That certainly got their attention. Women began competing as grand-prix racing drivers as early as 1958, when Anna-Maria de Fillipis competed in three Formula One events. [15] As an example of successful women produced by Formula One,[16] Lombardi is credited with making Formula One accessible to women. Formula 1 was very important for her and her friend Fiorenza. We may earn a commission from links on this page. She never brought a girlfriend. She drove for the factory March team for the whole of the 1975 . In '74 the title was won by Bob Evans in a T332. While she remains one of the elite few women who've raced in Formula One, and the only of them to gain a score, motorsport continues to evolve, and in many ways, reflects the social progress seen elsewhere. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. 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. Born in 1941 in Frugarolo, Italy, Lombardi first started driving as the delivery person for her family shop (they were butchers). 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. The Indy 500's gender segregation had just been nullified, which meant NASCAR had to step up to the plate. She failed to qualify RAM Racings BT44B at Brands where Divina Galica, the Webbs latest fast lady, outperformed her and in Germany the car was impounded by court injunction. Lella was the perfect co-driver, says Beckers. Racing was her passion, and she was focused on it wholly. Lombardi enjoyed a successful association with Osella. In her autobiography, Cowell describes motor racing as the be-all and nearly the end-all of my existence. Thereafter she turned her attention to the European Touring Car Championship and played an important role in Alfas quartet of titles from 1982 by notching numerous class wins in its Group A GTV6 alongside a gamut of co-drivers: Anna Cambiaghi, Antonio Palma, Giancarlo Naddeo, Francia and Rinaldo Drovandi. Driving Line Accelerating Automotive Passion by providing a fresh angle of what fuels us. More statistics by age for Lella Lombardi Career chart profile Seasons: nr of season from first GP until the last. 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. Feeling this to be an overt bid by NASCAR to discredit her operation, her offer of help to these sisters-in-arms, though genuine, was made through gritted teeth. She spoke okay English by then, plus Id worked with so many Italian drivers that I could almost speak the language.. She stayed in Italy and flew to each race, yet never asked for expenses. While she had some poor seasons behind the wheel of poor cars, she also could consistently log top ten finishes. She endeared herself to the media when she was asked how it felt to handle such big cars and replied: I dont have to carry it, I just have to drive it., WATCH: 10 iconic Williams moments as the team reach 750 GPs at Monaco. For a long time, motorsports was defined by its fraternal culturethe big cars, big engines and even bigger egosa high-octane experience that wasn't particularly accessible to people who didnt fit into the straight male mould. Lombardi is one of two female drivers to qualify for Formula One and is the only female who scored points in Formula One. [2] In 1975, Lombardi was invited to join Vittorio Brambilla and Hans-Joachim Stuck on the March engineering team, racing the full season with Zanon's Lavazza Coffee Companys sponsorship. The first race that season was in South Africa, and Lombardi made it in. She also raced a Lola and an Eagle for Francisco Mirs team in the US F5000 series, as team mate to rising star James Hunt. Her career is defined by a success halfway taken away from her, let down by lack of sponsors and unreliable cars. Lombardi won the Fiat-engined Formula 850 Championship of 1970 in a Biraghi, scoring four victories at Monza against future F1 DNQ-ers Alberto Colombo and Giorgio Francia. Lombardi died of breast cancer in Milan on March 3, 1992. You are currently using an outdated browser. 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. Or become a seller if you've got a car to sell. But her 1975 season, too, was a pretty unfortunate year. Born There was a multiple crash at the first corner involving at least nine cars, and there were other incidents for some 35 minutes, until finally the leading car suffered a structural failure and went over the barrier killing four bystanders. Record keeping was scarce in the 60s and 70s, and the quiet, nondescript Lombardi wasnt one to steal the public eye, especially due to her sexuality. A very distant 12th place at the next race, Austria, was Lombardis final GP. She did her own thing. By then she was fighting the cancer that would eventually take her lifeMarch 1992 at the young age of 50. She raced a Lola-Chevrolet and finished fourteenth, but wasnt qualified. That she got as far as she did is a testament to her character. Quietly impressive, it was much better than her Montjuch performance. The rest of the season played out and finished with Lombardi not being able to start the U.S.Grand Prix due to ignition failure on her way to the grid. And their respect. 3 March 1992(1992-03-03) (aged50)Milan, Italy She wasnt far off team mate John Watsons times initially in a similar car, but failed to qualify by nine-tenths after a driveshaft failure. Lombardi, Lella (1942) Internationally famous Italian racing-car driver, known as "the Tigress of Turin," who was the first woman to compete in the U.S. Grand Prix. 