This article appears in Italian below the English text.
For more images of Michele Alboreto’s life, see “Michele Alboreto, A Life in Photos”.
Ten years ago last month on April 25th, Michele Alboreto died in Germany during a private test with the Audi R8 with which he was to have participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The causes have not been completely clarified, and it seems that the accident was caused by progressive failure of the rear tire.
By Roberto Motta
Michele Alboreto was one of the best Italian drivers and the last Italian driver anointed by Enzo Ferrari, who saw in him the heir to the throne of Alberto Ascari.
Alboreto had a great talent and an uncommon determination but unfortunately he was never a truly successful driver, mainly due to a lack of luck.
His career began in 1976 in Formula Monza events at Monza. His first car was an old Vargiu, built in 1967. Michele had purchased this in partnership with his friend Alberto Hertel. (Formula Monza was an entry class for young driver. The cars were powered by a 500cc engine of the same type as used on the Fiat 500 Giardinetta.)
The two friends thought it they could share the car, but because of vision problems, Hertel failed to pass the medical examination to obtain a competition license. Michele was thus able to participate in more races than budgeted.
Since the first race, despite driving a car that turned out to have the wrong frame, Michele proved to have an uncommon talent. Reserved, almost shy, Michele stood out in for his courage and determination. He was so good that friends of the Scuderia Salvati immediately saw him as a potential champion and decided to help him for the remainder of his career. Thanks to his determination and his skills Michele was able to compete in Formula 1 only five years since after his first race.
In 1981 with the help of a friend and patron who had already helped others (including Ronnie Peterson), Michael made his debut in F1 at Imola race with theTyrrell.
He immediately began showing his talent and after a few wins with the English car, he arrived at Ferrari in 1985, very nearly winning the F1 world championship. He finished the year second to Alain Prost, bringing Ferrari a much needed boost in those dry years.
The following year he was approached by McLaren, but Michele chose to keep the commitment he had made with Ferrari and stayed with the team from Maranello.
At the end of 1988, after the death of Enzo Ferrari, Michele had contact with Williams but the deal never went through. He then went back to Tyrrell and subsequently with Lola Lamborghini, Footwork, the Arrows, Lola Ferrari, and finally in 1994 with Minardi. Excluding the years with Ferrari, Michele never had a car capable of competing for victory.
During his career, Michele competed with many different cars, one of the last of the breed who could drive anything at anytime. Michele competed in the German Touring Car Championship, the Indy Racing League, the Indianapolis 500, and finally in the championship for sports cars.
Driving sports cars, Michele was able live one of his dreams, a dream he had since he had seen Steve McQueen in a Porsche 917 in the famous film “Le Mans”.
After the experience with the Porsche, Michele joined the Audi team and won the 12 hours of Sebring in 2001 Things were looking up for the Italian.
Michele felt safe driving competitively, never thinking for a moment to put an end to his racing career.
But fate decided otherwise.
On April 25, 2001 at the German circuit of Lausitzring during a series of tests, Michele was killed in a tragic accident in the car he was preparing to compete in the next 24 Hours of Le Mans.
At first it seemed that the cause of the accident was attributable to failure of a component, as the car suddenly took off and sped straight on the edge of the 320 km/h. After losing contact with the asphalt, climbing over the guardrail and the car crashed killing Alboreto instantly.
Some time later, it became known that a sharp object gradually deflated left rear tire of the R8 causing loss of control.
Time has not erased the memory of a race driver particularly popular for his simplicity and a passion that never failed, even when the surroundings were not favorable.
During his career, Michele participated in 194 Grand Prix events, winning five with nine second places and nine third place finishes.
Michele also won the European F3 Championship in 1980, and among his most precious victories was the win in the TWR Porsche WSC95 the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1997.
But beyond the numbers, the loss of Alboreto marked the disappearance of an Italian driver of the heroic times, when the drivers held their breath for a faster line, and when the sensitivity, skill and courage of the driver were more critical than electronic management.
In recent years, Alboreto was Vice-President CSAI and worked to establish a new formula that would contain costs while allowing new talent to be developed.
Michele Alboreto, a champion as a friend
In recent years the Comune di Rozzano (Municipality of Rozzano) has commemorated Michele Alboreto, dedicating a square to his memory in a new neighborhood and a sculpture, entitled ‘Like the Wind’. This sculpture is placed inside the garden of the Centro Culturale multimediale Cascina Grande.
To mark the tenth anniversary of Alboreto’s death, the Comune di Rozzano has proposed a photo exhibition entitled “Michele Alboreto, un campione per amico” (Michele Alboreto, a champion as a friend).
From 25 to 30 April, seventy pictures were displayed that traced the driver’s career and the happy times of the man Michele Alboreto. On Saturday, April 30, the closing day of the event, the Ferrari F156, which Michele drove to second place in the Drivers Championship was on display. This car is normally part of the Galleria Ferrari.
