nigel Mansell.[3]

Once sufficiently recovered, Ferrari offered Nannini a test drive on its private Fiorano Circuit in 1992. Nannini completed a total of 38 laps driving Jean Alesi's Ferrari F92A, which featured a specially modified steering wheel. In 1996, Benetton's Flavio Briatore also honoured the promise of a test drive, which took place at Estoril[5] aboard a B196.

Despite only regaining partial use of his right hand, Nannini was able to carve out a career in touring car racing with Alfa Romeo in the 1990s,[3] placing fourth overall in the 1994 DTM championship and third in the 1996 International Touring Car Championship.

Nannini competed for Mercedes in the 1997 FIA GT Championship, finishing sixth overall and winning a race at Suzuka, before hanging up his helmet. He now runs a chain of upmarket cafes bearing his name, with branches as far flung as Indonesia.[6]

2007 saw Nannini's return to the track after a decade in retirement. He agreed to take part in the short-lived Grand Prix Masters championship for Formula One veterans, alongside drivers including his former Benetton teammate Johnny Herbert.

He is a member of the Italy–USA Foundation.

Nannini's nephew Matteo Nannini is also a racing driver, currently racing at Formula 3 level.[7]

Racing record

Complete European Formula Two 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 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos. Pts
1982 Minardi Team Srl Minardi Fly 281B BMW SIL
5		 HOC
9		 THR
12		 NÜR
8		 MUG
10		 VAL
Ret		 PAU
DNQ		 SPA
Ret		 HOC
Ret		 DON
DSQ		 MAN
Ret		 PER
Ret		 MIS
2		 10th 8
1983 Minardi Team Srl Minardi M283 BMW SIL THR
9		 HOC
5		 NÜR
2		 VAL
7		 PAU
Ret		 JAR
Ret		 DON
Ret		 MIS
Ret		 PER
11		 ZOL
Ret		 MUG
4		 7th 11
1984 Minardi Team Srl Minardi M283 BMW SIL
9		 HOC
Ret		 THR
7		 VAL
Ret		 MUG
Ret		 PAU
Ret		 HOC
4		 MIS
Ret		 PER
3		 DON
10		 BRH
5		 10th 9

24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1983 Martini Racing Paolo Barilla
Jean-Claude Andruet		 Lancia LC2-Ferrari C 135 DNF DNF
1984 Martini Racing Bob Wollek Lancia LC2-Ferrari C1 326 8th 8th
1985 Martini Racing Bob Wollek
Lucio Cesario		 Lancia LC2-Ferrari C1 360 6th 6th

Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Pts
1986 Minardi Team Minardi M185B Motori Moderni Tipo 615–90 1.5 V6t BRA
Ret		 ESP
DNS		 SMR
Ret		 MON
DNQ		 BEL
Ret		 CAN
Ret		 DET
Ret		 FRA
Ret		 GBR
Ret		 GER
Ret		 HUN
Ret		 ITA
Ret		 POR
Ret		 MEX
14		 AUS
Ret		 NC 0
Minardi M186 AUT
Ret
1987 Minardi Team Minardi M187 Motori Moderni Tipo 615–90 1.5 V6t BRA
Ret		 SMR
Ret		 BEL
Ret		 MON
Ret		 DET
Ret		 FRA
Ret		 GBR
Ret		 GER
Ret		 HUN
11		 AUT
Ret		 ITA
16		 POR
11		 ESP
Ret		 MEX
Ret		 JPN
Ret		 AUS
Ret		 NC 0
1988 Benetton Formula Ltd. Benetton B188 Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 BRA
Ret		 SMR
6		 MON
Ret		 MEX
7		 CAN
Ret		 DET
Ret		 FRA
6		 GBR
3		 GER
18		 HUN
Ret		 BEL
DSQ		 ITA
9		 POR
Ret		 ESP
3		 JPN
5		 AUS
Ret		 10th 12
1989 Benetton Formula Ltd. Benetton B188 Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 BRA
6		 SMR
3		 MON
8		 MEX
4		 USA
Ret		 CAN
DSQ		 6th 32
Benetton B189 Ford HBA1/4 3.5 V8 FRA
Ret		 GBR
3		 GER
Ret		 HUN
Ret		 BEL
5		 ITA
Ret		 POR
4		 ESP
Ret		 JPN
1		 AUS
2
1990 Benetton Formula Ltd. Benetton B189B Ford HBA4 3.5 V8 USA
11		 BRA
10		 8th 21
Benetton B190 SMR
3		 MON
Ret		 CAN
Ret		 MEX
4		 FRA
16		 GBR
Ret		 GER
2		 HUN
Ret		 BEL
4		 ITA
8		 POR
6		 ESP
3		 JPN AUS

