She was passionate about racing. The following year, Lombardi would compete again this time driving a March-Ford but was unfortunately forced to retire after twenty laps. It was a deep irony that when Maria Grazia Lella Lombardi became the only woman to score a World Championship point in only her second GP, in Spain in a works March 751 in 1975 it was actually only half a point. Lella was my recommendation. Queer drivers are a case in point. With assistance from her partner Fiorenza, sister and brother-in-law, the Lella cover was soon blown by newsworthy results and, by 1967, she was contesting Italian Formula 3 in a Branca-Ford. Born Maria Grazia Lombardi on the 26th March 1941, Lomardi grew up in Frugarolo in the Piedmont area of Italy, where her first job saw her drive the delivery van for her familys butcher shop. Initially we had wanted Inaltera as a sponsor, says team manager Vic Elford. That includes both domestic and international flights. By creating your free Catawiki account, youll be able to bid on any of our 65,000 special objects up for auction every week. She was undaunted. Lombardis place in motorsport history is firmly fixed. Date of birth. Rather than ask to be entirely funded in her efforts behind the wheel of the Brabham, she paid her way herself. Women began competing as grand-prix racing drivers as early as 1958, when Anna-Maria de Fillipis competed in three Formula One events. Women with Drive: Lella Lombardi | W Series She learned how to drive behind the wheel of the delivery van for her familys butcher shop. You can set your cookie preferences using the toggles below. Nine tenths shy of the grid, she had, in a better car admittedly, lapped as quickly as Tom Bels and faster than Vern Schuppan, John Nicholson, Howden Ganley, Wilds and Leo Kinnunen. Her claim to fame is shes the only woman driver to score points in Formula 1, but even that was cut in half. Lombardi also competed numerous times at 24 Hours of Le Mans with her best result, a ninth place finish, coming in 1976. Certainly, she would have achieved better results. Lombardi was the first woman to qualify and compete in the Race of Champions in Brands Hatch and raced in sports cars. The Daily Mail branded her the Tigress of Turin in the lead up to the race. The following year ended in a retirement. These were supposedly real mans cars with their big 5.0-litre V8 motors, but she handled them adroitly. Lombardi, Lella (1942) | Encyclopedia.com The race was stopped shortly thereafter and half points awarded to those who happened to occupy the top six positions at the time.". Highlights include: being crowned the Italian Formula Three runner up in 1968 and winning the Italian Formula 850 Series in 1970. She did what many failed F1 drivers did and still do: She took to sports cars, a discipline shed dabbled in in 1975 with her first Le Mans entry, an Alpine shared with Marie-Claude Beaumont. Maria Grazia Lombardi aka Lella Lombardi (1941-1992) was a female racing driver from Italy who recorded 17 participations (12 starts) in the Formula One World Championship between 1974 and 1976, setting the record as a woman who raced the most in Formula 1. Her best results 4ths at Brands, Monza, Oulton Park and Mallory Park. With the exception of Monaco, she qualified to start all of the remaining races. There was a multiple crash at the first corner involving at least nine cars, and there were other incidents for some 35 minutes, until finally the leading car suffered a structural failure and went over the barrier killing four bystanders. She was 50 years old and was buried in Frugarolo. [6]. That she was a woman was an irrelevancy to Lella. But I dont think he ever did a flying lap in that car. Even her major success that year was tinged with tragedy. There were two other female drivers in the field: American Janet Guthrie and Belgian Christine Beckers. 1974 British Grand Prix Catawiki is continuously updating its technology. Pitstop pioneers: the queer drivers who changed motorsports I feel sorry for her and wonder about it even now.. She had raced hard against some of the best drivers in the world, and she finished in sixth place. Maria Grazia "Lella" Lombardi (26 March 1941 - 3 March 1992) was an Italian racing driver who participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix. Yes, I would like to receive communications including news, special offers. Born 26 March 1941(1941-03-26)Frugarolo, Italy Lella Lombardi Formula 1 driver - 4mula1stats.com The following year, in 1976, Lombardi only contested four F1 weekends. She qualified 7 seconds off pole in P24 and got half a point because there were 18 DNFs, 5 people died and the race was abandoned. She wasnt there to make up the