Nicola Larini


Nicola Larini is an Italian racing driver. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 6 September 1987. He finished second in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix on a substitute outing for Ferrari, but only scored points once more in his career. He enjoyed greater success in touring car racing, primarily for Alfa Romeo.

Early career

Born in Lido di Camaiore, Tuscany, Larini began car racing in Formula Italia in 1983, then moved up to Formula Abarth in 1984, placing third overall. He also started in Italian Formula Three the same season. In 1986 he won the title for Coloni in a Dallara, and briefly drove for the same team in Formula 3000 the following year.

Formula One

Larini's rapid ascendancy in motorsport continued when Coloni entered the final two European rounds of the 1987 Formula One season. Larini failed to qualify for the Italian Grand Prix, but got into the Spanish Grand Prix, only to retire early on.
For the 1988 season he was signed by the Osella Formula One team, and drew good notices for his valiant performances in the hugely uncompetitive car, with a best result of 9th in the Monaco Grand Prix. He would continue with Osella in the 1989 season, their much-improved car suffering from the lottery of pre-qualifying. However, Larini continued to shine, running 6th at the San Marino Grand Prix until a hub failure, and running third at the Canadian Grand Prix until an electrical failure. He would also qualify 10th for the Japanese Grand Prix.
The 1990 Formula One season saw a move up the grid to the Ligier team, but the well-funded French team were at a creative dead-end and the car was a distinct midfielder. A brace of seventh places were Larini's best results in a low-key year, although he easily outshone Philippe Alliot in the other Ligier.
Larini then moved to the new Modena team for the 1991 season, once again having to face pre-qualifying. He got through in the opening round, the United States Grand Prix, and held on for seventh place, but the team would develop acute financial difficulties, and were unable to progress. As a result, Larini would only qualify for four more races.
For the 1992 season, he was out of luck for a Grand Prix drive, but was signed by Ferrari to develop their active suspension system. Larini kept his racing instincts sharp by winning the Italian Touring Car Championship for Alfa Romeo, and was called up to the Ferrari Formula One team for the end of the year, replacing Ivan Capelli to race-test the active suspension car. He made a fair impression, but started both races from the back of the grid for technical reasons. However, 1993 saw more Ferrari testing and touring cars, this time taking the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft title in Germany for Alfa Romeo.
In 1994, he would have another chance with Ferrari in Formula One, replacing the injured Jean Alesi early in the season. He qualified seventh at the Pacific Grand Prix, but along with Ayrton Senna was eliminated at the first corner by Mika Häkkinen. Then at the San Marino Grand Prix he took second place, but his first points score was overshadowed by the tragic deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna. It was back to touring cars with Alfa for the rest of the year, with Larini placing third in the German series.
Alfa would drop off the pace for the next two years, with Larini placing sixth in the German series in 1995, and 11th in the Italian series in 1996. However, 1997 would see his Ferrari connections land him a seat with Sauber, who were using rebranded Ferrari engines. Larini scored a point on his return at the Australian Grand Prix, but left after five races after a series of disagreements with Peter Sauber.

Later career

Since then Larini has been a stalwart in touring cars, for Alfa Romeo for many years, and since 2005 for Chevrolet in WTCC. On November 21, 2009, he announced that he is quitting his professional racing driver career, but will not stop racing completely. For example, Larini in 2016 he won Race 1 in Imola at the European Lotus Cup, in 2017, made his NASCAR Whelen Euro Series debut at Autodromo di Franciacorta, driving the No. 1 Ford Mustang for Alex Caffi Motorsport.

