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Franco Cortese


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#1 dmj

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Posted 31 August 2001 - 15:06

I'm interesting in last years of career of this great Italian driver. He supposedly retired from racing in 1953, but I have a picture of him winning a race on Preluk road circuit near Opatija, Croatia in 1956. Was that a one-off or he contested more races in these late years?

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#2 Vitesse2

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Posted 31 August 2001 - 22:43

Cortese was still active in sports car racing until 1956. He was 3rd in the 1954 Bari 3 Hours and 2nd in a 2-litre sports car race at Reggio Calabria in 1956.

#3 David McKinney

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Posted 01 September 2001 - 14:10

Cortese was still racing in 1958, when he was fifth in the Shell Trophy at Monza on 13/4, won his class in the Targa Florio (with Starrabba) 11/5, and was second in the sportscar race at the 18/5 Aspern meeting

#4 Barry Boor

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Posted 02 April 2012 - 17:17

Darren doesn't show a date of death for Franco Cortese. Does this mean he is still with us?

#5 Vitesse2

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Posted 02 April 2012 - 17:27

Darren doesn't show a date of death for Franco Cortese. Does this mean he is still with us?

'Fraid not, Barry. If you look on Leif's site you'll find he died on November 13th 1986.

#6 Barry Boor

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Posted 02 April 2012 - 18:56

I guessed that was most likely. He would have been 99 this year.

#7 David McKinney

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Posted 02 April 2012 - 19:05

109, actually :)

#8 Barry Boor

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Posted 02 April 2012 - 19:19

:blush:

Had I done my sums properly I would never have posed the question.

#9 Nanni Dietrich

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Posted 11 April 2012 - 07:31

Franco Cortese passed away on 13 November 1986
http://www.motorspor...f...db=ct&n=224