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. Check here for latest versions. Her best result was ninth at Riverside, but notably when James qualified 11th at Ontario, Lella was only two places behind the man who would be world champion in 1976. This, and other good results, attracted attention, with whichLombardi obtained backing to try and run in the 1974 British Grand Prix. She didnt care. No entourage. But Lombardi was tenacious. They were better than her only championship event that year, just only just. After a brief experience with karting as a child, Lombardi bought her first car in 1965, racing in Formula Monza. Lella Lombardi will be remembered for her achievements in motorsport, her Formula 1 record and being one of only three openly LGBTQ+ F1 drivers. That didnt mean it was a wholly unsuccessful year. She had raced hard against some of the best drivers in the world, and she finished in sixth place. In the pre-war days there were speedy heroines such as Elizabeth Junek, Kay Petre and Gwenda Hawkes, the latter duo starring on the daunting Brooklands concrete saucer. Fastest Laps She is the only woman to win points in Formula One, winning half a point in the Spanish Grand Prix. Lombardi, in contrast, had nothing to lose and charmed the media by peeking over the language barrier. However, Lombardi had an eventful driving career, aside from Formula One. Apart from the Spanish Grand Prix, Lombardi would fail to score any more points despite an impressive result of 7th in Germany. Career 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. Formula One World ChampionshipCareer Statistics Lella Lombardi is a name firmly etched into the motorsport history books. The next race, the German Grand Prix, was held at Nrburgring on the 14.189-mile Nordschleife not for the faint of heart. 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. Explore our range of classic cars and spark your own racing career. 0 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. 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. Janet Guthrie and Christine Beckers were competing alongside Lombardi, who finished in 31st. There were only two drivers per car back then, and we managed the two-and-a-bit-hour stints easily. Unfortunately, a major miscalculation in the Jean Sage-run team led to their retirement, when they ran out of fuel. Last Race Though officials erected barricades and bosses manned the barriers because the drivers were rightly unamused by Montjuchs laughable Acme Inc Armco, the latter would eventually kowtow and race with a collective madness bar world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, who stayed true to his word and refused to start. 18 (12 starts) [14] Chadwick argues that for women entering Formula One in 2022, financial support is a greater obstacle than gender. Maria Grazia Lombardi aka Lella Lombardi (1941-1992) was a female racing driver from Italy who recorded 17 participations (12 starts) in the Formula One World Championship between 1974 and 1976, setting the record as a woman who raced the most in Formula 1. Maria Grazia Lombardi had spent 10 years climbing motor racings rungs, beginning with the Monza-based Formula 875. People were staring and peeping. The thing I like is the feeling when you pass the checkered flag first. That includes both domestic and international flights. Maria Grazia "Lella" Lombardi was, and still is, an inspiration to many women in motorsport. She was charming but stubborn and independent, and a tremendously careful road driver. Born in 1942 in Italy. Died She finished 14th at the Brazilian Grand Prix but the team decided to replace her with Ronnie Peterson, who became available after breaking away from Lotus. The following year, Lombardi would compete again this time driving a March-Ford but was unfortunately forced to retire after twenty laps. This took place in 1951, but before then shed been a moderately successful motor racer and pilot in the RAF. Yes, I would like to receive communications including news, special offers. While trying to avoid Stommelen as he crossed the track, Carlos Pace crashed, and five spectators were killed by Stommelen's flying car. Showing Editorial results for lella lombardi. 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. . Tatiana Calderon follows in their wheeltracks this season. She didnt give many interviews, reveal too much, or even dress in the traditionally feminine way that might draw her more attentionits almost impossible to find many quotes from her. Two of his fellows, his brother Wilson and Arturo Merzario, retired after completingone token lap. The male gaze has shaped motorsports, which is why those drivers that operate outside of its sight and yet succeed within it, are so remarkable. Subscribe Shop Subscribe Articles F1 Articles F1 Opinion Mark Hughes History MotoGP Podcasts Competitions The Showroom Articles 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. I feel sorry for her and wonder about it even now.. That same year she attempted to make her Grand Prix debut in the British GP at Brands Hatch, in a Brabham BT42 rented from Bernie Ecclestone for 5,000, entered by Hexagon of Highgate and sponsored by Allie Polymer Group. Lombardi grew up in Italy and developed an interest in racing by driving a delivery van for her family. That includes both domestic and international flights. Despite these early successes, Lombardis career was marred with obstacles. Even her major success that year was tinged with tragedy. Stamina was no problem, either, because you couldnt drive flat out back then and expect to last