Championships

Complete International Formula 3000 results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011Pts
1986Coloni RacingMarch 85BCosworthSILVALPAUSPAIMOMUGPER
Ret		ÖSTBIRBUGJARNC0
1987Forti CorseDallara 3087CosworthSILVALSPAPAUDONPER
Ret		BRH
16		BIRIMO
Ret		BUGJAR
Ret		NC0

Complete Formula One results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011121314151617Pts
1987Enzo Coloni Racing Car SystemsColoni FC-187Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5 V8BRASMRBELMONDETFRAGBRGERHUNAUTITA
DNQ		PORESP
Ret		MEXJPNAUSNC0
1988Osella Squadra CorseOsella FA1IOsella 890T 1.5 V8tBRA
DNQ		NC0
1988Osella Squadra CorseOsella FA1LOsella 890T 1.5 V8tSMR
EX		MON
9		MEX
DNQ		CAN
DNQ		DET
Ret		FRA
Ret		GBR
19		GER
Ret		HUN
DNPQ		BEL
Ret		ITA
Ret		POR
12		ESP
Ret		JPN
Ret		AUS
DNPQ		NC0
1989Osella Squadra CorseOsella FA1M89Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8BRA
DSQ		SMR
12		MON
DNPQ		MEX
DNPQ		USA
DNPQ		CAN
Ret		FRA
DNPQ		GBR
Ret		GER
DNPQ		HUN
DNPQ		BEL
DNPQ		ITA
Ret		POR
DNPQ		ESP
Ret		JPN
Ret		AUS
Ret		NC0
1990Equipe Ligier GitanesLigier JS33Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8USA
Ret		BRA
11		SMR
10		MON
Ret		CAN
Ret		MEX
16		FRA
14		GBR
10		GER
10		HUN
11		BEL
14		ITA
11		POR
10		ESP
7		JPN
7		AUS
10		NC0
1991Modena Team SpALambo 291Lamborghini 3512 3.5 V12USA
7		BRA
DNPQ		SMR
DNPQ		MON
DNPQ		CAN
DNPQ		MEX
DNPQ		FRA
DNPQ		GBR
DNPQ		GER
Ret		HUN
16		BEL
DNQ		ITA
16		POR
DNQ		ESP
DNQ		JPN
DNQ		AUS
Ret		NC0
1992Scuderia FerrariFerrari F92ATFerrari 038 3.5 V12RSAMEXBRAESPSMRMONCANFRAGBRGERHUNBELITAPORJPN
12		AUS
11		NC0
1994Scuderia FerrariFerrari 412T1Ferrari 041 3.5 V12BRAPAC
Ret		SMR
2		MONESPCANFRAGBRGERHUNBELITAPOREURJPNAUS14th6
1997Red Bull Sauber PetronasSauber C16Petronas SPE-01 3.0 V10AUS
6		BRA
11		ARG
Ret		SMR
7		MON
Ret		ESPCANFRAGBRGERHUNBELITAAUTLUXJPNEUR19th1

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

YearTeamCar123456789101112131415161718192021222324Pts
1993Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiZOL
1
1		ZOL
2
1		HOC
1
9		HOC
2
2		NÜR
1
1		NÜR
2
Ret		WUN
1
1		WUN
2
Ret		NÜR
1
1		NÜR
2
1		NOR
1
1		NOR
2
1		DON
1
3		DON
2
1		DIE
1
10		DIE
2
1		ALE
1
1		ALE
2
2		AVU
1
6		AVU
2
3		HOC
1
4		HOC
2
19		1st261
1994Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiZOL
1
Ret		ZOL
2
8		HOC
1
3		HOC
2
DNS		NÜR
1
4		NÜR
2
1		MUG
1
4		MUG
2
Ret		NÜR
1
Ret		NÜR
2
Ret		NOR
1
1		NOR
2
2		DON
1
3		DON
2
DNS		DIE
1
3		DIE
2
Ret		NÜR
1
Ret		NÜR
2
DNS		AVU
1
3		AVU
2
6		ALE
1
1		ALE
2
1		HOC
1
Ret		HOC
2
Ret		3rd150
1995Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiHOC
1
10		HOC
2
Ret		AVU
1
Ret		AVU
2
6		NOR
1
8		NOR
2
10†		DIE
1
3		DIE
2
2		NÜR
1
2		NÜR
2
3		ALE
1
3		ALE
2
Ret		HOC
1
Ret		HOC
2
Ret		6th71

