Cesare Perdisa

Cesare Perdisa (21 October 1932 – 10 May 1998)[1] was an Italian racing driver from Bologna.[1] He participated in eight Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 22 May 1955. He achieved two podiums and scored a total of five championship points.

Cesare Perdisa
Born(1932-10-21)21 October 1932
Bologna, Italy
Died10 May 1998(1998-05-10) (aged 65)
Bologna, Italy
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityItaly Italian
Active years1955–1957
TeamsMaserati, Ferrari
Entries8 (7 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums2
Career points5
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1955 Monaco Grand Prix
Last entry1957 Argentine Grand Prix

Significantly younger than the majority of the drivers around at the time, Perdisa often gave his car to his more experienced teammates when they encountered troubles. This happened, for example, on the 11th lap of the 1956 Belgian Grand Prix, when Stirling Moss lost the right rear wheel of his Maserati. Moss brought his car to a stop and ran a quarter of a mile back to the pits where he took over Perdisa's Maserati, which he drove to the finish.[2]

In March 1957 Perdisa withdrew from the upcoming 12 Hours of Sebring after the death of his teammate Eugenio Castellotti. Castellotti died at the Modena Autodrome when he crashed a Ferrari he was testing for the event. Although Perdisa initially claimed he was giving up racing only temporarily because of the shock he experienced when Castellotti died, he subsequently retired for good.[3] Perdisa was Castellotti's closest friend.[4]

Shortly after his retirement, Perdisa hit the news again in September 1957 when he rushed Juan Manuel Fangio and his wife, Andrea, to a hospital in Bologna. The couple had been thrown from their 2.5 litre Lancia Aurelia while trying to avoid a truck entering the highway. Travelling at close to 100 mph, Fangio's car had smashed into a utility pole, although he and his wife only sustained bruises.[5]

Following his retirement, Perdisa and his brother Sergio edited the official magazine of Calderini Agricole, the largest company in Italy specialised in agriculture.[6]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 WDC Points
1955 Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati 250F Maserati Straight-6 ARG MON
3 *		 500 BEL
8		 NED GBR ITA 18th 2
1956 Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati 250F Maserati Straight-6 ARG MON
7		 500 BEL
3 †		 FRA
5 †		 GBR
7		 GER
DNS		 ITA 16th 3
1957 Scuderia Ferrari Lancia D50 Ferrari V8 ARG
6 ‡		 MON 500 FRA GBR GER PES ITA NC 0
* Indicates shared drive with Jean Behra
† Indicates shared drive with Stirling Moss
‡ Indicates shared drive with Peter Collins and Wolfgang von Trips

References
  1. Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  2. Collins Auto First In Belgian Contest, New York Times, 4 June 1956, Page 34.
  3. Italian Out Of Race, New York Times, 17 March 1957, Page S4.
  4. Motor Car Sports, New York Times, 20 March 1957, Page 44.
  5. Fangio In Smash-Up, New York Times, 22 September 1957, Page 215.
  6. "Muore a 23 anni Gioia Perdisa 'Era buona, generosa e sensibile'". 26 June 2012.
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