19 replies to this topic

[OPA]

Does anyone know if Giunti had a contract with Ferrari of 1971 season?Just wondering,because it seems he was very talented driver and an obvious choice for Ferrari as he was Italian

[Keir]

Ignazio was the heir apparent at Ferrari, but Clay Reggazoni had the inside track to the number two seat in F1.
The real shame was that silly accident that took Giunti's life. We shall never know how things would have worked themselves out.

[Barry Lake]

Peter Collins, later team manager of Lotus in F1, and who developed a reputation as a talent spotter, was a great fan of Giunti.
He tipped him as a potential world beater.

[MattFoster]

Yes, it seems that Ignazio's death was a tragic waste of talent as well as a bizarre one.

[man]

Just wondering what some of the more informed members than myself think of this former Ferrari driver?

Thanks.

[dretceterini]

Didn't he also drive for Alfa?

[Geza Sury]

From Steve Small's 'Grand Prix Who's Who' 3rd ed, p.234:

From a well-to-do family, Giunti was racing from his teens, driving Alfas in hill-climbs and club events. He progressed to the works Alfa team in 1966, winning the touring car section of the European mountain-climb championship the following year. Guinti was a regular member of the Autodelta sports car team in 1968, taking a second in the Targa Florio and fourth (and class win) at Le Mans with Galli, who was his regular partner through into 1969.

For 1970, Ignazio was signed by Ferrari for their successful sports car programme, sharing the winning 512S in the Sebring 12 Hours, Targa Florio and Rand 9 Hours, also taking second place in the Monza 1000 Km and third in Watkins Glen 6 Hours. Meanwhile Guinti made a very imoressive Grand Prix debut to finish fourth at Spa, earning three more drives. Through Regazzoni had laid claim to the number two seat in F1, Guinti stayed with the team for 1971. In the season's first sports car race, the Buenos Aires 1000 Km, Ignazio, unsighted by another car, ploughed into the back of the Matra of Beltoise which had run out of fuel and was being pushed along the track by its driver. The Ferrari somersaulted some 200 yards down the track, exploding in flames, leaving por Guinti no chance of survival. Sustaining 70 per cent burns and multiple injuries, he died in hospital some two hours later.

[Keir]

Giunti was certainly a talent on the rise and he had one of the most memorable helmet designs.
I believe that he would have had a good F1 career, but for the arrival of Regazzoni. He did very well in sports cars and seeing how well Ferrari did in '73, had Giunti lived, he would have had quite the season then as well.
Sadly, all conjecture at this point, but well taken from what I saw of the young Italian.

[jarama]

I don't recall Giunti's helmet design.

Where I can find it in the web?

Carles.

[FEV]

Originally posted by jarama
I don't recall Giunti's helmet design.

Where I can find it in the web?

Carles.

http://www.ping.be/~...iasg/giunti.htm The drawing of the helmet looks quite close to reality to me, but I wouldn't say the same about the portrait on the upper right . Most likely the only connection there has ever been between Aztecs (or Mayas or Incas ??) and F1 !

[jarama]

Thankyou, FEV.

[Dironey]

Any idea why he chose that particular design?

[Rainer Nyberg]

[LOLE]

Originally posted by FEV
http://www.ping.be/~...iasg/giunti.htm The drawing of the helmet looks quite close to reality to me, but I wouldn't say the same about the portrait on the upper right . Most likely the only connection there has ever been between Aztecs (or Mayas or Incas ??) and F1 !

Chèr Monsieur "FEV",

My name is Carlos Ghys and I happen to be the forum member who painted the tribute to poor Italian driver Ignazio Giunti.
If you have visited my web site, you should have remarked that the only reason why I make these portraits is a huge admiration for those drivers who have been my favorits or more, who have given their lives while practising their passion and while giving millions of fans all over the world unforgetable moments. Through this and other forums, books, photographs and paintings like mine, they are kept alive in the memorie of us all...
Of course, one can not discuss on taste or colours, but I was first very pleased to see my website appear on this thread on Ignazio but then I was a bit "shocked" while reading your comment on the quality of the portrait...which shows again the poor mentality of the French against those "petit Belges".
I think that my painting is a more sincere tribute to Ignazio than the poor "art critics" or comment you've made on this forum.
I agree that there are better portraits of Ignazio but who am I to criticise a humble racing fan who tries to combine his drawing and painting skills with an endless admiration of these great drivers....

Sincèrement

Carlos Ghys

[RSNS]

Originally posted by FEV
Most likely the only connection there has ever been between Aztecs (or Mayas or Incas ??) and F1 !

Wasn't Pedro Rodriguez of aztec descent?

Giunti was a rising driver: he mastered the terrible Ferrari 512S and showed great skill and prudence in F1.

Beltoise was blamed for years for pushing the Matra (into which Giunti crashed) down the road, but I think he was an escape goat for the anguish and frustration and not the real culprit. Giunti knew the Matra was being pushed and was just a bit reckless in overtaking a backmarker.

I too, think his helmet was one of the most original in F1.

Good painting, by the way.

Cheers.

[Ray Bell]

I recall one night when Peter Windsor and Bob Levett were repeating his name over and over again, getting great delight saying "Ji-oonty"...

The next day we read he had died...

[LOLE]

To all forum members of the Ignazio Giunti thread.

I think that you all should know that "FEV" wrote me a kind private message to apologyse for the remark he made a few days ago. I realy appreciated this mail in that way that I regret to have written my reply in public. Please forget this negative note and let us concentrate on Ignazio!
"FEV", thanks again, I mean it!!

Carlos

[908/3]

Ignazio Giunti, one of the best ever Italian drives, was so tragically killed in a sportscar race in January 1971.
He did well in F1 with Ferrari, he took fourth place in the Belgian GP in 1970 and showed well in practice in a few others races during that season.
In sportscars he codrove a Ferrari 512 to victory with Vaccarella and Andretti at Sebring in 1970.
Any information and pictures about him are appreciated, and does anyone know if he had resigned for Ferrari in F1 for the 1971 season ?

[john winfield]

Hi,
I'm fairly certain that for 1971, with Regazzoni now the team's GP number two and Andretti contracted to race at certain events, Giunti had no guarantee of any F1 championship drives. He was contracted for the sports car team but whether as team mate to Ickx or Regazzoni in the singleton 312P, or as driver of a second car, I don't know. Merzario was his team mate in Buenos Aires so perhaps Maranello intended initially to run a two car team but never replaced the chassis damaged/destroyed in Giunti's accident.

Born 30.8.1941 (Rome?), signed by Autodelta in 1966, won the 1967 European Touring Car Hillclimb Championship. 2nd with Nanni Galli in the 1968 Targa Florio driving the 2ltr Tipo 33 Alfa. 1968 2 ltr national sportscar champion. Tough 1969 with unsuccessful Alfas, approached Ferrari for 1970. Some sportscar success, as you know, 4th on his Grand Prix debut at Spa (just like Regazzoni at Zandvoort....remarkable!), problems at Clermont Ferrand, good drive in Austria where, where without the puncture that dropped him to seventh, he could well have made it a Ferrari 1-2-3! At Monza, despite qualifying a long way behind Ickx and Regazzoni, I seem to remember seeing his distinctive helmet in the leading group before the 312B retired with overheating problems.
It was very upsetting to hear about his accident in 1971 - a tragedy for Giunti, Ferrari and JPB.

John

[Twin Window]

Posted on behalf of Peter Darley;