Jump to content


Photo

Whatever happened to Alessandro Nannini?


  • Please log in to reply
45 replies to this topic

#1 Neuz

Neuz
  • Member

  • 159 posts
  • Joined: July 03

Posted 03 September 2006 - 01:31

I'm sure I spelled his name wrong but I was wondering what ever happened to him?
I know he had that helicopter crash where I believe he lost one or both of his arms. I thought he was racing again but I couldn't find where that would be.
If anyone knows I'd be interested in hearing what he is up too.

Thanks,
neuz
www.yesterdaysneuz.com

Advertisement

#2 aportinga

aportinga
  • Member

  • 10,567 posts
  • Joined: November 01

Posted 03 September 2006 - 01:57

Always liked him. I remember he was one of the ony drivers who would smoke in the pit lane - despite it being banned.

As I recall he had his hand or arm removed - rather un-expectedly in a helicopter crash?

#3 Kingsleyrob

Kingsleyrob
  • Member

  • 1,578 posts
  • Joined: August 06

Posted 03 September 2006 - 05:07

I recall that he raced again in touring cars. Not sure how long for or how sucessful though. I'm sure somenbody in the know will enlighten us further.

I liked him as a character, and was pleased when he won his first (and only GP??). I recall Japan, but could be wrong, and that there was something odd about it.

Rob

#4 Rob Ryder

Rob Ryder
  • Member

  • 2,602 posts
  • Joined: June 00

Posted 03 September 2006 - 08:27

The last record I have of Alessandro racing is 2004, when he drove some rounds of the Spanish GT Championship in the Gianni Giudici Racing Maserati Trofeo.

After is helicopter accident in 1990 he returned to racing, mostly in touring cars for Alfa Romeo (DTM, Italian Championship etc). Seem to remember him even having a test drive in an F1 - 1996 Benetton maybe?

No idea what he is doing now...
Rob

#5 Mihai

Mihai
  • Member

  • 171 posts
  • Joined: January 04

Posted 03 September 2006 - 10:37

I know that he hang up his helmet after the 1997 season with Mercedes in the FIA GT championship. He probably gets some one-off racing deals, like Rob mentioned. Now he's a wealthy businessman, owning a group of companies: Caffe Nannini SpA, Paticcerie Nannini and Alessadro Nannini SRL.

#6 Vitesse2

Vitesse2
  • Administrator

  • 41,742 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 03 September 2006 - 11:40

Originally posted by Mihai
I know that he hang up his helmet after the 1997 season with Mercedes in the FIA GT championship. He probably gets some one-off racing deals, like Rob mentioned. Now he's a wealthy businessman, owning a group of companies: Caffe Nannini SpA, Paticcerie Nannini and Alessadro Nannini SRL.

What, no Panini Nannini?!

#7 Richard Jenkins

Richard Jenkins
  • Member

  • 7,207 posts
  • Joined: November 00

Posted 03 September 2006 - 12:54

I met Nannini last month at the GP Masters.

He's put on a hell of a lot of weight recently. Almost unrecognisable.

He's now retired from racing, and as Mihai says, runs that group of companies.

Having said that, he might like a crack at a GPM test for fun - not for racing - if they can get a hand control sorted.

And his hand? Well the hand he has now is the same hand he had when he was racing, but as I said to someone else who asked, his hand is more like Jeremy Beadle's, ie withered/disfigured than like Luke Skywalkers.

He can still sign with that hand (his right), but notably when he shook my hand, it was with his left hand.

Lovely bloke, by the way.

#8 David M. Kane

David M. Kane
  • Member

  • 5,402 posts
  • Joined: December 00

Posted 03 September 2006 - 15:43

His shops are very good, whenever I'm in Italy I go to them...good fare!

#9 Chris Bloom

Chris Bloom
  • Member

  • 778 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 03 September 2006 - 17:16

Originally posted by Kingsleyrob
I recall that he raced again in touring cars. Not sure how long for or how sucessful though. I'm sure somenbody in the know will enlighten us further.

I liked him as a character, and was pleased when he won his first (and only GP??). I recall Japan, but could be wrong, and that there was something odd about it.

Rob


I seem to remember him almost winning the German GP in 1990.

Quite an ammusing story I remember reading from his F1 days was when drug testing was introduced to Grand prix racing. I recall Alessandro was a bit concerned that the large quantity (20 cups I think was the number mentioned) of Expresso Coffee he drank as part of his daily routine might cause him to test positive for too much caffeine in his system! Personally I wonder how he ever managed to get to sleep at night!:eek:

#10 Kingsleyrob

Kingsleyrob
  • Member

  • 1,578 posts
  • Joined: August 06

Posted 03 September 2006 - 17:47

A couple of searches reveal that Japan '89 was his only win - it was the famous race where Senna was disqualified after his 'incident' with Prost which decided the championship in the Frenchman's favour.

