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Lorenzo Bandini

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For the award named after Bandini, see Lorenzo Bandini Trophy.

Lorenzo Bandini
Bandini in 1966
Born(1935-12-21)21 December 1935
Barce, Italian Libya
Died10 May 1967(1967-05-10) (aged 31)
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Cause of deathInjuries sustained at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityItaly Italian
Active years1961–1967
TeamsScuderia Centro Sud, Ferrari
Entries42
Championships0
Wins1
Podiums8
Career points58
Pole positions1
Fastest laps2
First entry1961 Belgian Grand Prix
First win1964 Austrian Grand Prix
Last win1964 Austrian Grand Prix
Last entry1967 Monaco Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1962–1966
TeamsFerrari
Best finish1st (1963)
Class wins1 (1963)

Lorenzo Bandini (21 December 1935 – 10 May 1967) was an Italian racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1961 to 1967. Bandini won the 1964 Austrian Grand Prix with Ferrari. In endurance racing, Bandini won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1963, as well as the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1967, both with Ferrari.

Born in Libya and raised in Florence, Bandini was initially a mechanic before competing in motorcycle racing. His racing career started in 1957, driving a borrowed Fiat 1100, before he achieved a class win at the Mille Miglia one year later. He soon progressed to Formula Junior, where he attracted the attention of Enzo Ferrari. Bandini made his Formula One debut in 1961 with Scuderia Centro Sud, before signing for Ferrari the following year. On debut for Ferrari, at the Monaco Grand Prix, Bandini finished third behind Bruce McLaren and teammate Phil Hill, claiming his maiden podium finish. He competed at seven Grands Prix in 1963 for both teams, amongst winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and finishing runner-up at the 12 Hours of Sebring, driving the Ferrari 250 P. Bandini retained his seat at Ferrari in 1964, scoring his sole victory at the Austrian Grand Prix—amongst several further podiums—on his way to a career-best fourth in the World Drivers' Championship. He scored several podiums in his 1965 and 1966 campaigns, finishing the seasons in sixth and ninth, respetively.

During the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix, Bandini was fatally wounded when his Ferrari 312 overturned and caught fire. The Lorenzo Bandini Trophy was established in memorial of Bandini, honouring individuals and teams for achievements in Formula One since 1992.

Early life

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Bandini was born in Barce in Cyrenaica, Libya,[1][2] then an Italian colony. The family returned to Italy in 1939 and moved near Florence. His father died when he was 15. Bandini left home and found a job as an apprentice mechanic in the Freddi workshop in Milan.[2]

Racing career

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Bandini at 1965 1000km Nürburgring with Dino 166 P
Bandini at 1966 German Grand Prix with Ferrari 312

Bandini made his way into auto racing from competing on motorcycles.[3] He started racing cars in 1957 in a borrowed Fiat 1100. Goliardo Freddi, acknowledging Bandini's talent, decided to support him.[2] Bandini would later marry Freddi's daughter, Margherita, in 1963, and remained involved with the family's garage in Milan.

He achieved a first class victory at the Mille Miglia, in a Lancia Appia Zagato, in 1958, and a class win the same year in the 500cc Berkeley in the 12-hour race at Monza. He then purchased a Volpini Formula Junior car and placed third in his first race in Sicily. In 1959 and 1960 he drove a Formula Junior Stanguellini. In 1960 he placed fourth in the Formula Junior World Championship.

In 1961 Bandini and fellow Italian driver Giancarlo Baghetti were both in contention for a Formula One seat at Scuderia Ferrari. Ferrari opted for Baghetti, and Bandini went to drive for Guglielmo "Mimmo" Dei's Scuderia Centro Sud. At a non-championship race, he finished third at Pau. Bandini drove his first world championship race at Spa later in 1961. He retired with engine failure. During the winter of 1961-1962 he drove in the Tasman races in Australia and New Zealand.[2]

In 1962 Bandini was hired by Ferrari for the 1962 and 1963 seasons, and moved to Maranello, near the team's headquarters.[4] His debut in a works Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix, finishing third.

For 1963 Bandini was retained by Ferrari for sports car races only. Along with Ludovico Scarfiotti, he won the Le Mans 24 Hours race and placed second in the Targa Florio that year, occasionally racing in Formula One for Scuderia Centro Sud.[2] His string of good results, including a fifth place at the British Grand Prix, convinced Ferrari to retain him as a Formula One driver as well for the rest of the season.

