Clemente Biondetti (18 October 1898 – 24 February 1955) was an Italian auto racing driver. Born into a working-class family, Biondetti raced motorcycles before turning to automobiles where he had greater success.

Biography Born in Buddusò, Sardinia, into a working-class family, Biondetti began his racing career in motorcycles in 1923 but in 1927 turned to automobiles. He was nicknamed "The Wolf of Tuscany". By 1931 his performance earned him a spot in Grand Prix motor racing with the Maserati factory team.

Biondetti's success racing on circuits was minimal, but he was one of the best in tough endurance events. Driving an Alfa Romeo 8C 2900b, Clemente Biondetti won the 1938 Mille Miglia for sports cars and at the Coppa Ciano finished second in the voiturette class then third in the main event. In 1939, he won the Coppa Acerbo voiturette class and took second place at the Swiss Grand Prix. His racing career came to a halt following the outbreak of World War II in 1940. By the time he was able to resume racing after the war, he was already 49 years old. Nevertheless, he dominated Italian endurance racing, driving to victory in the Mille Miglia for three straight years from 1947 through 1949 and the Targa Florio in 1948 and 1949. He won more Mille Miglias than any other driver in history.

Biondetti participated in one Formula One World Championship event, the 1950 Italian Grand Prix. Driving a self-built Ferrari-Jaguar hybrid car, engine problems forced him out of the race thus he failed to score any championship points. Biondetti loved racing cars and continued to compete in sports car and endurance events, earning a second-place finish in a Ferrari at the 12 Hours of Pescara in 1952 against much younger drivers. After suffering from cancer for a number of years, he was forced to retire in 1954. He succumbed to cancer on 24 February 1955 in Florence. As a result, he became the first Formula One World Championship driver to die of natural causes.

Major victories Coppa Acerbo 1939 Mille Miglia 1938, 1947, 1948, 1949 Targa Florio 1948, 1949

Racing record

Complete European Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 Pts 1931 Officine A. Maserati Maserati 26M Maserati 2.5 L8s ITA FRA BEL 12th 19 1936 Scuderia Maremmana Maserati 6C-34 Maserati 3.7 L6s MON GER SUI ITA 25th 29 1937 Scuderia Maremmana Maserati 6C-34 Maserati 3.7 L6s BEL GER MON SUI 15th 34 Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo 12C-36 Alfa Romeo 4.1 V12s ITA 1938 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo Tipo 312 Alfa Romeo 3.0 V12s FRA GER SUI 13th 27 Alfa Romeo Tipo 316 Alfa Romeo 3.0 V16s ITA 1939 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 158 Alfa Romeo 1.5 L8s BEL FRA GER SUI 16th 28

Post WWII Grandes Épreuves results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 1948 Scuderia Inter Ferrari 166 C Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 MON SUI FRA ITA 1949 Luigi Platé Talbot 700 Talbot 700 1.5 L8s GBR BEL SUI FRA A. de Filippis Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s ITA

Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pts 1950 A. de Filippis Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s GBR MON 500 SUI BEL FRA NC 0 Clemente Biondetti Biondetti/Ferrari 166 SC Jaguar XK 3.4 L6 ITA

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1938 Raymond Sommer Raymond Sommer Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring 5.0 219 DNF DNF 1951 Jaguar Cars Ltd Leslie Johnson Jaguar XK-120C S 5.0 50 DNF DNF 1953 Scuderia Lancia José Froilán González Lancia D20 S 8.0 213 DNF DNF

Complete Mille Miglia results Year Team Co-Drivers/Navigator Car Class 1936 Cerasa Alfa Romeo P3 +2.0c 4th 4th 1937 Scuderia Ferrari Mazzetti Alfa Romeo 8C 2900A S+2.0DNF 1938 Alfa Corse Stefani Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Spider MM Touring S3.0s 1st 1940 Stefani Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Spider Touring 3.0 4th 2nd 1947 Romano Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta Touring S3.0 1st 1948 Scuderia Ferrari Navone Ferrari 166 S Coupé Allemano S2.0 1st 1949 Scuderia Ferrari Salani Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta Touring S2.0 1st 1950 Clemente Biondetti Bronzoni Jaguar XK120 S+2.0 8th 5th 1951 Cortini Biondetti Ferrari-Jaguar Special S/GT+2.0DNF 1952 Squadra Guastalla Ercoli Ferrari 225 S Spyder Vignale S+2.0DNF(Fire) 1953 Scuderia Lancia Barovero Lancia D20 Pinin Farina S+2.0 8th 7th 1954 Clemente Biondetti Ferrari 250 MM Pinin Farina S+2.0 4th 2nd

Complete Targa Florio results Year Team Co-Drivers/Navigator Car Class 1948 Scuderia Inter Troubetzkoy Ferrari 166 S Spyder Allemano S2.0 1st 1949 Scuderia Inter Benedetti Ferrari 166 SC S+1.1 1st 1950 Clemente Biondetti Bronzoni Jaguar XK120 S+2.0 DNF(Engine) 1954 Ferrari 250 MM S+2.0 5th 3rd

References

External links