Balestrero in a Bugatti T35C around 1926

Renato Balestrero (27 July 1898 – 18 February 1948)[1] was an Italian racecar driver from Genoa, winning 54 out of 217 races between 1922 and 1947.[2]

Born in Lucca, he lived in Genoa and was active in the First World War. He started out in an Officine Meccaniche 665 winning the Coppa Ciano 1924 and several events in the 1925 Grand Prix season and 1926 Grand Prix season, including the I Tripoli Grand Prix 1925.

He then bought a Bugatti T35C for 75 000 francs which he raced 1927 and 1929. As an agent to General Motors he raced the newly launched La Salle (automobile) in 1928. Other cars included a Talbot 1700 (1931), as well as Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, Alfa Romeo P3 and Fiat 1100 cars.[3]

Since before the Second World War, he ran the Scuderia Balestrero, which including himself, Giovanni Balestrero and Clemente Balestrero. Since 1953 the Lucca-based Scuderia Balestrero has been active.[4]

Balestrero died in the Niguarda Hospital of Milan, after being hit in a roadside accident by a Gazzetta dello Sport car. He was hauling an engine to the Nardi Danese workshop.[2]

Racing record

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1926 Italy Officine Meccaniche France Frédéric Thelluson O.M. Tipo 665 Superba 2.0 94 DSQ DSQ

Complete European Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EDC Pts
1931 A. Ruggeri Talbot 700 Talbot 1.7 L8 ITA
7		 FRA BEL 14th 20
1935 Gruppo Genovese San Giorgio Maserati 8C 3000 Maserati 3.0 L8 MON FRA BEL GER
Ret		 21st 51
Maserati 26M Maserati 2.5 L8 SUI
12		 ITA ESP
1937 Scuderia Maremmana Alfa Romeo Tipo B/P3 Alfa Romeo 2.9 L8 BEL GER
Ret		 MON SUI ITA 33rd 39
1938 R. Balestrero Alfa Romeo Tipo 308 Alfa Romeo 3.0 L8 FRA GER
7		 SUI ITA 14th 28
Source:[5]

References

  1. ↑ picture and biography Archived 2019-05-21 at the Wayback Machine from kolumbis.fi
  2. 1 2 biography Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine from balestrero.org
  3. ↑ list of cars and race participations from forums.autosport.com
  4. ↑ balestrero.it
  5. ↑ "THE GOLDEN ERA – OF GRAND PRIX RACING". kolumbus.fi. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
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