Alberto Puig Palau

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Alberto Puig Palau (born 31st January, 1908 in Barcelona, died 22nd November, 1986 in Barcelona) was a Spanish racing driver.

The fifth child of a manufacturer of silk fabrics from Reus in Catalonia, Palau studied medicine as a young adult before being pushed towards the family business by his father.

A lover of speed, Palau took park in several motor races throughout his adult life - his finest result being a third place at the 1946 Grand Prix Penya Rhin at the Pedralbes Circuit in Barcelona. Palau continued to race through the 1950s and even won a national championship in 1958. In 1958 Palau took part in the Portuguese Grand Prix but failed to qualify.

Outside of motor racing, Palau was very highly regarded in Spain as an actor and artist and was awarded gold medal for the artistic merit of the city of Barcelona in 1983 as well as a posthumous gold medal of the city which was awarded to him in 1988. In 1971, Catalan folk singer Joan Manuel Serrat released a song entitled "Tio Alberto" as a tribute to Palau which was a minor hit in Spain at the time. Palau was also a popular film actor in the 1960 through to his death in the mid-1980s