It was in the brightly coloured Benetton, I guess the B189.

Rob

#11 subh

subh
  • Member

  • 1,191 posts
  • Joined: July 04

Posted 18 December 2006 - 11:19

I missed this thread in September, but please refer to my full length article for the answers to many of your questions. I remember that you would often see his name flash up with the fastest lap, but only two of these stood at the end of his F1 races. Can anyone remember any other definite occasions when he had such pace? I have some ideas.

I am working on a table of all Sandro’s race results from 1982 to 1997. I have access to most of the data, but it might be a year or so before I have time to finish sorting it....

#12 Maldwyn

Maldwyn
  • Member

  • 1,488 posts
  • Joined: August 00

Posted 18 December 2006 - 12:36

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins
I met Nannini last month at the GP Masters.

Here he is giving Riccardo the post-race debrief :)

Posted Image

#13 jcbc3

jcbc3
  • RC Forum Host

  • 12,845 posts
  • Joined: November 04

Posted 18 December 2006 - 13:06

Originally posted by subh
... my full length article ....



:up:

#14 caneparo

caneparo
  • Member

  • 94 posts
  • Joined: October 03

Posted 18 December 2006 - 13:24

was interviewed by Autosprint one month ago.
I can tell he looks like an italian Alan Jones now! But he didn't lose his witty sarcasm! He was pictured in overalls as he did the six hours of Vallelunga on a Maserati Grand Sport shared with (and owned by) Gianni Giudici

#15 David M. Kane

David M. Kane
  • Member

  • 5,402 posts
  • Joined: December 00

Posted 18 December 2006 - 15:59

His sister, apparently, was a fairly well known singer according to a friend of mine from Austin, Texas who knew her.

#16 MoMurray

MoMurray
  • Member

  • 738 posts
  • Joined: September 00

Posted 18 December 2006 - 16:19

His sister, Gianna Nannini was the italian version of a Madonna, Patti Smyth, Suzi Quattro hybrid. Hard rock love story ballads, gravel voice...but really good. Big in Germany as well as Italy in the eighties. I have several of her albums.

Mo

#17 caneparo

caneparo
  • Member

  • 94 posts
  • Joined: October 03

Posted 18 December 2006 - 17:11

At the beginning of his career Alessandro was known in Italy as the younger brother of the italian rocker Gianna Nannini!!!
Also Gianna Nannini had an incident (while working in the father's shop) that resulted in cut fingers

#18 jcbc3

jcbc3
  • RC Forum Host

  • 12,845 posts
  • Joined: November 04

Posted 18 December 2006 - 17:54

She sang the official song of Italia '90. Gotta be pretty recognised to get that honour.

[edit]Italia '90 being the World Cup of Football in 1990[/edit]

#19 Richard Jenkins

Richard Jenkins
  • Member

  • 7,207 posts
  • Joined: November 00

Posted 18 December 2006 - 18:09

Originally posted by jcbc3
She sang the official song of Italia '90. Gotta be pretty recognised to get that honour.

[edit]Italia '90 being the World Cup of Football in 1990[/edit]


I thought that was Pavarotti and Nessum Dorma. :confused:

Advertisement

#20 bschenker

bschenker
  • Member

  • 523 posts
  • Joined: March 02

Posted 18 December 2006 - 18:29

The official song of "Italia 90" was interpretted by Gianna Nannini and Edoardo Bennato.

Site of Gianna Nannini
Gianna Nannini
Wikipedia

#21 pmbboy

pmbboy
  • Member

  • 265 posts
  • Joined: November 06

Posted 18 December 2006 - 22:45

Originally posted by Kingsleyrob
A couple of searches reveal that Japan '89 was his only win - it was the famous race where Senna was disqualified after his 'incident' with Prost which decided the championship in the Frenchman's favour.

It was in the brightly coloured Benetton, I guess the B189.

Rob


You are right this was his only win I was the mechanic on his car and it was a pleasure to work for such a nice and genuine man.
yes the B189 was brightly coloured
cheers
pete

#22 jcbc3

jcbc3
  • RC Forum Host

  • 12,845 posts
  • Joined: November 04

Posted 19 December 2006 - 08:38

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins


I thought that was Pavarotti and Nessum Dorma. :confused:


That was purely a side show. (Mind I got the 'three tenors' CD and plays it regularly).

#23 Arjan de Roos

Arjan de Roos
  • Member

  • 2,583 posts
  • Joined: July 02

Posted 20 December 2006 - 13:26

Originally posted by jcbc3
She sang the official song of Italia '90. Gotta be pretty recognised to get that honour.


Gianna was extremely popular with young italians in the nineties. Hearing her voice she must have outsmoked Alessandro.

