Alessandro Nannini


Alessandro "Sandro" Nannini is a former racing driver from Italy. He is the younger brother of singer Gianna Nannini. His five-year F1 career resulted in a win at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix but ended less than a year later after a helicopter crash severed his right forearm.

Biography

Nannini was born in Siena. He began racing in a Lancia Stratos at national rally events before switching to Formula Italia in 1981. From 1982 to 1984, he raced for Minardi in Formula 2, attracting some attention for his speed in the uncompetitive car. Though his best season saw him only seventh overall in 1983, he was signed by Lancia to drive their fast but fragile LC2 prototype in the World Sportscar Championship, setting fastest lap at the 1984 24 Hours of Le Mans where he finished eighth with Bob Wollek, and later that year winning the 1984 1000 km of Kyalami with Riccardo Patrese. For 1985, Giancarlo Minardi wanted Nannini to drive his new Formula One car, but Nannini was controversially denied an FIA Super Licence with his former F2 teammate Pierluigi Martini taking the drive instead. Nannini continued with Lancia instead, his best result being third in the 1000km Monza.
For 1986, Nannini was finally granted a Super Licence and signed up with Minardi's Grand Prix team, where he stayed until 1987. The car was uncompetitive and unreliable, largely due to its disappointing Motori Moderni V6 engine. However, Nannini's speed was noticed by many, especially after he largely outperformed experienced teammate Andrea de Cesaris in 1986.
.Benetton signed Nannini for 1988 to drive alongside Thierry Boutsen. He generally performed very well, often out-pacing the highly regarded Belgian if not matching his consistency. He scored his first point in his second race for the team and took two third places on his way to tenth overall in the championship.
With Boutsen leaving for Williams Nannini was promoted to team leader at Benetton alongside young Englishman Johnny Herbert and delivered a number of strong performances, especially at Suzuka. There he lay third behind the two McLaren cars of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost when they collided, giving Nannini the lead. Prost retired whereas Senna rejoined after being push-started and pitted to replace his front wing, trailing Nannini in the race. Nannini was eventually passed by Senna who went on to cross the finish line first, however, the Brazilian was subsequently disqualified for missing the chicane following his collision with Prost. The disqualification handed Nannini what proved to be his only Formula One win. He rounded off the season with an impressive second place in torrential rain at Adelaide, moving him to sixth overall in the championship.
For 1990, he was joined in the team by Nelson Piquet and reverted to being the number two driver. However, he impressed by largely matching the pace of the three-times World Champion. At Hockenheim he led the race by deciding against stopping for tyres, resisting Senna for 16 laps before fading grip dropped him to second. He also challenged at the following Hungarian Grand Prix, hounding leader Boutsen until being controversially pushed off by the following Senna.
On 12 October 1990, the week after the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix, where he had finished third, Nannini was involved in a helicopter crash over his Siena wineyard, suffering a severed right forearm. The injury healed thanks to microsurgery but it ended his Formula One career. Nannini had been reconfirmed by Benetton for 1991 but Ferrari had a long-standing interest in the driver and were considering him as a replacement for the departing Nigel Mansell.
Once sufficiently recovered, Ferrari offered Nannini a test drive on its private Fiorano Circuit in 1992. Nannini completed a total of 38 laps driving Jean Alesi's Ferrari F92A, which featured a specially modified steering wheel. In 1996, Benetton's Flavio Briatore also honoured the promise of a test drive, which took place at Estoril aboard a B196.
Despite only regaining partial use of his right hand, Nannini was able to carve out a career in touring car racing with Alfa Romeo in the 1990s, placing fourth overall in the 1994 DTM championship and third in the 1996 International Touring Car Championship.
Nannini competed for Mercedes in the 1997 FIA GT Championship, finishing sixth overall, before hanging up his helmet. He now runs a chain of upmarket cafes bearing his name, with branches as far flung as Indonesia.
2007 saw Nannini's return to the track after a decade in retirement. He agreed to take part in the short-lived Grand Prix Masters championship for Formula One veterans, alongside drivers including his former Benetton teammate Johnny Herbert.
He is a member of the Italy–USA Foundation.
Nannini's nephew Matteo Nannini is also a racing driver, currently racing at Formula 3 level.