the distance.. This piece offers a snapshot into some of Lombardis most impressive racing achievements. First Race The race continued for another four laps, resulting in Lombardis sixth-place finish. She always worked hard, was easy on the car and understood how to get what she wanted from it. Marie-Claude believes that she and Lella could have won Le Mans in 1975. Back then it was an endurance race rather than a sprint and we were quite competitive. She was up against the cream of Australias macho heroes, notably eventual winner Max Stewart and Big Rev Kevin Bartlett in their Lolas. Such was her tenacity that she basically taught herselfand also worked for her parents to save the money to pay for her first car, which she bought at the age of 24. She scraped together enough money to go racing and competed in any car she could get her hands on. Its perfect. Lombardi is commemorated by a sculpture in her birthplace, Frugarolo. Newcomer Lella Lombardi, at just 5ft 2in, had wisely kept her head down unlike her hairy-chested March team-mate. After her Formula 1 career, Lombardi had success in sports car racing. Her sex and sexuality were not topics of conversation in the paddock. Motor Sport correspondent Denis Jenkinson reckoned hers, A game try. READ MORE: 'Finding a new challenge is my motivation' Jamie Chadwick on whats next after clinching her second W Series title. Elford: When asked in a press conference how she was coping with such a hefty car, she replied, I dont have to carry it, I just have to drive it.. She had an image to keep: Im tough so dont mess with me. She was a loner, really. Had Lombardi not begun to get sicklater discovered to be breast cancershe likely would have continued in racing past the late 80s, when she was forced to retire. Later that season, partnered by Giorgio Francia, she won the Vallelunga Six Hours; the pair would go on to win the 1981 Mugello Six Hours as well. Sign up to receive marketing communications. Lombardi had had experience of sports-prototypes in the 1975 World Championship for Makes, finishing sixth at Mugello and a class-winning fourth at Monza in Equipe Elf Switzerlands 2-litre Alpine A441, co-driven by Marie-Claude Beaumont. Lombardi grew up in Italy and developed an interest in racing by . The boys ganged up and got horribly rough on the track filthy tricks, kart-style but she could look after herself. She and Fiorenza were a beautiful couple, reserved; the spotlight was never on them. [12] Lombardi is considered an F1 trailblazer, after which women increasingly joined Formula One in many capacities aside from driving. I totally trusted him. Races The race suffered a major tragedy when the rear wing on Rolf Stommelen's Embassy Hill broke, sending him into the barrier. 0 The latest news, updates and more straight to your inbox. She raced in Italian F3 for the next two years, finishing 10th in the championship both times and beating rated hotshoe Maurizio Flammini in a heat at Vallelunga. Lella voted to race, with Mario Andretti, Mark Donohue, Ronnie Peterson, Vittorio Brambilla, Tony Brise, Jacky Ickx and Bob Evans sharing the idea. If shed been a bit more glamorous perhaps more people would have noticed.. During one of the most controversial weekends in F1 history, set amid a notoriously dangerous Barcelona street circuit . [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. We discovered her story while investigating iconic women from history. The joyless Spanish Grand Prix of April 1975 ended in tragedy when the rear wing of Rolf Stommelens leading Hill failed with catastrophic result: dead bodies pinned beneath its wreck. But at 25 laps into the race, Rolf Stommelen crashed his car and killed five spectators. Quite what Lombardi made of all of this confusion and acrimony is anyone's guess, but it took a great deal of intestinal fortitude and determination to climb aboard and race to a sixth place and half a point and a place in history. ITA 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. 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. During the 1980s Lombardi raced touring cars but her form struggled due to ill health - initially chest pains, although the reality would turn out to be much worse. The final Grand Prixfor Lombardi was in Austria; a 12th place was her reward. Many male drivers at the time couldnt bear to lose to Lombardi, a woman, and would do everything in their power, including tampering with her car, to keep her from succeeding. Lella was survived by her partner, Fiorenza. The rest of the races were plagued with DNFs or an average finish of 14th place. Podiums That 5000 stretched to a year-old Brabham BT42 sponsored by Allied Polymer Group and run at the British GP at Brands Hatch by Hexagon Racing, with help from Epstein. She also beat Maurizio Flamminis March to win a heat at Vallelunga. She moved on to Formula Three in 1968. She tried to blame her breast pain on a sailing injury, but her condition degenerated so rapidly that there was no way it could have been anything minor. 0.5 Half points awarded, Race stopped after 29/54 Laps. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Growing up an all-around sportswoman, Lombardi had the opportunity to become anything she wanted, but she didnt fall in love with racing until she was in her twenties. Lella Lombardi Where better to begin than with the most successful female F1 driver of all time: Lella Lombardi. In 1974, Lombardi was the first female racing driver to qualify and compete at the Race of Champions in Brands Hatch. Lombardi enjoyed a successful association with Osella. Where better to begin than with the most successful female F1 driver of all time: Lella Lombardi. Thankfully, things began to change, helped by these motoring queer pioneers. