Nino Farina

Interesting facts

He earns a doctorate in political science and excels at skiing, football and athletics before turning to motorsport, already competing in hillclimbs by 1925. Son of Stabilimenti Farina coachbuilder founder Giovanni Carlo Farina, he takes three straight Italian championships (1937-39) and joins Scuderia Ferrari in 1936. Years before Formula One even exists, he is involved in two fatal accidents: at the 1936 Deauville Grand Prix his collision with Marcel Lehoux kills the Frenchman outright, and in 1938 László Hartmann dies a day after colliding with Farina's car. Winning the very first world championship race, the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, makes him one of only three drivers in history to win on their world championship debut. At the 1953 Argentine Grand Prix, a spectator runs onto the circuit; swerving to avoid him, Farina ploughs into the crowd instead, killing seven people. Later that year he adds sports car glory too, winning the Spa 24 Hours with Mike Hawthorn, the Nürburgring 1000km with Alberto Ascari, and the Casablanca 12 Hours. He dies in 1966 while driving to watch the French Grand Prix, also serving as Yves Montand's stunt double for the film Grand Prix - his Lotus Cortina strikes a telegraph pole in the French Alps and he is killed instantly. Nino Farina made his Formula 1 debut in 1950 and raced until 1955, 6 seasons in total as an Italian driver. He won the World Championship once, in 1950. He scored a total of 114 championship points over his career.