Manual Juan Fangio

Manual Juan Fangio (born the June 24th 1911 with Balcarce, an Argentinian town of located at approximately 400 km of the capital - died the July 17th 1995 with Buenos Aires), was a racing driver Argentinian. Five times World champion of Formule 1 (in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957) it dominated the discipline queen of the automobile sport in the the Fifties, being so far the only pilot with being crowned world champion in 4 different stables. Thanks to its exploits and with its single percentage of victories over disputed Grands Prix (24 victories out of 51 GP, absolute records), a percentage which will probably never be equalized, many are those which regard it as the largest pilot of the history.

Biography

Childhood

Born in a modest family from Immigrant S Italy NS originating in the the Abruzzi - his/her father was Ouvrier Maçon decorator - Juan Manuel Fangio was the fifth child of a phratry of six. Not very gifted for the school, it is impassioned for the Football but also for the Mécanique since it attends an automobile mechanical repair shop during its leisures.

In 1922, 11 years old, parallel to the school, it becomes apprentice Mécanicien in a workshop of Balcarce which prepares in particular racing cars racing. A few years later, it gives up the school and is engaged by the dealer Ford, then by the dealer Studebaker of his birthplace. Qualified mechanic, one entrusts also sometimes the responsibility to him to test the new cars, which enables him at only 16 years to be initiated with the joys of control. In 1929, at 18 years, it carries out even beginnings in competition, but in the capacity as copilot, at the sides of a rich person customer of the garage for which it works. This first experiment will remain a long time without continuation.

1936 - 1938: First races

In 1933, after its Military service one year in the 6th regiment of Artillery of Campo of Mayo where he is personal driver of Senior officer, he opens his own garage with the assistance of his/her father and his brothers. It is only in 1936, whereas it is 25 years old, that it disputes its first race, at the wheel of the Ford of a friend, prepared in the family workshop. In the following months, it renews the experiment on several occasions, with Ford has, then with Buick V8 and finally with a Ford V8 of 85 horses, which it engages in 1938 in the " Gran Premio de Necochea". Third of its qualificative sleeve, then seventh of the finale, Fangio takes little by little conscience of its qualities of pilot.

1939-1942: The time of the will carrateras

From 1939, Fangio decides to give up the tests on circuit to launch out in the road races (the Carrateras ), then extremely popular in Argentina. They are tests of several hundred kilometers, disputed on sinuous and stony roads, as testing for the machines as for the organizations. Thanks to a subscription launched for Balcarce, Fangio manages to offer a Chevrolet V6 which quickly enables him to compete with the Galvez brothers, then the two large Argentinian pilots of the speciality. In 1940, it gains its first great test, the Gran Premio del Norte , a long race harassing two weeks and 9445 km between Lima with the Peru and Buenos Aires in Argentine via the crossing of the Andes cordillera by collars which culminate with more than 4000 meters. At the end of the year, it obtains its first championship of Argentine of Carreteras , title which it preserves in 1941.

But in 1942, the war which makes rage in Europe and which extends to the rest of the world starts to test the Argentinian economy. Due to rationing, the automobile races are deactivation and Fangio is devoted exclusively to the good walk of its garage.

1947-1948: The temporadas

In 1946, with leaving the war, the automobile races can begin again in Argentina. This recovery is facilitated by the come to power of the General Juan Peron who proves to be a large amateur of automobile sport and which wishes to make of it a tool of prestige for Argentina. It launches the idea thus to organize in Argentina one season of race on circuit (a temporada ) at the time of the southern summer (the winter in Europe) during which the best world pilots (then primarily Italians and French) would come to rub with local glories. Fangio takes part in the first temporada (at the time of the winter 1947), but for lack of a competitive material (a Ford T with Chevrolet engine), is hardly able to emphasize itself. In the months which follow, of many successes at the wheel of a Volpi-Chevrolet prepared by its care allow him to convince the Car Club of Argentina to entrust to him a competitive car for the temporada 1948. While managing to compete with the best, Fangio is not long in justifying the hopes placed in him, while gaining the sympathy and the respect of pilots of reputation such Achille Varzi, Luigi Villoresi and Jean-Pierre Wimille.

