Alessandro Nannini

Alessandro Nannini
Born (1959-07-07) 7 July 1959
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality Italy Italian
Active years 1986 - 1990
Teams Minardi, Benetton
Entries 78 (76 starts)
Championships 0
Wins 1
Podiums 9
Career points 65
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 2
First entry 1986 Brazilian Grand Prix
First win 1989 Japanese Grand Prix
Last win 1989 Japanese Grand Prix
Last entry 1990 Spanish Grand Prix

Alessandro "Sandro" Nannini (born 7 July 1959[1]) is a former racing driver from Italy. He is the younger brother of rock-singer Gianna Nannini.[2]

Biography

Nannini was born in Siena. He began racing in a Lancia Stratos at national rally events before switching to Formula Italia in 1981. From 1982 to 1984, he raced for Minardi in Formula 2, attracting some attention for his speed in the uncompetitive car. Though his best season saw him only 7th overall in 1983, he was signed by Lancia to drive their fast but fragile LC2 prototype in the World Sportscar Championship, setting fastest lap at the 1984 24 Hours of Le Mans where he finished 8th with Bob Wollek, and later that year winning the 1984 1000 km of Kyalami with Riccardo Patrese. For 1985, Giancarlo Minardi wanted Nannini to drive his new Formula One car but Nannini was controversially denied a superlicence, his former F2 team-mate Pierluigi Martini taking the drive instead. Nannini continued with Lancia instead, his best result being 3rd in the 1000km Monza.

For 1986, Nannini was finally granted a superlicence and signed up with Minardi's Grand Prix team, where he stayed until 1987. The car was uncompetitive and unreliable (Nannini was classified only four times from 30 starts with the team), largely due to its disappointing Motori Moderni V6 engine. However, Nannini's speed was noticed by many, especially after he largely outperformed experienced team-mate Andrea de Cesaris in 1986.

Nannini driving for Benetton at the 1988 Canadian Grand Prix.

Benetton signed Nannini for 1988 to drive alongside Thierry Boutsen. He generally performed very well, often out-pacing the highly regarded Belgian if not matching his consistency. He scored his first point in his second race for the team and took two 3rd places on his way to 10th overall in the title race.

With Boutsen leaving for Williams Nannini was promoted to team leader at Benetton alongside young Englishman Johnny Herbert and delivered a number of strong performances, especially at Suzuka. There he lay 3rd behind the two McLaren cars of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost when they collided, giving Nannini the lead. Prost retired whereas Senna rejoined after being push-started and pitted to replace his front wing, trailing Nannini in the race. Nannini was eventually passed by Senna who went on to cross the finish line first, however, the Brazilian was subsequently disqualified for missing the chicane following his collision with Prost, The disqualification handed Nannini what proved to be his only Formula 1 win. He rounded off the season with an impressive 2nd place in torrential rain at Adelaide, moving him to 6th overall in the standings.[2]

For 1990, he was joined in the team by Nelson Piquet and reverted to being the number two driver. However, he impressed by largely matching the pace of the three-times World Champion. At Hockenheim he led the race by deciding against stopping for tyres, resisting Senna for 16 laps before fading grip dropped him to 2nd. He also challenged at the following Hungarian Grand Prix, hounding leader Boutsen until being controversially pushed off by the following Senna.

On 12 October 1990, the week after the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix, where he had finished 3rd, Nannini was involved in a helicopter crash over his Siena wineyard, suffering a severed right forearm.[3] The injury healed thanks to successful microsurgery but it ended his Formula One career. Nannini had been reconfirmed by Benetton for 1991 but Ferrari had a long-standing interest in the driver and were considering him as a replacement for the departing Nigel Mansell.[2]

Once sufficiently recovered, Ferrari offered Nannini a test drive on its Fiorano Circuit in 1992. Nannini completed a total of 38-laps driving Jean Alesi's Ferrari F92A, which featured a specially modified steering wheel. In 1996, Benetton's Flavio Briatore also honoured the promise of a test drive, which took place at the Estoril Circuit[4] aboard a B196.

Despite only regaining partial use of his right hand, Nannini was able to carve out a successful career in touring car racing with Alfa Romeo in the 1990s[2] - placing 4th overall in the 1994 DTM and 3rd in the 1996 ITC.

Nannini competed for Mercedes in the 1997 FIA GT Championship finishing 6th overall before hanging up his helmet. He now runs a chain of upmarket cafes bearing his name, with branches as far flung as Indonesia.[5]

2007 saw Sandro Nannini’s return to the track after a decade in retirement. He agreed to take part in the short-lived Grand Prix Masters Championship for Formula One veterans, alongside drivers including his former Benetton team mate Johnny Herbert.

He is a member of the Italy-USA Foundation.

