Emanuele Pirro

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Emanuele Pirro
Emanuele Pirro 2012 WEC Fuji 2.jpg
Pirro in 2012
Born (1962-01-12) 12 January 1962 (age 59)
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityItaly Italian
Active years19891991
TeamsBenetton, Scuderia Italia
Entries40 (37 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points3
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1989 French Grand Prix
Last entry1991 Australian Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1981, 19982008, 2010
TeamsMartini Racing, GTC Competition, Audi Sport Joest, Champion Racing, Drayson Racing
Best finish1st (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007)
Class wins6 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007)

Emanuele Pirro (born 12 January 1962) is an Italian racing driver who has raced in Formula One, touring cars and in endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans which he has won a total of five times. Two times Italian Karting Champion (1976, 1979), Formula Fiat Abarth Champion (1980), two times Italian Touring Car Champion (1994, 1995), two times Italian Overall Champion (1995, 1996) and German Touring Car Champion (1996), he also achieved records in endurance racing that place him amongst the best in the discipline, including; five wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007), two times ALMS Champion (2001, 2005), two times winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring (2000, 2007), three times winner of Petit Le Mans (2001, 2005, 2008), winner of the 24 Hours Nürburgring (1989), two times winner of the Macau Guia Race (1991, 1992) and two times winner of the Goodwood RAC Historic TT. He has taken part in over 500 official national and international races.

Personal life[]

He was born in Rome, however he traces his roots to the small town of Latera near Viterbo through his mother's family. He is married to Marlene, with whom he has two sons, Cristoforo, born in 1993 (Mechanical Engineer, currently Performance Engineer in F1) and Goffredo, born in 1996 (Automotive Engineer specialised in Motorsport).

Career[]

He began racing cars in 1980 after having raced seven years in go-karts, where he was two time Italian Champion and runner up in both the European and the World Karting Championships. He went on to win races in all the feeder series he competed in including F3, F3000 and Formula Nippon.

Pirro driving for Benetton at the 1989 Belgian Grand Prix.

Formula One[]

Pirro at the 1991 United States Grand Prix.

In 1988 he was contracted by McLaren to become test driver to develop the new Honda powertrain for the MP4/4, staying on in that role for the following 3 seasons.

His racing career in F1 started at the 1989 French Grand Prix for the Benetton-Ford team, replacing Johnny Herbert who was still recovering from injuries sustained in a F3000 accident. For the 1990 and 1991 seasons, he raced for BMS Scuderia Italia.

Touring cars[]

Together with his single seater commitments he raced as a factory driver for BMW in touring car racing up until 1993. He raced and won in ETCC, WTCC, Italian Supertouring and DTM. In DTM he became one of the only drivers to win in his debut in the series. Notably, he won the 24 Hours Nürburgring, the Macau Guia Race twice, and the Wellington 500 four times, with the legendary BMW M3 E30 and team Schnitzer. After leaving BMW in 1993 he joined Audi to win the 1994 and 1995 Italian Touring Car Championships followed by the German Touring Car Championship in 1996. Between the years of 1994 and 1996 racing in the Italian and German Supertouring championships, he contested a total of 70 races finishing only once outside of the top 10 after being taken out at the start in 1994 at the Salzburgring.

Sportscars[]

Pirro driving an Audi R10 at Laguna Seca in 2006.