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526Pts
1995Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiMUG
1
2		MUG
2
5		HEL
1
7		HEL
2
1		DON
1
Ret		DON
2
12		EST
1
3		EST
2
Ret		MAG
1
Ret		MAG
2
DNS		4th59
1996Martini Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiHOC
1
11		HOC
2
12		NÜR
1
Ret		NÜR
2
7		EST
1
Ret		EST
2
Ret		HEL
1
Ret		HEL
2
6		NOR
1
Ret		NOR
2
Ret		DIE
1
Ret		DIE
2
DNS		SIL
1
3		SIL
2
Ret		NÜR
1
6		NÜR
2
15		MAG
1
2		MAG
2
Ret		MUG
1
1		MUG
2
Ret		HOC
1
Ret		HOC
2
Ret		INT
1
Ret		INT
2
1		SUZ
1
6		SUZ
2
6		11th95

Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617181920Pts
1998Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 156HOC
1		HOC
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		SAC
1		SAC
2		NOR
1
12		NOR
2
14		REG
1		REG
2		WUN
1		WUN
2		ZWE
1		ZWE
2		SAL
1		SAL
2		OSC
1		OSC
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		26th23
1999Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 156SAC
1		SAC
2		ZWE
1		ZWE
2		OSC
1		OSC
2		NOR
1		NOR
2		MIS
1
2		MIS
2
Ret		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		SAL
1		SAL
2		OSC
1		OSC
2		HOC
1		HOC
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		26th20

Complete Italian Touring Car Championship results

YearTeamCarClass1234567891011121314151617181920DCPts
1992Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 GTAS1MNZ
1
Ret		MNZ
2
1		MAG
1
2		MAG
2
3		MUG
1
Ret		MUG
2
2		BIN
1
1		BIN
2
1		VAL
1
1		VAL
2
1		IMO
1
1		IMO
2
1		MIS
1
1		MIS
2
1		PER
1
4		PER
2
Ret		VAR
1
2		VAR
2
2		MNZ
1
4		MNZ
2
3		1st284
1998Nordauto EngineeringAlfa Romeo 156BIN
1
5		BIN
2
3		IMO
1
4		IMO
2
4		MNZ
1
1		MNZ
2
2		VAR
1
3		VAR
2
3		VAL
1
4		VAL
2
Ret		MAG
1
2		MAG
2
10		PER
1
3		PER
2
2		MIS
1
2		MIS
2
DSQ		MNZ
1
2		MNZ
2
3		VAL
1
1		VAL
2
1		3rd331
1999Nordauto EngineeringAlfa Romeo 156MIS
1
3		MIS
2
3		BIN
1
5		BIN
2
5		IMO
1
4		IMO
2
Ret		PER
1
3		PER
2
2		MAG
1
8		MAG
2
3		MUG
1
Ret		MUG
2
2		MIS
1
1		MIS
2
3		VAR
1
1		VAR
2
3		MNZ
1
2		MNZ
2
2		VAL
1
1		VAL
2
4		4th343

Complete European Touring Car Championship results

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617181920DCPts
2000Nordauto EngineeringAlfa Romeo 156MUG
1
2		MUG
2
2		PER
1
3		PER
2
6		A1R
1
4		A1R
2
3		MNZ
1
14		MNZ
2
Ret		HUN
1
5		HUN
2
5		IMO
1
5		IMO
2
4		MIS
1
5		MIS
2
5		BRN
1
3		BRN
2
6		VAL
1
2		VAL
2
2		MOB
1
2		MOB
2
3		4th195
2001Alfa Romeo Team NordautoAlfa Romeo 156MNZ
1
1		MNZ
2
2		BRN
1
1		BRN
2
2		MAG
1
2		MAG
2
2		SIL
1
5		SIL
2
3		ZOL
1
Ret		ZOL
2
3		HUN
1
12		HUN
2
2		A1R
1
14		A1R
2
2		NÜR
1
1		NÜR
2
5		JAR
1
4		JAR
2
5		EST
1
4		EST
2
5		2nd604
2002GTA Racing Team NordautoAlfa Romeo 156 GTAMAG
1
2		MAG
2
2		SIL
1
1		SIL
2
2		BRN
1
3		BRN
2
3		JAR
1
2		JAR
2
1		AND
1
1		AND
2
5		OSC
1
6		OSC
2
6		SPA
1
1		SPA
2
9		PER
1
2		PER
2
4		DON
1
Ret		DON
2
DNS		EST
1
Ret		EST
2
6		3rd86
2003GTA Racing Team NordautoAlfa Romeo 156 GTAVAL
1
7		VAL
2
6		MAG
1
2		MAG
2
2		PER
1
7		PER
2
5		BRN
1
13		BRN
2
5		DON
1
2		DON
2
4		SPA
1
4		SPA
2
2		AND
1
6		AND
2
1		OSC
1
17†		OSC
2
8		EST
1
2		EST
2
2		MNZ
1
10†		MNZ
2
4		4th92