numbers. HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from the first practice session of the new F1 season in Bahrain, WATCH: Ride onboard as Alonso sets the fastest lap in Friday practice in Bahrain, Hulkenberg points out area where Haas 'have a lot of work to do' despite taking P5 in FP2, 2003-2023 Formula One World Championship Limited. One place and one lap behind him was Lombardi: the first and to date only woman to score a point in a world championship GP, but in a half-points race. ), She is commemorated by a bust in her birthplace Frugarolo, near Alessandria, and her eponymous team in Lombardy exists to this day. Deceased That didnt mean it was a wholly unsuccessful year. She was up against the cream of Australias macho heroes, notably eventual winner Max Stewart and Big Rev Kevin Bartlett in their Lolas. However, as were her wishes, the team remained active after her death and remains so today. We miss her passion, determination and modesty., Lombardi checked into Milans San Camillo Clinic in February 1992 and died on March 3, days short of her 51st birthday. Proudly created with. Podium Percentage : 23.96%. READ MORE: 'Finding a new challenge is my motivation' Jamie Chadwick on whats next after clinching her second W Series title. 8W - Who? - Lella Lombardi - Autosport Born in Frugarolo, Italy, on March 21 1941, she reached adolescence understanding that two aspects of her nature were at odds with public opinion of the day: she loved cars and she was gay. Last Race Lella Lombardi (and every other woman to ever compete in F1 for that matter) is shit and didn't deserve to score anything. But it seemed to be the most fruitful option for a woman looking to continue behind the wheel due to how many options were available for her. First Race Two of his fellows, his brother Wilson and Arturo Merzario, retired after completingone token lap. Died Regardless of everything though, she still defined herself by her love of motorsports and is remembered by her words: I prefer to have an accident than to fall in love. Lella Lombardi - racing driver | Italy On This Day She was a racing driver first and foremost. She was very professional and we enjoyed working with her. Lombardi succeeded at qualifying this time and would be in the field for the South African Grand Prix. She also raced a Lola and an Eagle for Francisco Mirs team in the US F5000 series, as team mate to rising star James Hunt. More statistics by age for Lella Lombardi Career chart profile Seasons: nr of season from first GP until the last. This approach works for an endless parade of nobody male drivers, and it got Lella close enough to just grasp at history, at least for a moment, before it all started to slip away from her. Lella Lombardi: Remembering F1's Female Trailblazer - YouTube Lombardi raced a Lola-Chevrolet finishing unclassified in 14th. Wins Later she would race in NASCAR, sharing a Chevrolet with Janet Guthrie in Daytonas Firecracker 400 in 1977 but being classified only 31st after transmission problems. Lella Lombardi is the first and only woman to score a point in - reddit We know who could win the F1 championship in 2023, but who will have the car to maximise their talent? In 1975, Lombardi joined the March team for a full seasonat that time alongside the macho Vittorio Brambilla (nicknamed the Monza Gorilla) and Hans-Joachim Stuck. She raced in Italian F3 for the next two years, finishing 10th in the championship both times and beating rated hotshoe Maurizio Flammini in a heat at Vallelunga. This took place in 1951, but before then shed been a moderately successful motor racer and pilot in the RAF. But her 1975 season, too, was a pretty unfortunate year. Racing was her passion, and she was focused on it wholly. Lella Lombardi profile on SnapLap Only half points were awarded that day because the race got cut short. Join Facebook to connect with Lella Lombardi and others you may know. There were only two drivers per car back then, and we managed the two-and-a-bit-hour stints easily. Unfortunately, a major miscalculation in the Jean Sage-run team led to their retirement, when they ran out of fuel. #Grand Prix: nr of GrandPrix in all seasons. Create your free account today and explore our weekly auctions curated by our team of experts. In 1976 Lombardi was confirmed at March alongside Brambilla and Stuck. Just racing and fishing.. Thats unusual for a racing driver. Long and successful associations with Osella and Alfa Romeo followed. The F1 cars of that time were no easy feat to manage worlds away from the control of today. For Lombardi to gain the respect of such men as the legendary Arturo Merzario (seen above with teammateVittorio Brambilla) was a clear indication of herabilities and