Racing record

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1983 Italy Martini Racing Italy Paolo Barilla
France Jean-Claude Andruet		 Lancia LC2-Ferrari C 135 DNF DNF
1984 Italy Martini Racing France Bob Wollek Lancia LC2-Ferrari C1 326 8th 8th
1985 Italy Martini Racing France Bob Wollek
Australia Lucio Cesario		 Lancia LC2-Ferrari C1 360 6th 6th

Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Points
1986 Minardi Team Minardi M185B MM V6 BRA
Ret		 ESP
DNS		 SMR
Ret		 MON
DNQ		 BEL
Ret		 CAN
Ret		 DET
Ret		 FRA
Ret		 GBR
Ret		 GER
Ret		 HUN
Ret		 AUT
Ret		 ITA
Ret		 POR
NC		 MEX
14		 AUS
Ret		 NC 0
1987 Minardi Team Minardi M187 MM V6 BRA
Ret		 SMR
Ret		 BEL
Ret		 MON
Ret		 DET
Ret		 FRA
Ret		 GBR
Ret		 GER
Ret		 HUN
11		 AUT
Ret		 ITA
16		 POR
11		 ESP
Ret		 MEX
Ret		 JPN
Ret		 AUS
Ret		 NC 0
1988 Benetton Formula Ltd. Benetton B188 Cosworth V8 BRA
Ret		 SMR
6		 MON
Ret		 MEX
7		 CAN
Ret		 DET
Ret		 FRA
6		 GBR
3		 GER
18		 HUN
Ret		 BEL
DSQ		 ITA
9		 POR
Ret		 ESP
3		 JPN
5		 AUS
Ret		 10th 12
1989 Benetton Formula Ltd. Benetton B188 Cosworth V8 BRA
6		 SMR
3		 MON
8		 MEX
4		 USA
Ret		 CAN
DSQ		 6th 32
Benetton B189 Ford V8 FRA
Ret		 GBR
3		 GER
Ret		 HUN
Ret		 BEL
5		 ITA
Ret		 POR
4		 ESP
Ret		 JPN
1		 AUS
2
1990 Benetton Formula Ltd. Benetton B189B Ford V8 USA
11		 BRA
10		 8th 21
Benetton B190 SMR
3		 MON
Ret		 CAN
Ret		 MEX
4		 FRA
16		 GBR
Ret		 GER
2		 HUN
Ret		 BEL
4		 ITA
8		 POR
6		 ESP
3		 JPN AUS

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos. Pts
1993 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti ZOL
1
Ret		 ZOL
2
3		 HOC
1
13		 HOC
2
8		 NÜR
1
10		 NÜR
2
4		 WUN
1
2		 WUN
2
Ret		 NÜR
1
4		 NÜR
2
4		 NOR
1
Ret		 NOR
2
Ret		 DIE
1
Ret		 DIE
2
18		 ALE
1
3		 ALE
2
Ret		 AVU
1
5		 AVU
2
Ret		 HOC
1
1		 HOC
2
1		 8th 121
1994 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti ZOL
1
1		 ZOL
2
1		 HOC
1
4		 HOC
2
1		 NÜR
1
7		 NÜR
2
7		 NÜR
1
1		 NÜR
2
7		 NOR
1
Ret		 NOR
2
7		 DIE
1
5		 DIE
2
4		 NÜR
1
8		 NÜR
2
5		 AVU
1
19		 AVU
2
5		 ALE
1
Ret		 ALE
2
12		 HOC
1
6		 HOC
2
Ret		 4th 149
1995 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti HOC
1
18		 HOC
2
DNS		 AVU
1
3		 AVU
2
Ret		 NOR
1
3		 NOR
2
9†		 DIE
1
4		 DIE
2
Ret		 NÜR
1
Ret		 NÜR
2
Ret		 ALE
1
11		 ALE
2
Ret		 HOC
1
5		 HOC
2
12		 11th 44

Complete International Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Pos. Pts
1995 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti MUG
1
5		 MUG
2
Ret		 HEL
1
Ret		 HEL
2
Ret		 DON
1
DNS		 DON
2
DNS		 EST
1
8		 EST
2
7		 MAG
1
Ret		 MAG
2
9		 15th 17
1996 Martini Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti HOC
1
10		 HOC
2
13		 NÜR
1
EX		 NÜR
2
EX		 EST
1
1		 EST
2
1		 HEL
1
14		 HEL
2
4		 NOR
1
Ret		 NOR
2
Ret		 DIE
1
6		 DIE
2
Ret		 SIL
1
17		 SIL
2
11		 NÜR
1
1		 NÜR
2
1		 MAG
1
1		 MAG
2
1		 MUG
1
11		 MUG
2
Ret		 HOC
1
6		 HOC
2
Ret		 INT
1
1		 INT
2
5		 SUZ
1
10		 SUZ
2
5		 3rd 180

References

  1. ↑ Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Peacock, Anthony (December 2015). "La Dolce Vida". F1 Racing: 72.
  3. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: AUTO RACING; Chance for Comeback". New York Times.com. 1990-12-22. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  4. ↑ "Sandro's Benetton test". Grandprix.com. 1996-11-25. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
  5. ↑ Caffe Nannini > Home

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