Complete World Touring Car Championship results

YearTeamCar123456789101112131415161718192021222324DCPts
2005ChevroletChevrolet LacettiITA
1
24		ITA
2
15		FRA
1
17		FRA
2
13		GBR
1
Ret		GBR
2
DNS		SMR
1
13		SMR
2
11		MEX
1
10		MEX
2
7		BEL
1
17		BEL
2
18		GER
1
17		GER
2
11		TUR
1
NC		TUR
2
Ret		ESP
1
7		ESP
2
Ret		MAC
1
4		MAC
2
10		16th9
2006ChevroletChevrolet LacettiITA
1
27		ITA
2
7		FRA
1
11		FRA
2
8		GBR
1
NC		GBR
2
12		GER
1
14		GER
2
21		BRA
1
Ret		BRA
2
DNS		MEX
1
15		MEX
2
Ret		CZE
1
11		CZE
2
7		TUR
1
7		TUR
2
3		ESP
1
3		ESP
2
4		MAC
1
22		MAC
2
DNS		12th24
2007ChevroletChevrolet LacettiBRA
1
Ret		BRA
2
10		NED
1
2		NED
2
4		ESP
1
2		ESP
2
5		FRA
1
Ret		FRA
2
11		CZE
1
5		CZE
2
6		POR
1
3		POR
2
20		SWE
1
7		SWE
2
2		GER
1
Ret		GER
2
21		GBR
1
Ret		GBR
2
12		ITA
1
4		ITA
2
2		MAC
1
7		MAC
2
2		5th71
2008ChevroletChevrolet LacettiBRA
1
Ret		BRA
2
12		MEX
1
3		MEX
2
Ret		ESP
1
6		ESP
2
9		FRA
1
7		FRA
2
2		CZE
1
11		CZE
2
11		POR
1
2		POR
2
6		GBR
1
23		GBR
2
12		GER
1
Ret		GER
2
11		EUR
1
6		EUR
2
4		ITA
1
5		ITA
2
3		JPN
1
16		JPN
2
12		MAC
1
9		MAC
2
Ret		11th48
2009ChevroletChevrolet Cruze LTBRA
1
15		BRA
2
15		MEX
1
8		MEX
2
10		MAR
1
6		MAR
2
1		FRA
1
NC		FRA
2
9		ESP
1
11		ESP
2
13		CZE
1
Ret		CZE
2
13		POR
1
5		POR
2
Ret		GBR
1
22		GBR
2
17		GER
1
15		GER
1
6		ITA
1
Ret		ITA
2
16		JPN
1
12		JPN
2
5		MAC
1
12		MAC
2
7		13th27

Complete International Superstars Series results

YearTeamCar12345678910111213141516Pts
2010Rangoni MotorsportMercedes C63 AMGMNZ
R1		MNZ
R2		IMO
R1		IMO
R2		ALG
R1		ALG
R2		HOC
R1		HOC
R2		CPR
R1		CPR
R2		VAL
R1
Ret		VAL
R2
DNS		KYA
R1		KYA
R2		50th0
2013Petri CorsePorsche Panamera SMNZ
R1		MNZ
R2		BRN
R1		BRN
R2		SVK
R1		SVK
R2		ZOL
R1
10		ZOL
R2
Ret		ALG
R1
DNS		ALG
R2
DNS		DON
R1		DON
R2		IMO
R1		IMO
R2		VAL
R1		VAL
R2		32nd3