Kidnapped for two hours by robbers who have tied and threatened with the gun and then move away from their villa in Novilara di Pesaro with jewellery and diamonds for at least 100 thousand euros.
It's the drama who lived between 2:30 and 4:30 by the businessman Giancarlo Morbidelli, 72 years, and his wife Augusta, 69, parents of former F1 driver Gianni Morbidelli.

To enter the villa the three bandits wrecked the bars of a window and broke into the house while the couple slept, as the family of Sinhala caretaker (father, mother and a five years old child) employed by the couple, who lives in a nearby apartment. Weapons in hand, balaclava fell on his head, the criminals have woken up the businessman and his wife with the light of a torch: the man was immediately hands and feet tied to a chair with bandages obtained from a shredded shirt, while wife, always under the threat of handgun, was forced to take the robbers in front of the family strongbox. In the past, Morbidelli had already suffered a theft since then the strongbox remained empty and open.

The bandits have not discouraged, they have snatched Giancarlo Morbidelli the gold Rolex from the wrist, making Mrs. Augusta to deliver all jewels: diamonds, gold jewellery, plus around 600 euros. Later on the woman was bring back in the bedroom, and tied next to her husband, while the bandits went to wake the caretaker.

Same scene in the apartment: the Sri Lankans were threatened with the gun, esplanade well before the baby, so prove if there were other things to steal. There was nothing and, before to flee, the robbers hint the caretaker not to liberate the Morbidellia before one hour. The man instead waited a short time and then he runs to untie his employers who raise the alarm to Carabinieri. "We are still in shock - said Giancarlo Morbidelli - but perhaps we should even feel lucky because we were not ill-treated."

Must have been terrifying for them.

Thank heavens they were not ill-treated or injured or worse, even though the ordeal must have been awful for them

The Morbidelli family own the SCM Group and are very, very wealthy.
http://www.scmgroup.com/private/bin/indice/catalogo;jsessionid=CCBNDMANLGCH?locale=en&marchioId=MORBIDELLI
SCM were the title sponsor of Minardi in Gianni Morbidelli's first full season of F1 in 1991. You can see it here on the nose, right above the 24. Minardi's most succesful season wasn't it?

At least it was only things, they can be replaced.

Yes, it could have been worse. But this kind of thing can really affect you, especially if you're elderly. Neighbours of ours were broken into and robbed while they were asleep. Afterwards they put up electric gates, put in alarms and got dogs, but still it was years before they slept well again.

I know Mr. Giancarlo, I had the opportunity to meet him several times and I have been in the villa where there was robbery.

He is a wonderful person, a true genius of mechanics that has never stopped to dream.
After a brilliant career as a manufacturer of motorcycle Grand Prix (4 times 125 cc. World Champion), has built a two cycles, six cylinder engine for Scuderia del Passatore (the future Minardi Team).









He also designed a semiautomatic gearbox for Minardi M191, differently conceived than that produced by Barnard for Ferrari. Unfortunately, it didn't work because the hydraulic system worked at a too low pressure.



He is also one of the greatest collectors of vintage motorcycles. Inside his museum there is the first desmodromic engine ever built by Ducati in the '60s. He found it in Russia, restored it and so you can see it in the museum. Ducati tried to buy it, they would have been willing to pay a lot for it, it would also exchanged with the Stoner's Desmosedici '07 but he refused.







In the 90s he produced a motorcycle with an 8 cylinders engine for the Middle East.



Now he is working to a new motorcycle with 12 cylinders engine.

Your photos are fascinating. It's great to think that there are little pieces of old Minardis scattered around Italy like that.

That must have been pretty awful. He's a bit of a 90s cult hero is Gianni. The race at Adelade where he finished about 12 hours off Damon but still finished well was funny. I remember there was smoke pluming from the back of (I can't quite remember forgive me it was a long time ago) either his car or the guy the in front of his car. I can still remember him later on going on about how much it 'Smells' in comical terms after the race.

It's a shame he never had a proper crack in a Ferrari.

Panis in 2nd was the guy with the engine drama. Gianni was beside himself with joy when he finished 3rd... 2 laps down.

Good to see no one was injured in the robbery but geez at their age it doesn't get any easier. :\

sad story, but those pics and the little anecdotes are pure gold

I asked Mr. Giancarlo the reasons for the short career of Gianni in F1.

He answered me with words that I can not relate publicly about the Circus (not only Ferrari).
He told me of things really very serious towards important F1 managers.
Practically, he told me that it is better to keep off from a suchlike entourage.

I can't say if these words are true or dictated by bitterness for the unsuccessfully Gianni's career.

i wonder why they dont have like armed security if they have that kinda incentive for robbers....

Giancarlo couldn't live with an armed security around itself. He needs serenity, is beloved by all the people, had nothing to be fear.
The villa is equipped with an alarm system but that night was not enabled.

To be fair, Gianni Morbidelli needed to blow away his team mate to have a long F1 career. He didn't do well enough compared to Pierluigi Martini and Christian Fittipaldi or Johnny Herbert.

Maybe you're right.
As I wrote above, I don't know if the Mr. Giancarlo's words are true or dictated by bitterness for the unsuccessfully Gianni's career.
That's all what I heard with my ears last winter.

Well, Gianni made Formula 1, drove a race for Ferrari and scored a podium finish. He competed for several teams and started nearly 70 Grands Prix. He's a solid professional in a very competitive sport. That's nothing to be ashamed of. I think Mr Morbidelli has every right to be very proud.

I remember Gianni's last year at Sauber his performance was damaged by a season-long wrist harm, consequence of a big crash in private test. This, and may I say also Peter Sauber's desire to launch the wonder-boy Kimi.

Regarding the awful nigth of Morbidelli family, unfortunately robbery in villas are becoming more and more common in northern-central Italy. It seems there are real professional gangs that take long time to study their victims, and when in action they have no respect for anything.

Mr. Giancarlo is very proud of his son.
The only thing that he reproaches to him are too many girls who take home.
"My wife grow fond of them then, after no longer than 6 months, he changed and my wife be hurt."