bravery. [10], Lombardi retired from racing in 1988. Half points awarded, Race stopped after 29/54 Laps. This was the race stopped prematurely at only 29 laps after Rolf Stommelens leading Hill had lost its rear wing and crashed heavily, killing onlookers. The final Grand Prixfor Lombardi was in Austria; a 12th place was her reward. "My directing partner Vincent Tran and I first became aware of Lella Lombardi in 2018. Maria Grazia "Lella" Lombardi (26 March 1941 3 March 1992) was an Italian racing driver who participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix. Race stopped after 29/75 Laps. While she remains one of the elite few women who've raced in Formula One, and the only of them to gain a score, motorsport continues to evolve, and in many ways, reflects the social progress seen elsewhere. Lombardi died of breast cancer in Milan on March 3, 1992. 30 years without Lella Lombardi, the girl who beat males in F1 The thing I like is the feeling when you pass the checkered flag first. Lombardi died of breast cancer three weeks before her 51st birthday. She admitted privately, however, that it felt like riding a buffalo and, unsurprisingly, Guthrie, who had finished a fine 12th in that years Daytona 500, outqualified her by nine places. Born Maria Grazia 'Lella' Lombardi in Frugarolo, Italy, and so far the only woman to have registered a top six finish in a World Championshop Grand Prix, she took half a point for finishing in 6th place in the prematurely terminated 1975 Spanish GP at Barcelona's Montjuich Park. She was in an unreliable car whose problems were only intensified by the fact that the mechanics didnt take Lombardi seriously when she reported complaints to do with the handling. Others obsessed about her gender and sexuality, but Lella couldnt care less about any of that. But the Nrburgring was her best drive, says March co-founder/designer Robin Herd. Lombardi practiced her skills behind an F1 car in several non-championship events. Amazingly, Lombardi also raced in NASCAR driving in the Firecracker 400 at the Daytona International Speedway in 1977. Vittorio Brambilla was one of only two to set a time on Friday afternoon. I love motor racing and thats all I want to do. You are currently using an outdated browser. She was sure of her illness by 1985. Wed been a disaster in terms of sponsorship since bursting into F1 in 1970, says Herd. She won [from the third row, beating Jacques Laffite and Mike Wilds] and we became very friendly and kept in touch. Fourth at Brands Hatch at the first time of asking, Lombardi matched that result at Monza, Oulton Park and Mallory Park during a consistent campaign: she finished all bar the last of 18 rounds to be fifth in the points. Maria Grazia "Lella" Lombardi (26 March 1941 - 3 March 1992) was a racing driver from Italy. As a trans woman, Cowell won the 1957 Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb, one of the worlds oldest motorsports events. She raced with the talented racer/journalist Marie-Claude Beaumont in 1975 in an Alpine A441 under the far-sighted Francois Guiters Ecurie Elf Ladies Team, and later won the 1979 Enna Six Hours with Enrico Grimaldi (becoming the first woman to win an FIA Championship event). While failing to qualify, Pete Lyons, arguably the leading F1 journalist of that era, nevertheless described Lombardi'sintroduction to the world of Formula One like this: "Lella Lombardi drove her BT42 the same chassis with which Pace failed to qualify in France in a brisk enough, and clean enough, manner to impress people favourably.". Lombardi's next race, the Spanish Grand Prix, saw her make history. She was retired after 20 laps. Maria Grazia " Lella " Lombardi (26 March 1941 - 3 March 1992) was an Italian racing driver who participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix. Lombardi is the only woman to ever participate in the race of champions She was regularly overshadowed by emergent team mate Vittorio Brambilla, never getting within two seconds of him in qualifying. She wasnt far off team mate John Watsons times initially in a similar car, but failed to qualify by nine-tenths after a driveshaft failure. MAGNUSSEN: EN NY RA - by Peter Nygaard (Shed knocked off a year or two to avoid another prejudice. Anybody know why Lella Lombardi's car was seized by the police - reddit Lella Lombardi died in March 1992 She was one of the few women that have raced the 24 hours of LeMans, witha best result of 4th. We were quite close on lap times, and what was nice with her is that she would hand the car back to me exactly as it was when I had handed it to her. Brambilla, perhaps never really pushing that car whenever he was asked to try it, never mentioned the handling problem, but