1948-1949: First steps in Europe

After having known to attract some of the best world pilots in Argentina, the Car Club of Argentina (always strongly encouraged by Peron) engages the second phase of its development program of the Argentinian automobile sport, by sending its best pilots (of which Fangio) in Europe, so that they are familiarized with the environment of the European races. It is at the time of this voyage that Fangio carries out in a completely impromptu way its beginnings in Formule 1, at the time of GP of the ACF, disputed on July 18th, 1948 on the circuit of Rheims. It is called by Amédée Gordini to replace with the foot raised the French pilot Maurice Trintignant, victim of a serious accident a few days earlier at the time of a race in raising curtain of the Grand Prix of Switzerland in Bremgarten. In spite of a heroic resistance, Fangio is impotent vis-a-vis frightening Alfetta and must give up following the driving break-in of its Gordini.

In 1949, the Car Club of Argentina passes to high speed by constituting a true team of Argentina (to which is obviously built-in Fangio) to run to Europe. At the wheel of Maserati 4CLT of the ACA, Fangio gains the last race of the temporada 1949, before setting out again for Europe to dispute there its first true international season. Quickly, the European epopee of the team of Argentina transfers with the triumph, since Fangio connects successes with a insolente superiority, in tests it is true unequal importances: GP of San Remo, GP of Pau, GP of Roussillon, GP of Marseilles (on Gordini), GP of the Motor-racing track with Monza (on Ferrari rented in extremis with the Scuderia) then GP of Albi. At the end of the year, it is as a national hero that Fangio turns over to Argentina, but especially, it with satisfaction to have taken down a wheel of official pilot within the stable Alfa Romeo for the season 1950 and the very first championship of the world of Formula 1.

1950-1951: First title with Alfa Romeo

Meurtie by the accidents fatal of Varzi and Wimille, the Corsica Alfa team made the dead end over the season 1949, but that does not prevent it from being presented into favorite championship of the world 1950, so much the technical superiority of the surpuissante Alfetta 158 is large, and so much the team of pilots consisted Fangio, Farina and with a least degree Fagioli (the " 3 FA") impress. Quickly the championship is reduced as envisaged to a duel between Farina and Fangio. Victim of a mechanical breakage at the time of the inaugural sleeve with Silverstone, Fangio gains its first GP of the championship of the world in Monaco on May 21st. It also is essential in Belgium and on the GP of the ACF, but several abandonments cost him the world title. It must be satisfied with the place of vice-champion, 3 points behind Farina.

In 1951, Fangio (always at Alfa Romeo which engages Tipo 159) seems party to easily take its revenge as its victory with the first GP of the season in Suisse attests it, at the end of a demonstration of piloting under the rain. But after second victory acquired into France over circuit Rheims (divided with its fellow-member Fagioli which had yielded its car to him), the championship changes face and Fangio undergoes the domination of the Scuderia Ferrari, taken along by its compatriot Jose Froilan Gonzalez but especially by Alberto Ascari. An abandonment in Italy (combined with a victory of Ascari) seems to condemn it to a new failure with the championship.

But the October 28th, for the last sleeve of the season, on the circuit of Pedralbes, trâcé nonpermanent located in the town of Barcelona, Ferrari is misled in its choices of tires, and offers on a plate the victory and the world title to Fangio. After its victory at the time of GP of Spain, Juan Manuel Fangio gains the Championnat of the world of Formula 1 - the first of its five titles of world champion - at the wheel of sound Alfa Romeo.

1952-1953: Two seasons to be forgotten

The new technical regulation having pushed Alfa Romeo towards the exit, Fangio finds refuge at Maserati to dispute the championship of the world. Its first race with the new weapon of the firm to the three-pronged fork, a6GCM, is envisaged on June 8th with Monza, with the GP of the Motor-racing track, a test out-championship. The day before, Fangio was committed at the wheel of a Formula 1 BRM V16 in a Free test of Formula in Ulster, and it envisaged to rejoin Monza in the plane. But because of weather problems, the plane of Fangio could not go further Paris, and the Argentinian pilot had to carry out the Paris-Monza way in the car. It is only of extrème accuracy, and after one sleepless night last on the road, which he managed to present at the beginning of the race in Monza. As of the second round, it makes an pilot error and its Maserati leaves in an appalling caper. Raised with serious wounds with the cervical vertebrae, Fangio escapes the paralysis, but must observe a long convalescence and spends several plastered months.