Finally, the Italian Post Office was present to make available to collectors the three limited edition cards created, accompanied by commemorative stamp, and to affix the stamp cancellation.
In Italiano
Il 25 Aprile di 10 anni fa’ Michele Alboreto moriva in Germania durante un test privato con l’Audi R8 con cui avrebbe dovuto partecipare alla 24 Ore di Le Mans.
By Roberto Motta
Le cause non sono mai state chiarite completamente, e sembra che l’incidente sia stato provocato dal progressivo cedimento dello pneumatico posteriore.
Michele Alboreto è stato uno dei migliori piloti italiani e l’ultimo pilota italiano scelto, e voluto in squadra, dallo stesso Enzo Ferrari che vedeva in lui l’erede di Alberto Ascari.
Alboreto aveva un grande talento, e una grinta non comune, ma purtroppo non fu mai un pilota fortunato.
La sua carriera sportiva incominciò nel 1976 sulla pista Junior di Monza. La sua prima vettura era una vecchia Vargiu costruita nel ’67, che Michele aveva acquistato in società con l’amico Alberto Hertel.
L’idea dei due amici era quella di utilizzare la vettura a rotazione per una gara ciascuno ma, a causa di alcuni problemi di vista, Alberto non superò la visita medica per ottenere la licenza di conduttore e così Michele riuscì a partecipare a più gare di quelle preventivate.
Fin dalle prime gare, effettuate con una monoposto che risultò poi avere il telaio storto, Michele dimostrò di avere un talento non comune.
Riservato, quasi timido, Michele si distingueva in gara per il coraggio e la determinazione. Era un pilota talmente bravo che gli amici della Scuderia Salvati videro subito in lui un potenziale campione e decisero di aiutarlo nel proseguo della carriera.
Quindi, lo sostennero nel debutto in Formula Italia e successivamente in F3. Grazie alla sua determinazione e le sue doti di guida, Michele riuscì ad arrivare a gareggiare nella Formula 1 in soli cinque anni dal suo debutto in gara.
Nel 1981, grazie all’aiuto di un amico e mecenate che già aveva aiutato altri piloti tra cui Ronnie Peterson, Michele debuttò in F1, in occasione della gara di Imola, con la Tyrrell.
Si mise subito in mostra e dopo alcune vittorie con la monoposto inglese, approdò alla Ferrari dove, nel 1985, sfiorò la vittoria nel campionato mondiale F1.
L’anno successivo, fu contatto dalla McLaren, ma Michele preferì mantenere l’impegno che aveva assunto con l’ing. Ferrari, e rimase a Maranello.
Alla fine dell’88, dopo la morte di Enzo Ferrari, Michele ebbe un contatto con la Williams ma la trattativa non andò a buon fine. Gareggiò quindi con la Tyrrell, e successivamente con Lola Lamborghini, Footwork, l’Arrows, Lola Ferrari, ed in fine, nel 1994, con la Minardi.
Escludendo la parentesi Ferrari, Michele non ebbe mai una monoposto in grado di competere per la vittoria.
Nel corso della sua carriera, Michele ha gareggiato con qualsiasi vettura; nel campionato turismo tedesco nella Irl, nella 500 miglia di Indianapolis ed infine nel campionato riservato alle vetture Sport.
Proprio con le vetture Sport, Michele riuscì a coronare uno dei suoi sogni di ragazzo, sogno che aveva da quando aveva visto Steve McQueen su una Porsche 917 nel celebre film sulla 24 ore.
Dopo l’esperienza con la Porsche, con cui vinse la 24 ore di Le Mans del 1997, Michele gareggiò con la Audi con cui si si confermò un grande campione.
Sulle Sport Michele si sentiva sicuro: non pensava neppure per un attimo di porre fine alla sua carriera di pilota.
Ma il destino decise diversamente.
Il 25 aprile 2001 sul circuito tedesco di Lausitzring, durante una serie di test, Michele perse la vita in un tragico incidente al volante della vettura con cui avrebbe dovuto gareggiare nella successiva 24 Ore di Le Mans.
In un primo tempo sembrò che la causa dell’incidente fosse imputabile al cedimento di un componente della vettura che improvvisamente decollò in rettilineo mentre sfrecciava sul filo dei 320 km/h.
Dopo aver perso il contatto con l’asfalto, e scavalcando il guard-rail la vettura si schiantò al suolo provocando la morte istantanea del pilota.
Tempo dopo, si seppe che un oggetto tagliente aveva sgonfiato gradualmente lo pneumatico posteriore sinistro della R8 fino a provocarne la perdita del controllo.
Sono ormai passati dieci anni da quel triste giorno ma il tempo non ha cancellato il ricordo di un pilota amato soprattutto per la sua semplicità e per una passione che non è mai venuta meno, anche quando le circostante non erano favorevoli.
