Finishing 14th at the season opener in Brazil, Lombardi then failed to qualify in Great Britain and Germany. [14] Majendie argues this by citing Lombardis example as a racer, who despite her gender, successfully entered Formula One. By creating your free Catawiki account, youll be able to bid on any of our 65,000 special objects up for auction every week. Lombardi succeeded at qualifying this time and would be in the field for the South African Grand Prix. Lella Lombardi was also one of the first female racers in a same-sex relationship. After her Formula 1 career, Lombardi had success in sports car racing. Painful. I liked Lella a lot, Marie-Claude says. BBC News came to her first test with us at Goodwood and she wanted to know why. It was too much too soon. But even today we associate motorsports with something overly fraternal. She impressed him not only with her driving but also by her mechanical knowledge and feel. That she got as far as she did is a testament to her character. Pitting on lap seven because of flat spots, he would, amid the chaos, recover to finish a lapped fifth. Others obsessed about her gender and sexuality, but Lella couldnt care less about any of that. She always worked hard, was easy on the car and understood how to get what she wanted from it. 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. On her deathbed she asked us to continue the team to preserve what she had achieved. Originally from Frugarolo in Piedmont district of Italy, Lombardi climbed through the junior Formulas, becoming the Ford Escort Mexico Champion and putting on a very assured performance in the Monaco F3 race, ahead of then future World Champion, Alan Jones. Technically, because he was regarded by many as only semi-closeted as he often brought a girlfriend along to his races though friends and colleagues say most of them knew and werent bothered by it. Lella Lombardi Photo: Love Entertainment "That is a correct assessment, yes," she laughs. 3 March 1992(1992-03-03) (aged50)Milan, Italy She was third behind Keith Holland and champion-elect Bob Evans when a race at Snetterton was temporarily halted after six laps because of rain, then finished fifth after a collision with Holland while fighting for the lead on the restart. Apart from the Spanish Grand Prix, Lombardi would fail to score any more points despite an impressive result of 7th in Germany. Lombardi was a versatile racer and tried her hand at numerous disciplines throughout her career. Initially we had wanted Inaltera as a sponsor, says team manager Vic Elford. At the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, Lombardi scored half a point, making her the only woman to ever score any championship points in Formula 1. 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. 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 The drivers' concerns were fueled by three recently killed, in otherwise survivable accidents, as a result of poorly installed barriers; certainly this sort of disorganization on the organizers behalf would have no place in modern Formula One. Wed been a disaster in terms of sponsorship since bursting into F1 in 1970, says Herd. Only a last minute threat by the race organisers to have the entirety of the Formula One equipment impounded by the police induced the drivers to practise in the last session. And in 1976 she shared a Lancia Stratos Turbo with Christine Dacremont at Le Mans and finished 20th one lap and one place ahead of the Cosworth DFV-powered Inaltera of Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, Jean Rondeau and Belgiums Christine Beckers. [1] Her father was a butcher, who gave Lella her first job as a delivery driver for the family's shop. Many of the members of the March team expressed their regret at having been so resistant to her ideas, knowing that she could have become an open wheel success if only shed had a reliable car. You are currently using an outdated browser. Lombardi's career in the Grand Prix arena was done, but her career in motorsport was not. Lella only complained about the inequality of Formula 1 because nobody had listened to her about changes for the car. She moved up through the ranks of local racing and built her reputation as the Tigress of Turinwhen she finished second in the 1968 Italian Formula Three championship. [3] Lella Lombardi was also one of the first female racers in a same-sex relationship. That was the first time we saw her, says John Webb, the UKs most go-ahead promoter of the period. Still, shes always going to be known in history as one of the few women to take part in Formula Oneone of five women to enter a race, one of two women to start a race, and the only one who has ever scored points. 0 The race only continued for four more laps before it was stopped. Nel 1988 Lella si ritirata e ha aperto la scuderia Lombardi Autosport, dove diventata team manager. These were supposedly real mans cars with their big 5.0-litre V8 motors, but she handled them adroitly. 1976 Austrian Grand Prix. There were two other female drivers in the field: American Janet Guthrie and Belgian Christine Beckers. 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. 