Giuseppe Campari Former Italian opera singer and racing driver Date of Birth: 08.06.1892 Country: Italy

1. Early Life and Career
2. Post-War Success and Triumphs
3. Competition and Rivalries
4. Later Career and Tragic End
5. Personal Life

Early Life and Career

Giuseppe Campari, a former Italian opera singer and Grand Prix racer, was born in Lodi, southwest of Milan. As a young man, he joined Alfa Romeo as a factory test driver. Campari's skills and enthusiasm led him to participate in hill-climb competitions. In 1914, at the age of 21, the novice proved his abilities by finishing fourth in the Targa Florio race.

Post-War Success and Triumphs

The outbreak of World War I halted European racing. After the armistice, competitions resumed, and in 1920, Campari secured his first major victory and Alfa Romeo's first trophy, triumphing at the Mugello Circuit in Tuscany. He repeated his Mugello success the following year, also claiming third place in the Targa Florio.

Campari's next significant triumph came in 1924 at the French Grand Prix, as part of a formidable three-man team with Gastone Brilli-Peri and Antonio Ascari in Alfa Romeo P2 cars designed by Vittorio Jano. The 1925 season proved less successful for Campari, with Alfa Romeo withdrawing from the French Grand Prix in July after Ascari's fatal crash.

Competition and Rivalries

In 1926, Maserati introduced the Tipo 26, its first Formula Grand Prix model, which led to the company winning the Manufacturers' Cup and Ernesto Maserati claiming the Italian Drivers' Championship in 1927. Despite Maserati's success, Campari secured a win for Alfa Romeo in the 1927 Coppa Acerbo.

The 1928 season saw Giuseppe Campari emerge victorious in the Coppa Acerbo for the second time and claim his first Mille Miglia victory. He also took second place in the Targa Florio, a race he participated in several times, consistently finishing among the top finishers but never claiming victory. The following year, he repeated his championship title in the Mille Miglia.

Later Career and Tragic End

In 1930, Tazio Nuvolari invited Campari to join the Alfa Romeo team. After a sensational debut season, Nuvolari and Campari won the Italian Grand Prix together, becoming national heroes after a three-year French triumph in the event. Campari claimed his third Coppa Acerbo victory that year.

In 1933, the 41-year-old Campari joined the Maserati team alongside Luigi Fagioli and Baconin Borzacchini. He won his second French Grand Prix in a Maserati but was preparing to retire from racing at the end of the season.

The Italian Grand Prix on September 10, 1933, at Monza, Italy, would mark Campari's final race. After 20 years of racing without serious accidents, a major catastrophe occurred in one of the blackest days in Grand Prix history. While leading the race, Campari was instantly killed when his car crashed after skidding on a patch of oil from a burst engine. His teammate Borzacchini, running second, unsuccessfully tried to avoid Campari's wrecked car and lost his life when his car overturned. Later, during the restart, Polish driver Stanisław Czaykowski crashed and set his car afire, resulting in his tragic death.

Personal Life

In addition to his passion for racing, Giuseppe Campari had several other interests. He was an avid foodie, cooking his favorite meals, and possessed a magnificent bass-baritone voice. After taking singing lessons, he began a professional singing career while racing.