After his debut in endurance races at the young age of 19 winning in his class with the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Gr.5 at the 24 Hours of Daytona, winning the Kyalami 9 Hours and a terrible experience at Le Mans the same year, he scarcely participated in these races except sporadic appearances in Japan, first with a Nissan Gr.C at the Fuji 1000 km and with a Porsche 962 Gr.C at the Suzuka 1000 km. That is until his return to Le Mans in 1998 with a McLaren F1 alongside Dindo Capello and Thomas Bscher ending with a retirement. In 1999 Audi unveiled the R8R with which he scored his first of a record breaking nine consecutive podiums at the French classic. In 2000 along with Tom Kristensen and Frank Biela he scored the first of three consecutive wins with the new Audi R8. In 2006 together with Frank Biela and Marco Werner he became the first driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel car, repeating the win in the following year. In 2008 he announced the end of his racing career with Audi sportscars. Between the years of 1999 and 2008 he won five 24 Hours of Le Mans, two ALMS championships, two 12 Hours of Sebring and three Petit Le Mans. After 2008 he competed in a number of additional races including a 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans with Drayson Racing in a Lola-Judd LMP1 car, the 24 hours of the Nuerburgring with an Audi R8 GT3, the 2011 Gold Coast 500 in the Australian V8 Supercars Championship.

After racing[]

He regularly competes in historic racing. In 2010 Pirro won the Monaco Historic Grand Prix in the Formula 3 Class.

In roles still linked to motorsport, he serves as a Brand Ambassador for Audi, and is a member of; FIA Drivers’ Commission, FIA Circuits’ Commission, FIA Historic Motorsport Commission, ACI Circuits and Safety Commission. In addition, he is the President of the Italian Karting Commission, and Vice President of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Club and the Club des Pilotes des 24 Heures du Mans. He is also a Steward for F1 races, TV pundit and is a frequent guest speaker at events hosted by multinational companies.

He owns the , a 5-star hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Finally he has been a regular player for over 25 years in the Nazionale Piloti football team and the “Star Team for the Children” for Prince Albert of Monaco as well as taking part in other charity events.

Race results[]

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results[]

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
1981 Italy Martini Racing Italy Beppe Gabbiani Lancia Beta Monte Carlo Gr.5 47 DNF DNF
1998 United Kingdom Gulf Team Davidoff
United Kingdom GTC Competition
Germany Dr. Thomas Bscher
Italy Rinaldo Capello
McLaren F1 GTR-BMW GT1 228 DNF DNF
1999 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Germany Frank Biela
Belgium Didier Theys
Audi R8R LMP 360 3rd 2nd
2000 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Denmark Tom Kristensen
Germany Frank Biela
Audi R8 LMP900 368 1st 1st
2001 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Denmark Tom Kristensen
Germany Frank Biela
Audi R8 LMP900 321 1st 1st
2002 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Denmark Tom Kristensen
Germany Frank Biela
Audi R8 LMP900 375 1st 1st
2003 United States Champion Racing Sweden Stefan Johansson
Finland JJ Lehto
Audi R8 LMP900 372 3rd 1st
2004 United States ADT Champion Racing Finland JJ Lehto
Germany Marco Werner
Audi R8 LMP1 368 3rd 3rd
2005 United States ADT Champion Racing Germany Frank Biela
United Kingdom Allan McNish
Audi R8 LMP1 364 3rd 3rd
2006 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Germany Frank Biela
Germany Marco Werner
Audi R10 TDI LMP1 380 1st 1st
2007 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Germany Frank Biela
Germany Marco Werner
Audi R10 TDI LMP1 369 1st 1st
2008 Germany Audi Sport North America Germany Frank Biela
Germany Marco Werner
Audi R10 TDI LMP1 367 6th 6th
2010 United Kingdom Drayson Racing United Kingdom Paul Drayson
United Kingdom Jonny Cocker
Lola B09/60-Judd LMP1 254 NC NC

Complete European Formula Two 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 8 9 10 11 Pos. Pts
1984 Onyx Race Engineering March 842 BMW SIL
6
HOC
4
THR
4
VAL
12
MUG
4
PAU
Ret
HOC
Ret
MIS
Ret
PER
6
DON
2
BRH
6
6th 18

