Lorenzo Bandini

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Lorenzo Bandini bigraphy, stories - Italian racing driver

Lorenzo Bandini : biography

December 21, 1935 – May 10, 1967

Lorenzo Bandini (21 December 193510 May 1967) was an Italian motor racing driver who raced in Formula One for the Scuderia Centro Sud and Ferrari teams.

Accident and death

In May 1967 Bandini was racing at the Monaco Grand Prix, running second to Denny Hulme on the 82nd lap, when he lost control of his car at the harbour chicane. He had just entered an S-turn when his Ferrari’s left rear wheel hit the guard rail, sending him into an erratic skid. It impacted a light pole and overturned."Hulme Wins Monte Carlo; Bandini Hurt", Sheboygan Press, May 8, 1967, Page 13. The car hit straw bales which lined the harbour side, rupturing the fuel tank, and sparks ignited the fuel as the car rolled over, with Bandini trapped beneath it. Marshals flipped his car upright and pulled Bandini, unconscious, out from the flaming Ferrari. It is thought that, during the effort to right the overturned car, gasoline leaked on the hot brake line or the exhaust pipe and exploded. A second fire occurred when the gas tank exploded after Bandini had been pulled away from the Ferrari.

Bandini’s burns were extensive, with third degree burns covering more than 70% of his body. The worst burns were on his arms and legs with slight burns on his face. Doctors were forced to wait for twenty-four to forty-eight hours before resolving to move Bandini to a hospital in Lyon, France, which specialized in the treatment of burns. Other options considered by the doctors were flying in skin grafts from Italy or a specialist burns unit team from East Grinstead in England. The burns caused severe lesions. He also sustained a chest wound and ten chest fractures.

Three days later, Bandini succumbed to his injuries. He died at Princess Grace Polyclinic Hospital in Monte Carlo. There were concerns about the promptness of Bandini’s rescue. However, investigators from the Principality of Monaco ruled on 10 May "that the security operation had functioned properly." The straw bales, having been banned from all Formula 1 races in response to the accident, were replaced by an extended guard-rail the following year. " So what?–>

Bandini’s funeral was held in Reggiolo on 13 May."Mass Held For Bandini", New York Times, May 12, 1967, Page 56. 100,000 people attended the funeral."100,000 at Bandini Rites", New York Times, May 14, 1967, Page S4. He was later buried in the Lambrate cemetery, in Milan.. Accessed 2012-12-03.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points
1961 Scuderia Centro Sud Cooper T53 MaseratiStraight-4 MON NED BELRet FRA GBR12 GERRet ITA8 USA NC 0
1962 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 156 Ferrari V6 NED MON3 BEL FRA GBR GERRet ITA8 USA RSA 12th 4
1963 Scuderia Centro Sud BRM P57 BRM V8 MON BEL NED FRA10 GBR5 GERRet 10th 6
Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 156 Ferrari V6 ITARet USA5 MEXRet RSA5
1964 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 156 Ferrari V6 MON10 GBR5 GER3 AUT1 4th 23
Ferrari 158 Ferrari V8 NEDRet BELRet FRA9 ITA3
North American Racing Team Ferrari 1512 Ferrari Flat-12 USARet MEX3
1965 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 1512 Ferrari Flat-12 RSA15 MON2 BEL9 FRA8 ITA4 USA4 MEX8 6th 13
Ferrari 158 Ferrari V8 GBRRet NED9 GER6
1966 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 246 Ferrari V6 MON2 BEL3 9th 12
Ferrari 312/66 Ferrari V12 FRANC GBR NED6 GER6 ITARet USARet MEX
1967 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 312/67 Ferrari V12 RSA MONRet NED BEL FRA GBR GER CAN ITA USA MEX NC 0