In 1964 Bandini had his best Formula One season. He won the first Austrian Grand Prix at the Zeltweg circuit and scored two more podiums in Germany and Italy. At the Mexican Grand Prix, Bandini was running second when he decided to let his teammate John Surtees pass, enabling him to score enough points to win the World Championship.

In 1965 Bandini won the Targa Florio.

In 1966 Surtees left Ferrari in mid-season. Bandini was promoted to team leader. He was unlucky not to win the French and U.S. Grands Prix that year which he dominated before mechanical problems struck while holding a huge lead. Bandini's best finish was a second place at the Monaco Grand Prix in a 2.4 liter V-6 Ferrari behind Jackie Stewart's BRM. Later in the season Bandini helped director John Frankenheimer with his movie Grand Prix. Bandini recommended the location at the harbour chicane for a crash scene in the movie filmed at the Monte Carlo circuit. In "The Making of Grand Prix", actress Eva Marie Saint noted bitterly that this spot would be the site of Bandini's fatal accident in the race one year later.

In 1967 Bandini won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1000 km of Monza, both teamed with Chris Amon.

Accident and death

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On 7 May 1967 Bandini was racing at the Monaco Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari, running second to Denny Hulme. On the entry to the harbour chicane on the 82nd lap he lost control of his open-wheel 312, its left rear wheel hit the guard rail, and sent it into an erratic skid. Impacting a light pole, the car overturned,[5] collided with protective straw bales which lined the harbour, and trapped Bandini beneath it.

Either sparks ignited fuel from a ruptured tank, or fuel leaked from it onto a hot brake line or exhaust pipe and it burst into flames. Bandini was pulled out, unconscious; a second fire occurred afterwards, when the fuel tank itself burst into flames.[1]

Bandini, who had only ever had a minor accident in his racing career, during a 1957 Formula Junior race,[4] was gravely injured. Sustaining third degree burns covering more than 70% of his body, a chest wound, and ten chest fractures,[5] he succumbed three days later at the Princess Grace Polyclinic Hospital in Monte Carlo.

Though concerns were raised about the promptness of his rescue, investigators from the Principality of Monaco ruled on 10 May that the security operation had "functioned properly."[3] Straw bales were immediately banned from all Formula One races, and replaced by an extended guard-rail in Monaco the following year.[6]

Bandini's funeral was held in Reggiolo on 13 May.[7] 100,000 people attended.[8] He was later buried in the Lambrate cemetery, in Milan.[9]

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Bandini is portrayed by Francesco Bauco in Ford v Ferrari, a 2019 film about the rivalry between Ford and Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race.

Racing record

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Complete Formula One results

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(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 WDC Pts
1961 Scuderia Centro Sud Cooper T53 Maserati 6-1500 1.5 L4 MON NED BEL
Ret 		FRA GBR
12 		GER
Ret 		ITA
8 		USA NC 0
1962 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 156 Ferrari 178 1.5 V6 NED MON
3 		BEL FRA GBR GER
Ret 		ITA
8 		USA RSA 12th 4
1963 Scuderia Centro Sud BRM P57 BRM P56 1.5 V8 MON BEL NED FRA
10 		GBR
5 		GER
Ret 		10th 6
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 156 Ferrari 178 1.5 V6 ITA
Ret 		USA
5 		MEX
Ret 		RSA
5
1964 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 156 Ferrari 178 1.5 V6 MON
10 		GBR
5 		GER
3 		AUT
1 		4th 23
Ferrari 158 Ferrari 205B 1.5 V8 NED
Ret 		BEL
Ret 		FRA
9 		ITA
3
North American Racing Team Ferrari 1512 Ferrari 207 1.5 F12 USA
Ret 		MEX
3
1965 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 1512 Ferrari 207 1.5 F12 RSA
15 		MON
2 		BEL
9 		FRA
8 		ITA
4 		USA
4 		MEX
8 		6th 13
Ferrari 158 Ferrari 205B 1.5 V8 GBR
Ret 		NED
9 		GER
6
1966 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 246 Ferrari 228 2.4 V6 MON
2 		BEL
3 		9th 12
Ferrari 312/66 Ferrari 218 3.0 V12 FRA
NC 		GBR NED
6 		GER
6 		ITA
Ret 		USA
Ret 		MEX
1967 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312/67 Ferrari 242 3.0 V12 RSA MON
Ret 		NED BEL FRA GBR GER CAN ITA USA MEX NC 0
Source:[10]

