Charles Albert Pozzi (born Carlo Alberto Pozzi; 27 August 1909 – 28 February 2001) was a French racing driver who participated in one World Championship Formula One race in 1950, the year of its inception.
Racing career Born Carlo Alberto Pozzi in Paris, France of Italian parentage, he became known as Charles, the French translation of his name. He was working as an automobile broker and his career as a racing driver only began when he was already 37 years old. Later in life, as the official French importer of Ferrari and Maserati automobiles, his name was to appear on many racing cars.
In 1946, he competed, with his Delahaye 135CS, in several races including the Grand Prix of Bourgogne – Dijon where he finished in fourth position and the Le Mans Grand Prix, raced on the Nantes race track this year, where he finished in fifth position, driving a Delahaye.
In 1949, he won the Comminges sports car Grand Prix, in Saint-Gaudens, with a Delahaye 145 (chassis N° 48775), equipped with a 4.5-litre six-cylinder Delahaye 175 engine.
Major achievements CategoryDate Race Team Car PositionPre Warapr.-465th Grand Prix de Nice Ecurie France Delahaye 135S8Pre Warmay-461st Grand Prix du Forez Ecurie France Delahaye 135CS7Pre WarJune-461st Coupe René le Bègue Ecurie France Delahaye 135CS 11Pre WarJuly-462nd Grand Prix de Bourgogne – DijonEcurie France Delahaye 135CS 4Pre WarJuly-461st Prix des 24 heures du Mans – NantesEcurie France Delahaye 135CS5Pre Waraug.-461st Circuit des Trois Villes – RoubaixEcurie France Delahaye 135CS 7Pre Warfebr.-47 Stockholm Grand Prix Ecurie France Delahaye 135CS 5Pre WarJune-473rd Grand Prix de Nîmes Ecurie France Delahaye 135CS 5Pre WarJuly-4716th Grand Prix de la Marne – ReimsEcurie France Delahaye 135CS7Formula 2July-479th Grand Prix d´Albi PrivateDelahaye 135CS 3Pre WarJuly-471st Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice PrivateDelahaye 135CS 5Pre Waraug.-472nd Grand Prix d´Alsace PrivateTalbot-Lago T150C Spéciale 5Pre Warsept.-4718th Gran Premio d´Italia PrivateDelahaye 135CS 7Pre Warsept.-4734th Grand Prix de l´ACF PrivateDelahaye 135CS 5Pre Warnov.-474th Coupe du Salon PrivateDelahaye 135CS 3Pre Warmar.-488th Grand Prix Automobile de Pau PrivateTalbot-Lago T150C 4Pre Warmay-482nd Grand Prix de Paris Ecurie LutetiaJolly, p. 47Delahaye 135S 11Pre WarJuly-488th Grand Prix de Suisse PrivateTalbot-Lago T26SS 7Pre WarJuly-4835th Grand Prix de l´ACF PrivateTalbot-Lago T26SS 10Pre Waraug.-4915th Grand Prix de voitures de sport de l´ACF – CommingesPrivateDelahaye 4.5-litre six 1Pre Waroct.-496th Coupe du Salon PrivateDelahaye 135CS 4Formula 1July-5037th Grand Prix de l´ACF Ecurie Charles PozziTalbot-Lago T26C 6Sports CarJune-5321st Grand Prix des 24 heures du Mans Automobiles Talbot Darracq Talbot-Lago T26GS 8 Note: 35th Grand Prix de L'ACF results shared with Louis Rosier as co-driver
1947, raced at: Grand Prix of Pau, Grand Prix Automobile of Marseille, Circuit des Remparts in Angoulême, Grand Prix du Comminges in Saint-Gaudens. 1948, raced at: Grand Prix des Nations in Genève, DNF at Grand Prix du Comminges in Saint-Gaudens (Talbot).Jolly, p. 44 1949, raced at Grand Prix Automobile of Pau, 1952, won the 12 Hours of Casablanca, (fr)1952 12 hours of Casablanca Morocco 1953, won : the first position of the 12H of Hyères in the 2L category Results 12H Hyères 1953 and at the third overall position, the second position of the 12H of Reims in the 2L category and the 6th position in the overall ranking. For these two events, he raced on the Ferrari 166MM Berlinetta Vignale which belong to his teammate François Picard. the third position at the 12 Hours of Agadir Morocco with a Lancia Aurelia 1954, finished : the 12 hours of Hyères in 2nd position with a Ferrari 500 Mondial, Ranking 1954 the 12 hours of Reims in 9th position with the same car. the hillclimb de Planfoy.
Pozzi's business After his retirement from racing, he founded Charles Pozzi S.A., the official importer of Ferrari and Maserati motor vehicles in France. In 2003, the company was acquired by the Ferrari company. Ferrari dark blue paint Blu Pozzi was named in honour of Charles Pozzi.
Pozzi died in 2001 in Levallois-Perret, a suburb in western Paris.
Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 WDC Points 1950 Ecurie Rosier Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot Straight-6 GBR MONDNA 500 SUI BEL NC 0 Charles Pozzi FRA6 * ITA
* Indicates shared drive with Louis Rosier
References