Piero Taruffi

Interesting facts

Taruffi started out as a motorcycle racer: he won the 500cc European Championship on a Norton in 1932, and briefly held the motorcycle land speed record at 274.18 km/h in 1937. His engineering talent was also legendary: he co-designed the record-breaking Cisitalia "Tarf" and Gilera "Rondine," which contributed to his nickname "the engineer." His only Formula 1 race win came at the 1952 Swiss Grand Prix, which he led from start to finish. He closed his career at the 1957 Mille Miglia, winning the event's final edition in a Ferrari 315 S - but the day was overshadowed by Alfonso de Portago's fatal crash, which killed the driver, his co-driver and nine spectators; Taruffi retired from racing afterward, at age 50. Piero Taruffi made his Formula 1 debut in 1950 and raced until 1956, 6 seasons in total as an Italian driver. He scored a total of 41 championship points over his career.