Complete International Formula 3000 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 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Pts
1985 Onyx Racing March 85B Cosworth SIL
7
THR
1
EST
4
NÜR
C
VAL
1
PAU
2
SPA
Ret
DIJ
Ret
PER
2
ÖST
4
ZAN
5
DON
Ret
3rd 38
1986 Onyx Racing March 86B Cosworth SIL
2
VAL
3
PAU
2
SPA
19
IMO
Ret
MUG
6
PER
13
ÖST
Ret
BIR
Ret
BUG
1
JAR
2
3rd 29

Complete Japanese Formula 3000 Championship results[]

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

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Pts
1988 Team LeMans SUZ
9
FUJ
5
MIN
2
SUZ
4
SUG
2
FUJ
4
SUZ
3
SUZ
4
3rd 25
1989 Team LeMans SUZ
5
FUJ
Ret
MIN
Ret
SUZ
1
SUG FUJ SUZ SUZ 6th 11
1991 Team Hayashi SUZ AUT FUJ MIN SUZ SUG FUJ SUZ FUJ
C
SUZ FUJ NC 0

Complete Formula One results[]

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Pts
1989 Benetton Formula Ltd Benetton B188 Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 BRA SMR MON MEX USA CAN FRA
9
GBR
11
23rd 2
Benetton B189 Ford HBA4 3.5 V8 GER
Ret
HUN
8
BEL
10
ITA
Ret
POR
Ret
ESP
Ret
JPN
Ret
AUS
5
1990 BMS Scuderia Italia BMS Dallara 190 Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 USA BRA SMR
Ret
MON
Ret
CAN
Ret
MEX
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
11
GER
Ret
HUN
10
BEL
Ret
ITA
Ret
POR
15
ESP
Ret
JPN
Ret
AUS
Ret
NC 0
1991 Scuderia Italia SpA BMS Dallara 191 Judd GV 3.5 V10 USA
Ret
BRA
11
SMR
DNPQ
MON
6
CAN
9
MEX
DNPQ
FRA
DNPQ
GBR
10
GER
10
HUN
Ret
BEL
8
ITA
10
POR
Ret
ESP
15
JPN
Ret
AUS
7
18th 1
Source:[1]

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft/Masters results[]

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pos. Pts
1989 BMW M Team Schnitzer BMW M3 Evo ZOL
1
ZOL
2
HOC
1
HOC
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
MFA
1
MFA
2
AVU
1
AVU
2
NÜR
1

DNS
NÜR
2

DNS
NOR
1
NOR
2
HOC
1
HOC
2
DIE
1
DIE
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
HOC
1
HOC
2
NC 0
1990 Schnitzer Motorsport BMW M3 Sport Evo ZOL
1
ZOL
2
HOC
1
HOC
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
AVU
1
AVU
2
MFA
1
MFA
2
WUN
1
WUN
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
NOR
1
NOR
2
DIE
1
DIE
2
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

3
HOC
1

7
HOC
2

11
15th 36
1992 BMW M Team Bigazzi BMW M3 Sport Evo ZOL
1

6
ZOL
2

3
NÜR
1

14
NÜR
2

3
WUN
1

Ret
WUN
2

16
AVU
1

23
AVU
2

3
HOC
1

10
HOC
2

Ret
NÜR
1

21
NÜR
2

10
NOR
1

6
NOR
2

8
BRN
1

3
BRN
2

Ret
DIE
1

Ret
DIE
2

Ret
ALE
1

6
ALE
2

10
NÜR
1

Ret
NÜR
2

8
HOC
1

9
HOC
2

5
12th 85
2004 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi A4 DTM 2004 HOC
7
EST
11
ADR
9
LAU
6
NOR
9
SHA1
Ret
NÜR
11
OSC
15
ZAN
7
BRN
5
HOC
Ret
11th 11

1 – A non-championship one-off race was held in 2004 at the streets of Shanghai, China.

