Motor racing driver. Born in Osimo, near Ancona, Italy, Fagioli was a qualified accountant when at the late age of 27yrs, took up motor racing. His dark, stocky appearance and fiery temperament earned him the nickname of "The Arbruzzi Robber". After six years of racing in hillclimbs and minor events, in 1931 he entered grand prix racing with a Maserati, and although uncompetitive compared to the Alfa Romeos, managed to win the Monza GP that year. For 1932, he stayed with Maserati who gave him a better car with which he won the Italian GP. In 1933 he swopped places with Nuvolari and joined Scuderia Ferrari and their Alfa Romeo cars. After wins that year at Coppa Acerbo, Comminges and the Italian GP, he was offered a works drive with the returning Mercedes-Benz team for 1934. Teamed with the wild and inexperienced von Brauchitch and the injured Caracciola, Fagioli mistakenly believed he was the No1 driver, and when team manager Neubauer ordered him to allow allow von Brauchitch to win at the Eifelrennen, he furiously abandoned his car out on the circuit. In a German team, the Germans had to win! In spite of this, he remained at Mercedes-Benz winning two more GPs. He re-signed for 1935 and spent the season in ding-dong battles with his team leader Caracciola. For 1936 the new car was not so good and with growing rheumatism denting his form, people thought Fagioli would retire at the end of the season. Instead for 1936 he joined their arch-rivals
Auto Union. At Tripoli and without team orders, he hounded Caracciola for the entire race but failed to pass him. In the pit lane, and in a fury he firstly threw a hammer at his rival and then tried to attack him with a knife. With WW2 and his worsening rheumatism, Fagioli's great days were over but in 1950 the ageing driver re-joined the Alfa Romeo team finishing third in the new World Championship. In 1951 he shared a win at the French GP with Fangio and at 53yrs became the oldest winner of a World Championship GP. In 1952, during practise in a supporting sportscar race at Monte Carlo, he crashed his Lancia in what seemed like a minor crash, but died of his injuries three weeks later.
Auto Union. At Tripoli and without team orders, he hounded Caracciola for the entire race but failed to pass him. In the pit lane, and in a fury he firstly threw a hammer at his rival and then tried to attack him with a knife. With WW2 and his worsening rheumatism, Fagioli's great days were over but in 1950 the ageing driver re-joined the Alfa Romeo team finishing third in the new World Championship. In 1951 he shared a win at the French GP with Fangio and at 53yrs became the oldest winner of a World Championship GP. In 1952, during practise in a supporting sportscar race at Monte Carlo, he crashed his Lancia in what seemed like a minor crash, but died of his injuries three weeks later.
Motor racing driver. Born in Osimo, near Ancona, Italy, Fagioli was a qualified accountant when at the late age of 27yrs, took up motor racing. His dark, stocky appearance and fiery temperament earned him the nickname of "The Arbruzzi Robber". After six years of racing in hillclimbs and minor events, in 1931 he entered grand prix racing with a Maserati, and although uncompetitive compared to the Alfa Romeos, managed to win the Monza GP that year. For 1932, he stayed with Maserati who gave him a better car with which he won the Italian GP. In 1933 he swopped places with Nuvolari and joined Scuderia Ferrari and their Alfa Romeo cars. After wins that year at Coppa Acerbo, Comminges and the Italian GP, he was offered a works drive with the returning Mercedes-Benz team for 1934. Teamed with the wild and inexperienced von Brauchitch and the injured Caracciola, Fagioli mistakenly believed he was the No1 driver, and when team manager Neubauer ordered him to allow allow von Brauchitch to win at the Eifelrennen, he furiously abandoned his car out on the circuit. In a German team, the Germans had to win! In spite of this, he remained at Mercedes-Benz winning two more GPs. He re-signed for 1935 and spent the season in ding-dong battles with his team leader Caracciola. For 1936 the new car was not so good and with growing rheumatism denting his form, people thought Fagioli would retire at the end of the season. Instead for 1936 he joined their arch-rivals
Auto Union. At Tripoli and without team orders, he hounded Caracciola for the entire race but failed to pass him. In the pit lane, and in a fury he firstly threw a hammer at his rival and then tried to attack him with a knife. With WW2 and his worsening rheumatism, Fagioli's great days were over but in 1950 the ageing driver re-joined the Alfa Romeo team finishing third in the new World Championship. In 1951 he shared a win at the French GP with Fangio and at 53yrs became the oldest winner of a World Championship GP. In 1952, during practise in a supporting sportscar race at Monte Carlo, he crashed his Lancia in what seemed like a minor crash, but died of his injuries three weeks later.
Auto Union. At Tripoli and without team orders, he hounded Caracciola for the entire race but failed to pass him. In the pit lane, and in a fury he firstly threw a hammer at his rival and then tried to attack him with a knife. With WW2 and his worsening rheumatism, Fagioli's great days were over but in 1950 the ageing driver re-joined the Alfa Romeo team finishing third in the new World Championship. In 1951 he shared a win at the French GP with Fangio and at 53yrs became the oldest winner of a World Championship GP. In 1952, during practise in a supporting sportscar race at Monte Carlo, he crashed his Lancia in what seemed like a minor crash, but died of his injuries three weeks later.
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