Born 9/6/1898, Osimo, Italy
Died 20/6/1952, Monaco
GP's contested: 7 (1950 till 1952)
Victories: 4

"The Old Abruzzi robber", as he became affectionately known, Fagioli was one of Italy's greatest drivers and a true individualist, who often found himself at odds with those in authority. His career started in 1926, but he really shot to fame upon joining the Maserati team in 1930.

Over the next three seasons he won occasionally but was often out of luck, which prompted him to join Ferrari's Alfa Romeo team in the second half of the 1933 season.

Soon he had won the GPs of Pescara, Comminges, Marseilles and Italy, which brought an invitation to drive for Mercedes-Benz as number two driver in 1934...

In his first race, the Eifelrennen, irked at being told to stay behind the
sister entry of von Brauchitsch, Fagioli showed his displeasure by parking his
car out on the circuit and returning to the pits on foot. It was not to be the
last time he would find himself in conflict with the team, but that did not
stop him winning the Italian and Spanish GPs that year, and those at Monaco,
AVUS and Barcelona the following season. He continued with the team for 1936
before moving to their great rivals Auto Union, but was forced to miss much of
the season through illness, although he was 5th at Tripoli.

In fact Fagioli did not return to the Grand Prix arena until 1950, with the
all-conquering Alfa Romeo team. His experience stood him in good stead and
some cold and calculating performances brought him third place in the World
Championship. He was retained for 1951 but at the French GP he was hauled from
the car at a pit stop as he recovered from an early spin to allow Fangio to
take over and complete the race, the Argentinean going on to win. This was the
last straw for the proud Fagioli, and he never raced a GP car again.

Turning to his own OSCA, he won his class in the Mille Miglia, a feat which he
repeated in 1951 at the wheel of a Lancia Aurelia tourer. More remarkable was
the fact that he was third overall ahead of many pure sports racers. In 1952
the Monaco GP was held for sports cars only, and during practice Fagioli lost control of his car in the tunnel and broadsided out into a stone balustrade. Thrown out, he was taken to hospital unconscious, with a broken arm and leg. Four days later he regained consciousness and seemed to be out of danger, but three weeks after the crash he relapsed - with a complete failure of the nervous system and died, aged 54.

Hearing the German antheum for the first time at Monaco win 1935