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Michele AlboretoItalian racing driver
Date of Birth: 23.12.1956
Country:  Italy |
Content:
The Biography of Michele Alboreto
Early Life and CareerMichele Alboreto was born on December 23, 1956, in Milan, Italy. He began his sports career in 1976 when he and his friends assembled a car called 'CMR' to participate in the Formula Monza races, a junior racing series. However, the car proved to be uncompetitive, and two years later, Alboreto switched to Formula Italia, racing for the 'March Engineering' team, where he gradually started winning. In 1980, the young driver competed in the Formula 3 championships, winning the titles of Italian and European Formula 3 champion.
Formula One Career
Alboreto's success in the Formula 3 championships paved the way for him to compete in Formula Two for the 'Minardi' team and later in the 'Tyrrell' team in Formula One. He made his debut in the fourth round of the 1981 World Championship in San Marino, replacing Argentine driver Ricardo Zunino. Unfortunately, Alboreto had to retire after a collision with Beppe Gabbiani, completing only 31 laps out of 60. However, he went on to achieve notable victories, winning the 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix and the 1983 Detroit Grand Prix.
In 1984, Alboreto joined the 'Ferrari' team, where he enjoyed his most successful years in his career. He won the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix in Zolder, finished third in the Austrian Grand Prix, and achieved second-place finishes in Monza and Nürburgring. In 1985, Alboreto had a remarkable season, winning the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal and the German Grand Prix in Nürburgring. He finished the season in second place, just 20 points behind Alain Prost.
However, Alboreto's success with Ferrari declined in the following seasons, and after a disappointing 1988 season, the team chose not to renew his contract. Despite setting a record of 80 starts with Ferrari, Alboreto was left without a contract as other teams did not rush to offer him a place in their ranks. He contemplated retirement, especially since his family was in favor of it.
Later Career and Tragic Accident
In 1989, Alboreto received an offer from his old friend's team, 'Tyrrell,' but he quickly left the team due to strained relationships with the team owner. He then raced for the French team 'Larrousse' for the remainder of the season. From 1990 to 1992, he competed with the 'Footwork' team, followed by two years with the Italian teams 'Scuderia Italia' and 'Minardi,' but their cars were not up to the standards of Formula One, and he struggled to achieve significant results.
After his Formula One career, Alboreto shifted his focus to sports car racing. He worked with 'Alfa Romeo,' 'Porsche,' and 'Audi.' Tragically, on April 25, 2001, while testing the 'Audi R8' model at the Lausitzring circuit near Dresden, Germany, Alboreto's car spun off the track and crashed into a wall due to a tire explosion. The accident claimed his life, causing immense grief to his family, friends, and fans.
Despite the ups and downs in his career, Michele Alboreto will be remembered as a talented and accomplished Italian racing driver, with 194 starts and five victories in Formula One.
