“Gimax” was the racing identity of Italian driver Carlo Franchi (1 January 1938 – 13 January 2021). Franchi competed exclusively under his pseudonym, never using his real name on track. The moniker later became a family tradition when his son also raced as “Gimax”.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | Italian |
| Birthplace | Lainate, Italy |
| Born | 1 January 1938 |
| Died | 13 January 2021 |
| First Grand Prix | 1978 Italian Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1978 Italian Grand Prix |
| Current/Last Team | Surtees |
His Formula One record was brief. Gimax entered the 1978 Italian Grand Prix in a Surtees but did not qualify for the race. He returned to Formula One machinery the following year for the non-championship Dino Ferrari Grand Prix.
Sports cars
The sports-car paddock was Gimax’s more familiar territory. He was a regular presence in Italian events throughout the 1970s and joined the newly created European Sportscar Championship in 1978.
The series gave Group 6 prototypes a European home following the cancellation of the World Sports Car Championship and was divided by engine capacity. Driving an Osella, Gimax captured the championship for two-litre cars, while Porsche racer Reinhold Joest claimed the corresponding title in the larger-capacity division.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 1 |
| Race Starts | 0 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | DNQ |
| Best Race Finish | DNQ |
| Retirements | 0 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 1 |
| Reached Q3 | 0 |
| Q2 Eliminations | 0 |
| Q1 Eliminations | 1 |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Stats by Season
| Year | Constructor | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Surtees | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DNQ | DNQ | 0 | 0 | Never classified |
