Michele Alboreto

From Formula Rejects Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search

Michele Alboreto (born 23rd December, 1956 in Milan, Italy, died 25th April, 2001 at EuroSpeedway Lausitz, Germany) was a Italian racing driver best known for his appearances in Formula One.

Formula One

1987: Ferrari

By 1987 Alboreto was established at Ferrari alongside Frenchman Alain Prost. The Maranello team were still yet to emerge from the mid-1980s performance rut that had plagued Ferrari in previous years in the early stages of the season, with the team only able to score decent points when the likes of McLaren, Lotus and Williams faltered. However, Ferrari took a step forward after an upgrade in the middle of the season and Alboreto broke their duck with a strong win at the German Grand Prix. Alboreto would unfortunately suffer a minor injury in Italy which saw him ruled out for the following race, where he was replaced by Andrea de Cesaris. Alboreto returned for the final three rounds, but his speed had suffered. Soon after the season finished, it was announced that Brazilian upstart Ayrton Senna was making the move from Williams - meaning Alboreto was out of a drive.

1988: Benetton

Despite being a recent race winner, Alboreto wasn't sought after by any of the 'big four' and as such he dropped down to the Benetton team alongside Belgian Thierry Boutsen. Alboreto had a entirely pointless year with the Oxfordshire-based team, his best result being a ninth place in French Grand Prix.

1989: Scuderia Italia

Alboreto returned to Italy with the newly formed BMS Scuderia Italia outfit based in Brescia - being joined by fellow Italian Alex Caffi. Again, Alboreto was unable to score any points despite the Dallara-built car being a marked improvement over last year's Benetton - with Alboreto being a regular finisher inside the top ten.

1990-1994: Minardi

Alboreto made yet another move at the turn of the new decade, joining the Faenza-based Minardi team alongside Pierluigi Martini. Alboreto failed to score any points in 1990.

Alboreto remained with the team in 1991 - with the new M191 package lining up with Ferrari power units. Alboreto shocked the world when he took an immensely popular second place in the San Marino Grand Prix - Minardi's first podium since 1989.

1992 saw Alboreto race for a third season with the team - now running Lamborghini engines. Alboreto scored two sixth place finishes - the only points the team took home all season.

Alboreto stuck with Minardi in 1993 and 1994 but failed to score any points. Following a number of high-profile fatalities in the 1994 season, Alboreto quietly called time on his Grand Prix career in favour of a move stateside.

Later career

Alboreto forged a career in Sportscars once his F1 opportunities ran out, winning the Le Mans 24 Hours race in 1997.

In April 2001, Alboreto was killed in a testing accident whilst driving an Audi R8 at EuroSpeedway Lausitz. The accident was attributed to a tyre failure.