It finds the competition in 1953. An impressive series of second places enables him to make a time illusion with the championship, but in the facts, it is systematically dominated by Ferrari, and in particular that of Ascari which takes down the title easily. Fangio must await the ultimate sleeve of the season, in Monza, to join again with the victory, at the end of the last turn to suspense.

1954-1955: The Mercedes domination

At the conclusion of the season 1953, Juan Manuel Fangio is contacted by Mercedes-Benz, which plans to benefit from the technical change of payment (return to F1 2,5 liters) to carry out its return in Grand Prix after 15 years of absence. Fangio knows well Mercedes and its director of Argentinian race Alfred Neubauer to have run for them of at the time of the temporada 1951, at one moment when the firm with star returned very right to the competition. Recent successes of Mercedes to the 24 hours of Mans and to Pan-American complete to convince it of the formidable potential of the German mark.

The Mercedes-Benz W196 which cannot be ready before the GP of France, Mercedes accepts that Fangio begins the season in another team in order not to mortgage her chances with the championship. At the wheel of remarkable Maserati 250F, Fangio is not deprived to gain the two first sleeves of the championship, in Argentina then in Belgium. With the GP of France, third sleeve of the season, Fangio discovers the Mercedes W196, which is characterized by a very neat aerodynamics (contrary to other F1, W196 has the ducted wheels), while its silver plated color of the most beautiful effect recalls to the observers the great hours of the mark pre-war period. If the adversaries of Fangio hoped that Mercedes suffers from a time of adaptation, they are for their expenses since the Argentinian one imposes W196 as of its first appearance. In Silverstone, under conditions which are appropriate badly for the characteristics of its car, Fangio finishes laboriously 4th, but in Nürburgring, on W196 in nonducted version, it takes again its triumphal walk. Its success however is obscured by death during the tests of its young compatriot and is protected Onofre Marimon. Two new victories in Switzerland then in Italy ensure Fangio easy a second world title.

In spite of a competition which sharpens its weapons (in particular Alberto Ascari at the wheel of promising Lancia D50), Fangio starts the season 1955 in position of big favorite. Besides it begins the year by what will remain like one of its more famous victories, in Argentina. Under a blazing sun, the pilots are physically unable to carry out only the 375 kilometers of the Grand Prix and quickly, with the liking of the abandonments, several pilots take turns at the wheel of the same car, as the payment authorizes it then. But Fangio, extremely of an irreproachable physical condition and its experiment of frightening the will carreteras Argentinas, manages to rejoin the arrival as a recluse victoriously. After an abandonment on driving break-in Monaco, Fangio carries out a bracket in its season of Formula 1 while taking part in the 24 hours of Mans, at the wheel of Mercedes 300 SLR. The crew which it trains with the young British wonder Stirling Moss (also its team-member in F1) there had the appearance of a big favorite. Fangio is with the fight with the Jaguar of Hawthorn when the drama is played, a few hours after the departure only. Surprised by a brutal operation of Hawthorn to return to the stands, Macklin carries out a variation that cannot avoid the French Pierre Levegh whose Mercedes takes off before disintegrating on the slope separating the track from the platforms, projecting remains mortals (in particular the engine, train-before and the cap) in crowd. More than 80 people are killed. Fangio which rolled just behind Levegh escapes from accuracy from the drama. A few hours later, whereas the Fangio-Moss crew is at the head of the race, the direction of Mercedes decides to withdraw its cars.

Amputated by several handles following the 24 hours drama, the season of F1 continues nevertheless, always dominated by Mercedes, without real opposition after the withdrawal of the Lancia stable (in prey with great financial problems and ravaged by the fatal accident of Alberto Ascari shortly after the GP of Monaco) and taking into account the small form of Ferrari and Maserati. Fangio is essential on Zandvoort, finishes 2nd in Aintree behind Moss without to truly disputing the victory him, then carries it in Monza, allocating its third world title at the same time.