Racing record

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910111213Pts
Minardi Team SrlMinardi Fly 281BBMWSIL
5		HOC
9		THR
12		NÜR
8		MUG
10		VAL
Ret		PAU
DNQ		SPA
Ret		HOC
Ret		DON
DSQ		MAN
Ret		PER
Ret		MIS
2		10th8
Minardi Team SrlMinardi M283BMWSILTHR
9		HOC
5		NÜR
2		VAL
7		PAU
Ret		JAR
Ret		DON
Ret		MIS
Ret		PER
11		ZOL
Ret		MUG
4		7th11
Minardi Team SrlMinardi M283BMWSIL
9		HOC
Ret		THR
7		VAL
Ret		MUG
Ret		PAU
Ret		HOC
4		MIS
Ret		PER
3		DON
10		BRH
5		10th9

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Complete Formula One results

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910111213141516Pts
1986Minardi TeamMinardi M185BMotori Moderni Tipo 615–90 1.5 V6tBRA
Ret		ESP
DNS		SMR
Ret		MON
DNQ		BEL
Ret		CAN
Ret		DET
Ret		FRA
Ret		GBR
Ret		GER
Ret		HUN
Ret		ITA
Ret		POR
Ret		MEX
14		AUS
Ret		NC0
1986Minardi TeamMinardi M186Motori Moderni Tipo 615–90 1.5 V6tAUT
Ret		NC0
1987Minardi TeamMinardi M187Motori Moderni Tipo 615–90 1.5 V6tBRA
Ret		SMR
Ret		BEL
Ret		MON
Ret		DET
Ret		FRA
Ret		GBR
Ret		GER
Ret		HUN
11		AUT
Ret		ITA
16		POR
11		ESP
Ret		MEX
Ret		JPN
Ret		AUS
Ret		NC0
1988Benetton Formula Ltd.Benetton B188Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8BRA
Ret		SMR
6		MON
Ret		MEX
7		CAN
Ret		DET
Ret		FRA
6		GBR
3		GER
18		HUN
Ret		BEL
DSQ		ITA
9		POR
Ret		ESP
3		JPN
5		AUS
Ret		10th12
1989Benetton Formula Ltd.Benetton B188Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8BRA
6		SMR
3		MON
8		MEX
4		USA
Ret		CAN
DSQ		6th32
1989Benetton Formula Ltd.Benetton B189Ford HBA1/4 3.5 V8FRA
Ret		GBR
3		GER
Ret		HUN
Ret		BEL
5		ITA
Ret		POR
4		ESP
Ret		JPN
1		AUS
2		6th32
1990Benetton Formula Ltd.Benetton B189BFord HBA4 3.5 V8USA
11		BRA
10		8th21
1990Benetton Formula Ltd.Benetton B190Ford HBA4 3.5 V8SMR
3		MON
Ret		CAN
Ret		MEX
4		FRA
16		GBR
Ret		GER
2		HUN
Ret		BEL
4		ITA
8		POR
6		ESP
3		JPNAUS8th21

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

YearTeamCar123456789101112131415161718192021222324Pts
1993Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiZOL
1
Ret		ZOL
2
3		HOC
1
13		HOC
2
8		NÜR
1
10		NÜR
2
4		WUN
1
2		WUN
2
Ret		NÜR
1
4		NÜR
2
4		NOR
1
Ret		NOR
2
Ret		DON
1
Ret		DON
2
DNS		DIE
1
Ret		DIE
2
18		ALE
1
3		ALE
2
Ret		AVU
1
5		AVU
2
Ret		HOC
1
1		HOC
2
1		8th121
1994Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiZOL
1
1		ZOL
2
1		HOC
1
4		HOC
2
1		NÜR
1
7		NÜR
2
7		MUG
1
17		MUG
2
Ret		NÜR
1
1		NÜR
2
7		NOR
1
Ret		NOR
2
7		DON
1
1		DON
2
DSQ		DIE
1
5		DIE
2
4		NÜR
1
8		NÜR
2
5		AVU
1
19		AVU
2
5		ALE
1
Ret		ALE
2
12		HOC
1
6		HOC
2
Ret		4th149
1995Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiHOC
1
18		HOC
2
DNS		AVU
1
3		AVU
2
Ret		NOR
1
3		NOR
2
9†		DIE
1
4		DIE
2
Ret		NÜR
1
Ret		NÜR
2
Ret		ALE
1
11		ALE
2
Ret		HOC
1
5		HOC
2
12		11th44

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526Pts
1995Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiMUG
1
5		MUG
2
Ret		HEL
1
Ret		HEL
2
Ret		DON
1
DNS		DON
2
DNS		EST
1
8		EST
2
7		MAG
1
Ret		MAG
2
9		15th17
1996Martini Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiHOC
1
10		HOC
2
13		NÜR
1
EX		NÜR
2
EX		EST
1
1		EST
2
1		HEL
1
14		HEL
2
4		NOR
1
Ret		NOR
2
Ret		DIE
1
6		DIE
2
Ret		SIL
1
17		SIL
2
11		NÜR
1
1		NÜR
2
1		MAG
1
1		MAG
2
1		MUG
1
11		MUG
2
Ret		HOC
1
6		HOC
2
Ret		INT
1
1		INT
2
5		SUZ
1
10		SUZ
2
5		3rd180