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. Born near Turin, Italy, neither of Lombardis parents knew how to drive. Lella Lombardi. She remembered how foreign people appreciated her but at the same time she wanted to be known in Italy despite the difficulties of being accepted in a very male world.. There was no fairy-tale result in South Africa, however, as her car was retired with low fuel pressure. 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. In 1974, Lombardi became the first woman to race at the Race of Champions at Brand Hatch. For a long time, motorsports was defined by its fraternal culturethe big, Cowell continued driving after her transition, winning the 1957, Bid on over 65,000 special objects every week, selected by 240+ experts, the first road trip ever conducted was pioneered by a woman. Her claim to fame is shes the only woman driver to score points in Formula 1, but even that was cut in half. She won [from the third row, beating Jacques Laffite and Mike Wilds] and we became very friendly and kept in touch. Please update your cookie preferences, WATCH: F1 for beginners Everything you need to know about F1 ahead of the new season, Live Blog Determined. On reflection, however, he was probably looking after himself.. Thats why we were strong. Desire could have cut the F1 mustard in the right car, but I also thought Lella was better than fortune allowed her to look. She was charming but stubborn and independent, and a tremendously careful road driver. 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. Lella Lombardi Born in Frugarolo, Piedmont, she participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 20 July 1974. Last Race (Shed already been farmed out to Williams at Watkins Glen the previous October, when her FW04 conked on the warm-up lap.) Having survived being held as a prisoner of war, she returned to racing after WWII, founding her own motor racing team in 1946 and competing in a number of races across Europe. 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. [13] Journalist Phil Pash reports that though Lombardi viewed racing as a masculine sport, she succeeded regardless because of her competitive spirit. [13] Among others who comment on the effects of Lombardis legacy is Matt Majendie, who writes about Jamie Chadwick. Upload media. Im just as competitive as any male in my mind. Lella was far from being the first female female pioneer in racing. Races But I dont think he ever did a flying lap in that car. Lombardi's next race, the Spanish Grand Prix, saw her make history. A former butchers delivery driver turned F1 racer, shes still the only woman to ever rack up F1 World Championship points and was lovingly known by the press as Turins Tiger. The race suffered a major tragedy when the rear wing on Rolf Stommelen's Embassy Hill broke, sending him into the barrier. She would often speak of sacrifices. Her F1 debut came in the tragic Spanish Grand Prix of 1975, where a car lost control and killed four spectators. She learned how to drive behind the wheel of the delivery van for her familys butcher shop. Lombardi and Beckers qualified fourth at Daytona, but crashed out after 78 laps when a slower Porsche suffered a blow-out as Beckers drew alongside. 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. She finished 10th again in 1973, with a best of second place at Casale, in a Scuderia Italia Brabham BT41. Even her major success that year was tinged with tragedy. * Most laps led. She was retired after 20 laps. Lella Lombardi is still the only woman ever to score F1 championship points. 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. Its difficult to celebrate a points-scoring position in those circumstances. You can update your preferences, withdraw your consent at any time, and see a detailed description of the types of cookies we and our partners use in our Cookie Policy. Maria Grazia Lombardi was born in Piedmont, Italy, on March 26th 1941. While trying to avoid Stommelen as he crossed the track, Carlos Pace crashed, and five spectators were killed by Stommelen's flying car. The following year ended in a retirement. Premier Investment Group, LLC. The Petersen Automotive Museum will offer a special premiere screening of the film "Beyond Driven: Lella Lombardi and the Women of Formula Racing, "preceded by a social hour and followed by a question-and-answer session with filmmakers and motorsports drivers. Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. The accident shortened the race but Lombardi still secured the only F1 championship points for a female ever and the first for somebody openly queer. Three years later, she was the runner up in Italys Formula Three and in 1970 she raced in the Italian Formula 850 series and won the entire thing (racking up an impressive four wins in the competition). Sometimes Lella told us that she could have been rich and famous if she had stayed in America, but her feeling for Italy triumphed, says Giusy Remondi of Lella Lombardi Autosport. She spoke okay English by then, plus Id worked with so many Italian drivers that I could almost speak the language.. Tatiana Calderon follows in their wheeltracks this season. She was up against the cream of Australias macho heroes, notably eventual winner Max Stewart and Big Rev Kevin Bartlett in their Lolas. I always regard the F5000 race she did with a Matich A50 at Sandown Park later in 1974 as a better