1956: Fourth bitter title at Ferrari

At the conclusion of the season 1955, Mercedes announces its withdrawal of the automobile sport. A decision which must much with the 24 hours drama of Mans but also with the feeling for the firm with star not to have more anything to prove in automobile sport after two seasons of domination without division Formulates 1 of them. At 44 years, Fangio estimates that it is perhaps also time for him to draw its reverence at the top and seriously plans to stop Formula 1. But it is without counting on the inversion in September 1955 of the Peron General. Even if Fangio always knew to avoid being made instrumentaliser by propaganda peronist, it is of public notoriety which it is one of the " protégés" deposed president, and so it fears that its goods in Argentina are not confiscated to him by the new leaders. This feeling encourages it to continue its career with the more high level, in order to take cover from the need. He manages to negotiate a juicy contract with Ferrari (which leaves one missed season 1955, but which recovered Lancia D50 with the so promising potential).

Victorious of GP of Argentina (victory shared with Luigi Musso since Fangio was victim of troubles of food on its own car), Fangio finishes then second of the GP of Monaco, this time by sharing the points with Peter Collins which yielded its back-plate car to him after the Argentinian one martyrisé his against the pavements of the Principality, consequence of a piloting unusually approximate. Misfortunes of Fangio continue in Spa, where its transmission betrays it whereas it is at the head then in Rheims, where it is delayed by an oil escape and must be satisfied with the fourth place. The engine trouble with repetition met by Fangio gradually poisons its relationship with Enzo Ferrari, which he openly shows to support with the championship the young person Peter Collins. On its side, Ferrari points finger the insufficiencies of Fangio (in particular its race missed by Monaco) and refutes the implicit charges of " sabotage" by recalling that since the beginning of the season, the Argentinian one profited twice from the instructions of race.

Sulfurous environment calms down starting from the GP of Great Britain, that Fangio gains with brilliance, before connecting by a new success in Nürburgring. Propelled largely at the head of the championship of the world before approaching the ultimate handle in Italy, Fangio counts nothing any more but two adversaries: its fellow-member Hakes, and the French Jean Behra. The abandonment of Fangio on breaking of direction is a true aubaine for Collins, which is not however in position to be titrated. The British goes even until voluntarily giving up his thin chances to be titrated while stopping with the stands for " partager" its car with Fangio, which thus takes down its fourth world title.

In spite of this new title, the tensions between Fangio and the direction of Ferrari reached a point of nonreturn and the two parts separate without regrets at the end of the year.

1957: Last exploits and fifth title

In 1957, Fangio turns over in his/her friends of the stable Maserati, where it finds the 250F. Announced on the decline after its marketing year 1956, Fangio is given the responsability to give the things places from there while dominating the debates throughout the year. It is essential in Argentina, in Monaco, in Rouen (in spite of tires used to the cord which oblige it with the great pleasure of the spectators to a demonstration of piloting in slip in the vertiginous descent of the New-World ). Constrained with the abandonment in England, it takes again its triumphal walk while signing, the August 4th 1957, on the toboggan of the Nürburgring, which still nowadays remains regarded as one of the most beautiful exploits of the history of the Formule 1. Delayed of almost 45 seconds to the semi-race following a cafouilleux supply, he undertakes an increase of anthology on the pilots Ferrari Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins. To the price of a taking risk of every moment, he manages to return on the “escaped ones” and to exceed them in the ultimate loop of the circuit. At the evening of this GP of Germany of anthology, at the conclusion of it obtained the 24e (and last) victory of its career, Juan Manuel Fangio obtains - whereas there remain still two races to be disputed - its fifth title (including four consecutive) of World champion of Formula 1. Two second places with Pescara and Monza will come to supplement one triumphal season.

1958: End of a career

In 1958 Fangio which is 47 years old decides not to defend its title and to withdraw high level gradually: “ I carried out all my ambitions. The world crown was my greater dream. After my the first two titles, it seemed logical to me to try to take down a third of it. The fifth persuaded me that it was time to pass the hand . ”. He is also encouraged in his decision by the semi-withdrawal of Maserati, in prey with great financial problems.

