Clemente Biondetti was one of Italy’s most accomplished endurance racing drivers, remembered more for his racing on the open road than for Grand Prix success. Nicknamed “The Wolf of Tuscany”, Biondetti had a deep passion for motorsport that carried him through three decades of racing.
| Nationality | Italian |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 October 1898 Buddusò, Italy |
| Died | 24 February 1955 (aged 56) Florence, Italy |
Born in Buddusò, Sardinia, into a working-class family, Biondetti started his motorsport career on two wheels, racing motorcycles in 1923. By 1927, he made the shift to cars, where his natural talent quickly emerged. Known for his aggressive yet calculating driving style, Biondetti earned a place on the Maserati factory Grand Prix team by 1931.
Despite this early break, his results in circuit-based Grand Prix racing were modest. Biondetti’s true strength lay elsewhere: in the grueling world of endurance and road racing.
It was in the punishing open-road events like the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio that Biondetti truly excelled. In 1938, driving an Alfa Romeo 8C 2900b, he won the Mille Miglia, Italy’s most legendary road race. That same year, he finished second in the voiturette class at the Coppa Ciano and third overall in the main event. In 1939, he added a class victory at the Coppa Acerbo and took second at the Swiss Grand Prix, confirming his versatility.
The outbreak of World War II in 1940 interrupted his momentum, as it did for many drivers of his era.
Remarkably, when racing resumed after the war, Biondetti was already 49 years old. Most drivers his age had retired—but not Clemente. He returned with renewed focus and went on a legendary run that secured his place in motorsport history.
Between 1947 and 1949, Biondetti won the Mille Miglia three times in a row, bringing his career total to four victories—more than any other driver before or since. He also triumphed in the Targa Florio in both 1948 and 1949, further cementing his status as Italy’s king of endurance racing.
Biondetti participated in one Formula One World Championship race: the 1950 Italian Grand Prix. True to his independent spirit, he entered with a self-built Ferrari–Jaguar hybrid. Unfortunately, engine troubles ended his race prematurely, and he scored no championship points.
Even in his 50s, Biondetti continued racing competitively. In 1952, he finished second at the 12 Hours of Pescara, piloting a Ferrari against younger rivals. But by the early 1950s, health issues began to catch up with him. Diagnosed with cancer, he retired in 1954 and passed away in Florence on 24 February 1955 at the age of 56.
His death made him the first Formula One World Championship driver to die of natural causes. He also holds a notable record as the seventh oldest driver ever to start a Formula One race—at 52 years, 111 days old during the 1950 Italian Grand Prix, where he retired from the race.
Formula One History Recommends
Clemente Biondetti Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 1950 |
|---|---|
| Teams | privateer Ferrari |
| Entries | 1 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1950 Italian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1950 Italian Grand Prix |
