45 replies to this topic

[Neuz]

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

[aportinga]

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?

[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

[Rob Ryder]

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

[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.

[Vitesse2]

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?!

[Richard Jenkins]

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.

[David M. Kane]

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

[Chris Bloom]

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!

[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

[subh]

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....

[Maldwyn]

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

Here he is giving Riccardo the post-race debrief

[jcbc3]

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

[caneparo]

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

[David M. Kane]

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

[MoMurray]

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

[caneparo]

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

[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]

[Richard Jenkins]

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.

[bschenker]

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

Site of Gianna Nannini
Gianna Nannini
Wikipedia

[pmbboy]

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

[jcbc3]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins


I thought that was Pavarotti and Nessum Dorma.

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

[Arjan de Roos]

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.

[ensign14]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins


I thought that was Pavarotti and Nessum Dorma.

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

[jcbc3]

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

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

[subh]

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

[jcbc3]

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.

[Rexx Havoc]

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?

[Steve Carter]

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.

[subh]

Originally posted by Rexx Havoc


this guy?

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

[Ciao]

"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).

[Paul Medici]

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.


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[Maldwyn]

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.

[subh]

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?

[sat]

75

[subh]

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?

[cheesy poofs]

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

[KWSN - DSM]

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.

[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 !!!???

[sat]

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

[pmbboy]

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

[subh]

Originally posted by sat

Number 4

Thanks again.

[subh]

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

[Clark Watson]

this guy?

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

[Bauble]

Whatever happened to Alessandro Nannini?

Wasn't he one of the Likely Lads?

[arttidesco]

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.