Former F1 Drivers: Nicola Larini, a Discreet Career
Sometimes there are names that suddenly emerge from nowhere. On the occasion of the Scirocco R China Master Challenge, held on November 16, 2013, the name Larini evokes vague memories.
During this race for the sixtieth Macau Grand Prix, Nicola Larini finished on the podium in second place. The reserved 49-year-old Italian participated in 75 Grand Prix in F1 – with only 50 starts. His best result, a second place behind Michael Schumacher, was largely overshadowed by the dramatic accident that claimed the life of Ayrton Senna on the same day.
Between 1987 and 1997, he raced for Coloni, Osella, Ligier, Lamborghini, Sauber, and most notably, 4 GPs with Ferrari, which offered him this podium.
He will have a brilliant career in DTM (German Touring Car Championship). Alongside his test driver periods in F1, he won the 1993 German championship in the highly successful Alfa Romeo 155 TI.
After 5 disappointing final races upon his return to F1 with Sauber in 1997, Nicola Larini specialized in touring car races across Europe, primarily in Italy.
Between 2005 and 2009, he was involved with Chevrolet in the WTCC, the highly competitive World Touring Car Championship. He achieved very respectable results but secured only one victory before retiring at the age of 45.
He is one of those drivers that the history of F1 will unfortunately not remember. Nevertheless, his career allowed him, as an Italian, to drive a Ferrari in his home country.