#24 ensign14

ensign14
  • Member

  • 61,701 posts
  • Joined: December 01

Posted 20 December 2006 - 14:12

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins


I thought that was Pavarotti and Nessum Dorma. :confused:

That was the BBC coverage theme. Suggested by Gerald Sinstadt.

#25 jcbc3

jcbc3
  • RC Forum Host

  • 12,845 posts
  • Joined: November 04

Posted 20 December 2006 - 14:13

Reminded me of something I heard about Bonnie Tyler eons ago.

"She has a voice like velvet.........................when you tear it"

#26 subh

subh
  • Member

  • 1,191 posts
  • Joined: July 04

Posted 20 December 2006 - 16:49

Apparently, Alessandro had to keep his Marlboro cigarettes in a Camel packet, so he wouldn’t upset the Benetton sponsors.

#27 jcbc3

jcbc3
  • RC Forum Host

  • 12,845 posts
  • Joined: November 04

Posted 20 December 2006 - 21:14

Originally posted by subh
Apparently, Alessandro had to keep his Marlboro cigarettes in a Camel packet, so he wouldn’t upset the Benetton sponsors.



I heard that same story with Lauda hiding Winstons in Marlboro packets.

#28 Rexx Havoc

Rexx Havoc
  • Member

  • 966 posts
  • Joined: May 06

Posted 21 December 2006 - 02:49

Originally posted by pmbboy


You are right this was his only win I was the mechanic on his car and it was a pleasure to work for such a nice and genuine man.
yes the B189 was brightly coloured
cheers
pete


this guy?

Posted Image

#29 Steve Carter

Steve Carter
  • Member

  • 64 posts
  • Joined: March 04

Posted 21 December 2006 - 03:06

He actually retired in September 1998 from all forms of racing - he raced Alfas in the early DTM series with some success after his injuries in the helicopter accident.

#30 subh

subh
  • Member

  • 1,191 posts
  • Joined: July 04

Posted 21 December 2006 - 12:44

Originally posted by Rexx Havoc


this guy?

Posted Image


Yes - that looks like Adelaide 1989, or Phoenix 1990. Right?

#31 Ciao

Ciao
  • Member

  • 1,158 posts
  • Joined: June 05

Posted 22 December 2006 - 16:35

"What, no Panini Nannini?!"

Just to clear a little the non racing history, which is quite muddled in various posts.....

The first Nannini of some prominence was neither Gianna nor Alessandro. Their father is the one that expanded the family business, making their pastry shops in Siena the places to go for high end traditional pastry. He ammassed a fortune and lived with his family in a beautiful historical villa on the hills off Siena (if you ever went to Siena, you know what I amtalking about).

His children grew up with considerable wealth, lots of freedom and were encouraged to follow their inclinations. Due to age difference, Gianna was the first to establish herself. She was already a star in Italy when Alessando was a joung kid racing in junior formulae. His reputation was at the time more local for being 1) one of the richest kids in town; 2) the younger brother of Gianna; 3) the greatest womanizer the town had seen in decades (he happened to also be very good looking when young, which didn't hurt him, in addition to his typical Tuscan sarcastic sense of humor)

Once Gianna became famous outside of Italy (mostly Germany, Spain and I hear in France too), Alessandro started to become famous on his own and finally became a household name in Italy when he joined Bennetton. The climax was when he refused a 1-year contract to race for Ferrari, every Italian driver's dream. He was offered two years from Bennetton and told Ferrari he would love to join them, but only for a 2 year stint. Ferrari confirmed the one-year only offer and Alessandro refused their offer. Weeks later he lost his arm while his elicopter crashed during the landing in the park of his parents' villa.Doctors reattached his arm with a miracolous operation but his F1 days were over. He later tested a Ferrari F1 at Fiorano but it was more in the spirit of fun than anything else. He knew he couldn't compete in F1 anymore, as his hand and arm are partially rigid.

Of course, being rich and with many family businesses allowed him to concentrate on other things in life and I am sure he was happy to just be able to continue to have a normal life, considering he almost lost his (I can't remember if the elicopter pilot actually perished in the crash, similarly to DC's plane crash).

#32 Paul Medici

Paul Medici
  • Member

  • 441 posts
  • Joined: August 99

Posted 22 December 2006 - 18:16

While I still have the box of old Christmas cards open, here is another one from
the great Michael Turner - Alessandro through the bus-stop at Spa in 1989.

Posted Image
.
.
.
.

#33 Maldwyn

Maldwyn
  • Member

  • 1,488 posts
  • Joined: August 00

Posted 04 January 2007 - 12:52

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins
He's now retired from racing, and as Mihai says, runs that group of companies.

Having said that, he might like a crack at a GPM test for fun - not for racing - if they can get a hand control sorted.

According to Autosport's story Alessandro will compete in GPM this year.