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1526810873155-0');}). He did a few laps and said, Its neutral. Synopsis. Lella only complained about the inequality of Formula 1 because nobody had listened to her about changes for the car. She was regularly overshadowed by emergent team mate Vittorio Brambilla, never getting within two seconds of him in qualifying. Mar 2020 - Present2 years 11 months. Lella Lombardi is a name firmly etched into the motorsport history books. Im not terribly conscious of there being a difference between male and female in this sort of thing. She would often speak of sacrifices. I wish we could know what Lombardis career could have been had she been listened to in F1, if shed been more adamant at being the center of attention now and again. This feature is currently not available because you need to provide consent to functional cookies. Sidste udgave: Lella Lombardi, Williams-Ford, USAs Grand Prix 1975, Watkins Glen. But its boss Charles James wanted to be involved lock, stock and barrel. Then, Lombardi briefly moved to RAM Racing, her best result being 12th at the Austrian Grand Prix. Purtroppo, il 3 marzo del 1992, morta di cancro. We miss her passion, determination and modesty., Lombardi checked into Milans San Camillo Clinic in February 1992 and died on March 3, days short of her 51st birthday. There was no fairy-tale result in South Africa, however, as her car was retired with low fuel pressure. That was the first time we saw her, says John Webb, the UKs most go-ahead promoter of the period. Her best results 4ths at Brands, Monza, Oulton Park and Mallory Park. Thats unusual for a racing driver. Later she would race in NASCAR, sharing a Chevrolet with Janet Guthrie in Daytonas Firecracker 400 in 1977 but being classified only 31st after transmission problems. Remondi told Motorsport Magazine: She would often speak of sacrifices. READ MORE: F1s 'one-win wonders' how many do you remember? 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. We gave Ronnie a new chassis for Monaco after his misunderstanding with Carlos Reutemann in Belgium, says Herd. In 1974, Lombardi became the first woman to race at the Race of Champions at Brand Hatch. Her legacy, however, was assured 40 years ago when, on a hill overlooking Barcelona, she scored that half-point and proved her point: I am not a feminist, only a free and independent woman., The first race of 2023 is yet to be run, but Ferrari is already downplaying its chances in the Bahrain Grand Prix, and pinning its hopes for the F1 season on catching up with upgrades, IndyCar might be running semi-vintage machinery, but the racing excitement and driver pool is second to none in his season preview Preston Lerner asks if 2023 can be its rebirth, Ferrari's ability to challenge the searing pace of Max Verstappen and Red Bull in 2023 rests on it remedying its engine reliability woes, says Mark Hughes. Her father found her passion for racing difficult to understand, but was secretly proud of her achievement when, in 1968, she finished runner-up to Franco Bernabei. 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. 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. 1974 British Grand Prix Lombardi died of breast cancer three weeks before her 51st birthday. BBC News came to her first test with us at Goodwood and she wanted to know why. Proudly created with. She was in an unreliable car whose problems were only intensified by the fact that the mechanics didnt take Lombardi seriously when she reported complaints to do with the handling. Wikipedia. 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. Jackie Epstein was running a Formula 5000 team out of Brands and we persuaded him to give Lella a try that winter. We know who could win the F1 championship in 2023, but who will have the car to maximise their talent? Wins The F1 cars of that time were no easy feat to manage worlds away from the control of today. Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. Her F1 debut came in the tragic Spanish Grand Prix of 1975, where a car lost control and killed four spectators. Lombardi grew up in Italy and developed an interest in racing by driving a delivery van for her family. It was something of a publicity stunt. She was judged purely as a racing driver. Lella Lombardi Photo: Love Entertainment "That is a correct assessment, yes," she laughs. 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. Lombardis uncanny knack of pulling fish from the sea became apparent when they stayed on NASCAR boss Bill Frances boat in the Bahamas. As her former Formula 5000 teammate Ian Ashley noted to Motorsport Magazine: She was the first woman racing driver to seriously impress me. In 1974, Lombardi became the first woman to race at the Race of Champions at Brand Hatch. Thats why we were strong. She impressed him not only with her driving but also by her mechanical knowledge and feel. Lella Lombardi is one of only two women to start a world championship race in the history of F1 Maria Grazia "Lella" Lombardi, the only female driver to finish in a points position in a Formula One world championship motor race, was born on this day in 1941 in Frugarolo, near Alessandria in Piedmont. Lella Lombardi is still the only woman ever to score F1 championship points.