Eugenio Castellotti

Eugenio Castellotti (10 October 1930 – 14 March 1957) was a Formula One driver from Italy.

Driving career
Castellotti was born in Lodi. He acquired a Ferrari at the age of twenty and began racing sports cars in 1952. After being signed by Scuderia Ferrari, he participated in 14 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 16 January 1955. He secured one pole position, achieved 3 podiums, and scored a total of 19.5 championship points.

He also participated in several non-Championship Formula One races. Castellotti won the March 1956 12 Hours of Sebring at Sebring, Florida. He followed this triumph by winning the Mille Miglia race in Brescia and the Grand Prix for sports cars in Rouen, France. Castellotti's Ferrari achieved a total race time of 2 hours 10 minutes 31.1 seconds, winning the race.

Known for his manner and tailored clothes, Castellotti gained significant media publicity for his relationship with ballerina and actress Delia Scala.

Death
He was killed at only 26 years old during a private Ferrari test session at the Modena Autodrome. Castellotti was testing a new Ferrari Grand Prix car for the 1957 season. He crashed against a curve of the Autodrome and his body was hurled 100 yd. He had just been told to accelerate his speed so that he could average 85.127 miles per hour (136.999 km/h). The car turned over several times and finished up in the members stand. No one else was injured. Doctors said Castellotti died instantly from a fractured skull.

Legacy
Four years later, another Italian driver, Giulio Cabianca, Castellotti's best friend, fatally crashed in the same Autodrome. Castellotti was considered the greatest Italian driver since Alberto Ascari, who died testing a car on 26 May 1955.

Major career wins (sportscars):
 * Mille Miglia
 * 12 Hours of Sebring
 * Sicily Gold Cup
 * Circuito di Senigallia
 * Portuguese Grand Prix
 * 1000 km Buenos Aires

Complete Formula One results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)