Ronnie Peterson quickly noted it in 1976. Career Lombardi returned to F1 in 1976 for the British Grand Prix but failed to qualify the aging RAM Racing Brabham BT44 she was piloting. (Shed already been farmed out to Williams at Watkins Glen the previous October, when her FW04 conked on the warm-up lap.) Lella Lombardi Driver Information Born 26 March 1941 Frugarolo, Italy Died 3 March 1992 (aged 50) Milan, Italy Nationality ITA Formula One World Championship Career Statistics Status Deceased World Titles 0 Races 18 (12 starts) Poles 0 Wins 0 Podiums 0 Fastest Laps 0 Points 0.5 First Race 1974 British Grand Prix Last Race 1976 Austrian Grand Prix And she left as her legacy her own racing team, Lella Lombardi Autosport, the question of what might have been, and a shining example of how to live life on your own terms, with your whole being focused on your target and not what others think of you. [2] At first, Lombardis father found her passion for racing hard to accept but embraced it once she finished runner-up in a 1968 race. [14] This need for financial support is combated by the rise of the W-series, which started in October 2018. Desire could have cut the F1 mustard in the right car, but I also thought Lella was better than fortune allowed her to look. Lombardi grew up in Italy and developed an interest in racing by driving a delivery van for her family. We knew what shed done beforehand and clearly she was very capable.. And while motorsport has certainly reflected this progress, one exception is in Formula One where Lella Lombardi remains the single female who has scored points while competing. Showing Editorial results for lella lombardi. We were too busy building production racing cars. Now she impressed racings international set by finishing 12th in F3s most prestigious race. Lella was survived by her partner, Fiorenza. As one might expect, Lombardi turned her hand to endurance racing in both sports and touring cars racing at Le Mans on four occasions, including her final appearance when she partnered with Mark Thatcher, son of the British Prime Minister. Perhaps its the legacy of cars being thought of as symbolic of straight men or the continual presence of concepts like the Grid Girls in F1, a tradition which was only recently discontinued. Feeling this to be an overt bid by NASCAR to discredit her operation, her offer of help to these sisters-in-arms, though genuine, was made through gritted teeth. 1976 Austrian Grand Prix. It was in one of the formers nimble BMW-engined 2-litre prototypes that Lombardi became the first woman to win a round of an FIA-sanctioned world championship: the 1979 Enna Six Hours, co-driven by hillclimb specialist Enrico Grimaldi. That year, she won both the 6 Hours of Pergusa and the 6 Hours of Vallelungaevents she was competing in as part of both the World Sportscar Championship and the Italian Sportscar Championship. Lella was the perfect co-driver, says Beckers. From that peak it was back down to earth with a bump; Lombardi failed to qualify next in Monaco. Quite what Lombardi made of all of this confusion and acrimony is anyone's guess, but it took a great deal of intestinal fortitude and determination to climb aboard and race to a sixth place and half a point and a place in history. Her career is defined by a success halfway taken away from her, let down by lack of sponsors and unreliable cars. There was some consolation that year when Lombardi found herself qualified to enter the Race of Champions, becoming the first ever woman to do so. 3 March 1992(1992-03-03) (aged50)Milan, Italy By the time she arrived at Monaco in early June she had scored half of the six victories that would help her become Italys Ford Escort Mexico Challenge champion. Poles She was much more concerned by the settings than I was, great with the mechanics and very speedy. Lombardi kept her personal affairs particularly quiet to protect the identity of her lover, Fiorenza. 0 We discovered her story while investigating iconic women from history. Painful. She is the only woman to win points in Formula One, winning half a point in the Spanish Grand Prix. I am the president of a LLC who is looking to invest cash/assets in the self storage . While apremature end to a life and career that had not reachedits full potential, Lella Lombardi nevertheless made her point; no one can take that away from her. And they finished 11th at Le Mans, despite a long delay because of an electrical glitch that stranded Beckers without engine or headlights; her resourceful fix surprised the team. She spoke okay English by then, plus Id worked with so many Italian drivers that I could almost speak the language.. It turned out to be her only sliver of a point that season.