Complete Formula One Non-Championship results

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(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 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
1961 Scuderia Centro Sud Cooper T53 Maserati 6-1500 1.5 L4 LOM GLV PAU
3 		BRX VIE AIN SYR
7 		NAP
3 		LON SIL SOL KAN DAN MOD
Ret 		FLG
DNS
Cooper T51 FLG
NC 		OUL LEW VAL RAN NAT RSA
1962 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 156 Ferrari 178 1.5 V6 CAP BRX LOM LAV GLV PAU
5 		AIN INT NAP
2 		MAL CLP RMS SOL KAN MED
1 		DAN OUL MEX RAN NAT
1963 Scuderia Centro Sud Cooper T53 Maserati 6-1500 1.5 L4 LOM GLV PAU IMO
Ret 		SYR
Ret 		AIN
BRM P57 BRM P56 1.5 V8 INT
DSQ 		ROM SOL
4 		KAN MED
3 		AUT OUL
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 156 Ferrari 178 1.5 V6 RAN
2
1964 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 156 Ferrari 178 1.5 V6 DMT NWT SYR
2 		AIN INT SOL
Ret 		MED RAN
1965 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 1512 Ferrari 207 1.5 F12 ROC SYR
3 		SMT INT
7 		MED RAN
1966 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 246 Ferrari 228 2.4 V6 RSA SYR
2 		INT OUL
1967 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312/67 Ferrari 242 3.0 V12 ROC
2 		SPC INT SYR OUL ESP
Source:[10]

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1962 Italy SEFAC Ferrari United Kingdom Mike Parkes Ferrari 330 LMB E+3.0 56 DNF
(Radiator)
1963 Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC Italy Ludovico Scarfiotti Ferrari 250 P P3.0 339 1st 1st
1964 Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC United Kingdom John Surtees Ferrari 330 P P4.0 337 3rd 3rd
1965 Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC Italy Giampiero Biscaldi Ferrari 275 P2 P4.0 221 DNF
(Valves)
1966 Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC France Jean Guichet Ferrari 330 P3 P5.0 226 DNF
(Engine)
Source:[11]

Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1963 Italy S.E.F.A.C. Ferrari Belgium Willy Mairesse
Italy Nino Vaccarella 		Ferrari 250 P P3.0 208 2nd 2nd
Italy S.E.F.A.C. Ferrari United Kingdom Mike Parkes Ferrari 330 LMB P+3.0 72 DNF
(Split fuel tank)
1964 Italy S.E.F.A.C. Ferrari United Kingdom John Surtees Ferrari 330 P P+3.0 212 3rd 3rd
1966 Italy SpA Ferrari SEFAC Italy Ludovico Scarfiotti Ferrari Dino 206 S P2.0 206 5th 2nd
Source:[11]

Complete 24 Hours of Daytona results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1967 Italy Ferrari SpA New Zealand Chris Amon Ferrari 330 P3/4 P+2.0 666 1st 1st
Source:[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Hulme Takes Monaco Race; Bandini Seriously Hurt", New York Times, 8 May 1967, Page 59
  2. ^ a b c d e "Lorenzo Bandini", The Times, 11 May 1967, Page 12.
  3. ^ a b "Italy's Bandini Dies Of Monte Carlo Burns", Stars and Stripes, 11 May 1967, Page 20.
  4. ^ a b Bandini Dies of Race Injuries, New York Times, 11 May 1967, Page 62.
  5. ^ a b "Hulme Wins Monte Carlo; Bandini Hurt", Sheboygan Press, 8 May 1967, Page 13.
  6. ^ Stanley, Louis.T (1969). Grand Prix 10. London: W H Allen Ltd. p. 15. ISBN 0-491-00272-6.
  7. ^ "Mass Held For Bandini", New York Times, 12 May 1967, Page 56.
  8. ^ "100,000 at Bandini Rites", New York Times, 14 May 1967, Page S4.
  9. ^ Photos of Bandini's tombstone. Accessed 3 December 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Lorenzo Bandini – Biography". MotorSportMagazine. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  11. ^ a b c "Complete Archive of Lorenzo Bandini". Racing Sports Cars. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1963
With: Ludovico Scarfiotti 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Formula One fatal accidents
7 May 1967 (Date of accident)
10 May 1967 (Date of death) 		Succeeded by
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