#34 subh

subh
  • Member

  • 1,191 posts
  • Joined: July 04

Posted 04 January 2008 - 03:56

Originally posted by subh
I am working on a table of all Sandro’s race results from 1982 to 1997. I have access to most of the data, but it might be a year or so before I have time to finish sorting it....


Despite my keen interest in his career, and all that I’ve said above, I have only just discovered that Nannini raced in the 1987 Touring Car World Championship. He appeared for Alfa Corse at four European rounds, with co-drivers as diverse as Laffite, Francia, Schlesser and Michael Andretti, as some of you will know. Here is a picture from Monza, but can anyone tell me the number of the car shared by Nannini and Laffite at Dijon, on the tenth of May?

Posted Image

#35 sat

sat
  • Member

  • 347 posts
  • Joined: October 00

Posted 04 January 2008 - 06:42

75

#36 subh

subh
  • Member

  • 1,191 posts
  • Joined: July 04

Posted 04 January 2008 - 17:11

That was easy - thank you.

Now, what was the number of the Lancia he raced to second in the non-championship sportscar race at Norisring, 30th of June, 1984?

#37 cheesy poofs

cheesy poofs
  • Member

  • 3,243 posts
  • Joined: July 01

Posted 04 January 2008 - 17:26

Is it me or do I remember seeing him light a ciggie once in a while in and around the paddock area!?!

#38 KWSN - DSM

KWSN - DSM
  • Member

  • 35,982 posts
  • Joined: January 03

Posted 04 January 2008 - 17:28

Originally posted by cheesy poofs
Is it me or do I remember seeing him light a ciggie once in a while in and around the paddock area!?!


Not just you.

Lot of the 1980ies (and I presume earlier) drivers did that.

I have a clip somewhere of Rosberg on the Driver presentation truck before the race puffing away.

:cool:

#39 thunder427

thunder427
  • Member

  • 353 posts
  • Joined: October 07

Posted 05 January 2008 - 03:11

pmbboy; when you worked as a team member for Nanini,did you have an 'aussie' mechanic work with you at this time,Harvey Spencer,as I've often wondered where he he is these days !!!???

Advertisement

#40 sat

sat
  • Member

  • 347 posts
  • Joined: October 00

Posted 05 January 2008 - 07:38

Now, what was the number of the Lancia he raced to second in the non-championship sportscar race at Norisring, 30th of June, 1984?


Number 4

#41 pmbboy

pmbboy
  • Member

  • 265 posts
  • Joined: November 06

Posted 05 January 2008 - 08:43

Originally posted by thunder427
pmbboy; when you worked as a team member for Nanini,did you have an 'aussie' mechanic work with you at this time,Harvey Spencer,as I've often wondered where he he is these days !!!???

I remember the name but can not put a face to it, I think he worked for Brabham and also Leyton House but I sure he did not work for Benetton, I will get my thinking cap on and also see if anyone else at work can remember where he is now or what has happened to him, the name is so familiar I am sure someone will know.
cheers
Peter

#42 subh

subh
  • Member

  • 1,191 posts
  • Joined: July 04

Posted 05 January 2008 - 18:37

Originally posted by sat

Number 4


Thanks again.

#43 subh

subh
  • Member

  • 1,191 posts
  • Joined: July 04

Posted 03 February 2008 - 21:29

This picture may be of interest to some. I hadn’t seen it before today. It pictures Nannini when testing the Benetton B196:

Posted Image

#44 Clark Watson

Clark Watson
  • Member

  • 123 posts
  • Joined: October 07

Posted 27 November 2011 - 12:15

this guy?

Posted Image


Gday All,
A Question for Rexx but I thought I'd post it for all to see in case any one else can offer any assistance.
I'm currently in the process of Restoring Sandro's Benetton that won the race at Suzuka after Senna was DQd.
And would love any technical drawings photos of her with her clothes off and indeed any photos or data at all that could aid us with this restoration.

Cheers
Clark Watson
www.vfr.net.au
Vintage Fibre Restorations

#45 Bauble

Bauble
  • Member

  • 1,040 posts
  • Joined: January 09

Posted 27 November 2011 - 12:35

Whatever happened to Alessandro Nannini?

Wasn't he one of the Likely Lads?

#46 arttidesco

arttidesco
  • Member

  • 6,708 posts
  • Joined: April 10

Posted 27 November 2011 - 14:06

Whatever happened to Alessandro Nannini?

Wasn't he one of the Likely Lads?


He certainly was though Alesandro was overshadowed by the consistent Piquet up until his accident during his last reason at Benetton.

According to Racing Sports cars Alesandro was last seen racing a Ferrari 360 in Barcelona.

Wiki mentions Alesandro runs a global coffee shop chain bearing his name.

Edited by arttidesco, 27 November 2011 - 14:07.