He is satisfied to take part this year in two tests of the championship of the world: the GP of Argentina at the beginning of season on Maserati engaged under the colors of the Car Club of Argentina (it finishes 4th), then the GP from France to Rheims, where its international career had begun 10 years earlier. Delayed by troubles of clutch, it must be again satisfied with modest a fourth place. By respect towards the largest pilot of his time, the winner of the day Mike Hawthorn will refuse to inflict to him a turn of delay in end of the road. Questioned on its attitude by the journalists, Hawthorn will answer simply: “ One does not take a turn with Fangio . ” Marked by the fatal accident of its former team-member Luigi Musso, the course of the race consolidates Fangio in its choice to put a term at its career.

Between the GP of Argentina and the GP of France, Fangio had disputed tests in various categories. Let us quote in particular its participation fallen through in the 500 Miles of Indianapolis (it gives up as of the tests, being estimated insufficiently powerful) or its rocambolesque participation in the GP of Havana in Cuba (argument of category Sport ). Taken as an hostage by rebellious castrists the February 26th, it is released without clash the shortly after the race. Referring to the mortal pile-up having marked the test, Fangio will say later: “This event perhaps saved me the life”

Of return in Argentina where it is devoted to its family and her businesses, Fangio will remain until its death an advised observer of the evolution of Formula 1, in particular tying contacts privileged with the Brazilian pilot Ayrton Senna. Until the beginning of the year 1990, and in spite of a heart bypass operation in 1982, it took part regularly in Argentina but also in Europe in demonstrations of historical cars.

84 years old, he dies the July 17th 1995 with Buenos Aires following a Heart attack associated with a Pneumonie. The Argentine then issues three days of mourning national for its quintuple world champion and national hero.

Others

  • In spite of its prize list and its talent, Fangio ran during all its career without having the Permis to lead. It obtained it only in 1961, several years after its retirement.
  • the name Fangio made its return on the circuits in the Années 1980 and 1990. The nephew of the quintuple world champion, called Manual Juan Fangio II, in particular highlighted himself in North America, while becoming one of the best pilots of the championship of Endurance IMSA and by gaining to him also the 12 hours of Sebring.
  • In Wallonia, “to make Fangio” (delivery Fandjo ) means either “to lead like a roadhog”, or “to roll in a sporting way”

Quotations

Enzo Ferrari: “ I live it for the first time in spring 1949 on the motor-racing track of Modena. There were others pilot but I end up keeping the eyes on him. It had a strange style: it was the only one to leave the turns without shaving the bales of straw outside. I said myself: this Argentinian is really strong, it leaves like a racing car and remains with the right in the middle of the track!! As for the man, I never managed to really encircle it. Manuel Fangio remained for me an indecipherable character …”

Prize list

  • 1940 Champion of Argentinian of Turismo de Carreteras
  • 1941 Champion of Argentinian of Turismo de Carreteras
  • 1948 Vice-champion of Argentinian of Free Formula
  • 1949 Vice-champion of Argentinian of Free Formula and Turismo de Carreteras
  • 1950 Vice-champion of the World of the pilots of Formula 1, vice-champion of Argentinian of Free Formula (Alfa Romeo 159)
  • 1951 World champion of the pilots of Formula 1, vice-champion of Argentinian of Free Formula ( Alfa Romeo 159)
  • 1952 Champion of Argentinian of Free Formula (Maserati)
  • 1953 Vice-champion of the World of the pilots of Formula 1 (Maserati)
  • 1954 World champion of the pilots of Formula 1 (Maserati and Mercedes-Benz W196)
  • 1955 World champion of the pilots of Formula 1 (Mercedes-Benz W196)
  • 1956 World champion of the pilots of Formula 1 (Ferrari)
  • 1957 World champion of pilots of Formula 1 (Maserati)

  • 24 victories in Formule 1 for 51 Grand Prix disputed, outstanding performance which enables him to hold always today best the classification with the average with 47,06  % in front of Alberto Ascari (40,63  %) and Michael Schumacher (36,55  %).

Its 24 victories in championship of the world

See too

  • Pilot of Formula 1: classification per year
  • Pilot of Formula 1: classification by better Pilot turns
  • of Formula 1: classification by Pilot podiums
  • of Formula 1: classification by pole Pilot positions
  • of Formula 1: classification by Pilot victories
  • of Formula 1: classification by hat tricks

External bonds

  • Article Manual Juan Fangio on WikiF1
  • Museo Juan Manual Fangio
  • Manual Juan Fangio Web

Simple: Manual Juan Fangio

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