indicator of her grit and potential. Neither of her parents drove and Lella, as she became known, enjoyed her earliest experiences behind the wheel from driving the delivery truck for her father's salami factory. She told me shed been hit on her breast during a sailing trip and it hurt very much. Facebook gives people the power. Her next-best finish was a seventh place at the German Grand Prix. History of Motorsport . Lombardi, in contrast, had nothing to lose and charmed the media by peeking over the language barrier. She scraped together enough money to go racing and competed in any car she could get her hands on. Stamina was no problem, either, because you couldnt drive flat out back then and expect to last the distance.. Born in 1941 in Frugarolo, Italy, Lombardi first started driving as the delivery person for her family shop (they were butchers). Sincethe 20th century, women have risen from being second-class citizens in previous eras, to now running countries, corporations and, in truth, men. Leena Gade is one of a growing number of female engineers in the sport, with multiple Le Mans victories to her credit while working for AudiSport. Her success gave visibility to trans people and a narrative the public hadnt come into contact with that transitions werent smokescreens for the perceived undercurrent of male homosexuality. Painful. But, Much later, when her chassis was stripped down, the reason why she complained of persistent understeer that became snap oversteer became apparent, when it was discovered that the cast aluminium rear bulkhead had been cracked since Monaco. Date of birth. Two of his fellows, his brother Wilson and Arturo Merzario, retired after completingone token lap. Lella Lombardi: Remembering F1's Female Trailblazer FORMULA 1 8.55M subscribers 131K views 11 months ago #F1 On the 30th anniversary of her death, we look back on the life and career of the. [7] In 1974, Lombardi was signed to drive the Shellsport-Luxembourg Lola in F5000 and finished fourth. She was sure of her illness by 1985. She called out the hostile climate towards women after the Grand Prix, which was a first for the sport. The Nov. 15 event runs from 6:30-10 p.m. Lombardi made history at the 1975 . Lombardis first F1 attempt was at the British Grand Prix in 1974 driving a Brabham supported by the Italian Automobile Club. 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. After she had finished 12th in the prestigious Monaco F3 support race, an impressed John Webb of Brands Hatch fame put her in his Celebrity Escort Mexico series, where she beat Jacques Laffite and Mike Wilds. Cowell had a family, she was a war veteran and an avid motoring enthusiast and racer. READ MORE: F1s 'one-win wonders' how many do you remember? Or become a seller if you've got a car to sell. I don't know how you can positively spin that as earning it on merit. Her career is defined by a success halfway taken away from her, let down by lack of sponsors and unreliable cars. Lombardi was within 1.1 seconds of John Watsons sister car by Thursdays end and had improved by three tenths when a broken driveshaft denied her a final Friday push. Even Jochen Mass, declared the precipitate winner after 29 laps, scrambled from his McLaren with a face like thunder and threatened violence to smug officials. View the profiles of people named Lella Lombardi. [14] This need for financial support is combated by the rise of the W-series, which started in October 2018. She was a very good racer, it was very easy with her. Lella was survived by her partner, Fiorenza. Lombardi grew up in Italy and developed an interest in racing by driving a delivery van for her family. Vit would come back in and say, Yeah, yeah, cars perfect. She raced a Lola-Chevrolet and finished 14th. With the race being stopped before three-fourths of the scheduled race distance was reached, only half points were awarded. She never brought a girlfriend. Lombardi also competed numerous times at 24 Hours of Le Mans with her best result, a ninth place finish, coming in 1976. And Lombardi did. It was in one of their BMW-powered 2-litre prototypes that she became the first woman to win a round of an FIA-sanctioned World Championship, the 1979 Enna-Pergusa Six Hours, with hill-climb specialist Enrico Grimaldi as her co-driver. 2023 by Bump & Beyond. We miss her passion, determination and modesty.. Though Zanon, a huge fan of Petersons, smoothed matters by helping her find employment elsewhere, the transition was not without problem. As Angela Webb, one of the race promoters who knew Lella, says in a retrospective in Motorsport Magazine: She stayed in Italy and flew to each race, yet never asked for expenses. She performed exceptionally well. But her 1975 season, too, was a pretty unfortunate year. She also enjoyed success in the European Touring Car Championship in 1982, when a series of class victories helped Alfa Romeo to the title. But Lombardi was tenacious. Janet Guthrie and Christine Beckers were competing alongside Lombardi, who finished in 31st. Quietly impressive, it was much better than her Montjuch performance. Points Lella Lombardi races, wins and teams | Motorsport Database - Motor Sport Magazine Find out about British F1 driver, Lella Lombardi, their career, history and character information incl.