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pos. Pts
1993 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti ZOL
1
Ret		 ZOL
2
3		 HOC
1
13		 HOC
2
8		 NÜR
1
10		 NÜR
2
4		 WUN
1
2		 WUN
2
Ret		 NÜR
1
4		 NÜR
2
4		 NOR
1
Ret		 NOR
2
Ret		 DON
1
Ret		 DON
2
DNS		 DIE
1
Ret		 DIE
2
18		 ALE
1
3		 ALE
2
Ret		 AVU
1
5		 AVU
2
Ret		 HOC
1
1		 HOC
2
1		 8th 121
1994 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti ZOL
1
1		 ZOL
2
1		 HOC
1
4		 HOC
2
1		 NÜR
1
7		 NÜR
2
7		 MUG
1
17		 MUG
2
Ret		 NÜR
1
1		 NÜR
2
7		 NOR
1
Ret		 NOR
2
7		 DON
1
1		 DON
2
DSQ		 DIE
1
5		 DIE
2
4		 NÜR
1
8		 NÜR
2
5		 AVU
1
19		 AVU
2
5		 ALE
1
Ret		 ALE
2
12		 HOC
1
6		 HOC
2
Ret		 4th 149
1995 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti HOC
1
18		 HOC
2
DNS		 AVU
1
3		 AVU
2
Ret		 NOR
1
3		 NOR
2
9†		 DIE
1
4		 DIE
2
Ret		 NÜR
1
Ret		 NÜR
2
Ret		 ALE
1
11		 ALE
2
Ret		 HOC
1
5		 HOC
2
12		 11th 44
  • † — Retired, but was classified as he completed 90% of the winner's race distance.

Complete International Touring Car Championship results

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Pos. Pts
1995 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti MUG
1
5		 MUG
2
Ret		 HEL
1
Ret		 HEL
2
Ret		 DON
1
DNS		 DON
2
DNS		 EST
1
8		 EST
2
7		 MAG
1
Ret		 MAG
2
9		 15th 17
1996 Martini Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti HOC
1
10		 HOC
2
13		 NÜR
1
EX		 NÜR
2
EX		 EST
1
1		 EST
2
1		 HEL
1
14		 HEL
2
4		 NOR
1
Ret		 NOR
2
Ret		 DIE
1
6		 DIE
2
Ret		 SIL
1
17		 SIL
2
11		 NÜR
1
1		 NÜR
2
1		 MAG
1
1		 MAG
2
1		 MUG
1
11		 MUG
2
Ret		 HOC
1
6		 HOC
2
Ret		 INT
1
1		 INT
2
5		 SUZ
1
10		 SUZ
2
5		 3rd 180

References
  1. Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  2. Peacock, Anthony (9 March 2016). "Former F1 driver Alessandro Nannini did not let tragic helicopter crash ruin his life". Autoweek. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  3. Peacock, Anthony (December 2015). "La Dolce Vida". F1 Racing: 72.
  4. "SPORTS PEOPLE: AUTO RACING; Chance for Comeback". The New York Times. Associated Press. 22 December 1990. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  5. "Sandro's Benetton test". Grandprix.com. 25 November 1996. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  6. Caffe Nannini website
  7. Allen, Peter (January 8, 2019). "Matteo Nannini among single-seater debutants in UAE F4". FormulaScout. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
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