Nel corso della sua carriera, Michele ha partecipato a 194 Gran Premi, vincendo 5 Gp e conquistato nove secondi posti, nove terzi posti.
Ha percorso 218 giri in testa, 927 chilometri al comando di una gara di F1.
Michele ha anche vinto il Campionato europeo F3, nel 1980, e tra le sue vittorie più belle ricordiamo la vittoria ottenuta con la TWR Porsche WSC95 alla 24 ore di Le Mans del 1997.
Ma al di là dei numeri, la perdita di Alboreto segnò la scomparsa di un protagonista italiano dei tempi eroici, quando i piloti trattenevano il respiro per superare il limite in curva, e quando la sensibilità, l’abilità e il coraggio del pilota contavano più della gestione elettronica.
Negli ultimi anni, Alboreto, era Vice-Presidente CSAI e lavorava all’idea di istituire una nuova formula addestrava che permettesse di lanciare giovani talenti attraverso una monoposto impegnativa e costi di partecipazione contenuti.
Michele Alboreto, un campione per amico
Nel corso degli ultimi anni l’Amministrazione Comunale di Rozzano ha ricordato il compianto pilota Michele Alboreto, dedicandogli una piazza di un nuovo quartiere e una scultura, intitolata ‘come il vento’ e posta all’interno del giardino del Centro Culturale multi mediale Cascina Grande.
In questi giorni, per commemorare il decennale della sua scomparsa, ha proposto una mostra fotografica dal titolo: “Michele Alboreto, un campione per amico”.
Dal 25 al 30 aprile, sono state esposte 70 immagini che hanno ripercorso la carriera sportiva del pilota e alcuni momenti felici dell’uomo Michele Alboreto.
Sabato 30 aprile, giorno di chiusura della manifestazione, è stata esposta la Ferrari F156 con cui Michele conquistò il 2° posto nel Campionato Mondiale Piloti, vettura normalmente esposta nelle sale della Galleria Ferrari.
Infine, Poste Italiane era presente con una sezione distaccata dell’ufficio postale centrale per mettere a disposizione dei collezionisti le tre cartoline create in serie limitata corredate di francobollo commemorativo e apporre l’apposito timbro dell’annullo filatelico
Michele Alboreto
Date of birth: 23 December, 1956
Place of birth: Milan (I)
Married to Nadia, two daughters
Date of death: 25 April 2001: he was killed testing an Audi R8 at the Lausitzring in Germany
Started career in 1976
1977 3rd place Formula Monza
1978 5th place Formula Italia
1979 2nd place Italian Formula 3 Championship, Endurance World Championship
1980 Formula 3 European Champion, Endurace World Championship
1981 Enduranec World Championship, Formula 1 World Championship
1982 6th Formula 1 World Championship, Endurance World Championship
1983 12th Formula 1 World Championship
1984 4th Formula 1 World Championship
1985 2nd Formula 1 World Championship
1986 8th Formula 1 World Championship
1987 7th Formula 1 World Championship
1988 11th Formula 1 World Championship
1990 Formula 1 World Championship
1991 Formula 1 World Championship
1992 10th Formula 1 World Championship
1993 Formula 1 World Championship
1995 German Touring Car Championship, Sports car racing, USA
1996 Indy Racing League, Sports car racing, USA
1997 Winner of Le Mans 24 Hour race
1998 2nd in Petit Le Mans
1999 3rd in Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R8R), 4th in Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8R)
2000 2nd in Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R8), 3rd in Le Mans 24 Hour race (Audi R8), Winner of Petit Le Mans (Audi R8)
2001 winner of Sebring 12 Hour race (Audi R8R)
davide says
I realised way too late that he was a good driver, a driver to keep an eye on.
Thanks Michele.
marcello Minerbi says
I remember Michele, when I was Deputy Editor of the Domenica del Corriere, an historic Italian family magazine, I published the first ever interview of him. He was introduced to me by the secretary of the famous late actor Walter Chiari (the boy friend of Ava Gardner for some years). I met Michele in several occasions, the last one was in Maranello at the Fiorano’s Track where we were invited to drive the Ferrari Maranello. At that time Michele was a test driver and contributor of AutoOggi and I was the Editor of Gente Motori. Oh boys, how many memories…
Chris Martin says
I worked in Formula One for several years, building cars for Arrows and Footwork among others, and got to know quite a few of the drivers through the ’90s.
I have to say that Michele was one of the best to work with, a real gentleman, always ready to help and appreciative of all those who worked behind the scenes.
Many F1 ‘stars’ of the time believed their own legend and acted the part, but Michele was content to hang around the factory, helping out, always taking an interest, even getting his hands dirty making his own moulded foam seat, or working on his own car – rare indeed in modern times.
I consider myself lucky to have made his acquaintance, a nice fellow, and much missed.
Chris Martin