Complete Italian Touring Car Championship results[]

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

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos. Pts
1992 BMW M3 Sport Evolution S1 MNZ
1

4
MNZ
2

3
MAG
1

3
MAG
2

1
MUG
1
MUG
2
VAL
1

4
VAL
2

3
IMO
1
IMO
2
MIS
1

Ret
MIS
2

6
PER
1
PER
2
VAR
1
VAR
2
MNZ
1
MNZ
2
6th 82
1993 BMW 318i MNZ
1
MNZ
2
VAL
1
VAL
2
MIS
1
MIS
2
MAG
1
MAG
2
IMO
1
IMO
2
VAR
1
VAR
2
MIS
1
MIS
2
PER
1

5
PER
2

4
MUG
1

4
MUG
2

Ret
13th 28
1994 Audi 80 Quattro MNZ
1

2
MNZ
2

2
VAL
1

10
VAL
2

1
MAG
1

1
MAG
2

1

1

1
MIS
1

4
MIS
2

4
VAL
1

2
VAL
2

1
MUG
1

4
MUG
2

2
PER
1

4
PER
2

4
VAR
1

2
VAR
2

2
MUG
1

10
MUG
2

2
1st 269.5
1995 Audi A4 Quattro MIS
1

2
MIS
2

1

1

1
MNZ
1

1
MNZ
2

2
IMO
1

1
IMO
2

1
MAG
1

1
MAG
2

2
MUG
1

3
MUG
2

5
MIS
1

1
MIS
2

1
PER
1

5
PER
2

4
VAR
1

2
VAR
2

1
VAL
1

1
VAL
2

2
1st 317
1996 Audi A4 Quattro MUG
1
MUG
2
MAG
1
MAG
2
MNZ
1
MNZ
2
MIS
1
MIS
2
IMO
1
IMO
2
PER
1
PER
2
PER
1
PER
2
VAR
1
VAR
2
VAL
1

5
VAL
2

4
15th 18

Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results[]

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos. Pts
1994 Audi 80 Quattro Competition AVU
2
WUN
3
ZOL
3
ZAN
2
ÖST
4
SAL
Ret
SPA
5
NÜR
2
3rd 87
1995 Audi A4 Quattro ZOL
1
ZOL
2
SPA
1
SPA
2
ÖST
1
ÖST
2
HOC
1
HOC
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
SAL
1
SAL
2
AVU
1

10
AVU
2

7
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

1
16th 105
1996 A.Z.K./ Audi A4 Quattro ZOL
1

1
ZOL
2

1
ASS
1

3
ASS
2

2
HOC
1

1
HOC
2

1
SAC
1

3
SAC
2

1
WUN
1

2
WUN
2

1
ZWE
1

2
ZWE
2

3
SAL
1

8
SAL
2

10
AVU
1

4
AVU
2

1
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

1
1st 678
1997 A.Z.K./ Audi A4 Quattro HOC
1

11
HOC
2

9
ZOL
1

4
ZOL
2

10
NÜR
1

20
NÜR
2

7
SAC
1

6
SAC
2

Ret
NOR
1

5
NOR
2

3
WUN
1

Ret
WUN
2

Ret
ZWE
1

4
ZWE
2

1
SAL
1

13
SAL
2

7

19

11
NÜR
1

13
NÜR
2

10
6th 357
1998 Abt Sportsline Team Audi Audi A4 HOC
1

16
HOC
2

7
NÜR
1

Ret
NÜR
2

13
SAC
1

17
SAC
2

Ret
NOR
1

19
NOR
2

19

13

8
WUN
1

Ret
WUN
2

Ret
ZWE
1

14
ZWE
2

Ret
SAL
1

7
SAL
2

2
OSC
1

7
OSC
2

Ret
NÜR
1

10
NÜR
2

12
16th 205

Complete American Le Mans Series results[]

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

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine Tyres 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
1999 Audi Sport Team Joest LMP Audi R8R Audi 3.6 L Turbo V8 M SEB
ovr:5
cls:5
ATL MOS SON POR PET MON LSV 52nd 20
2000 Audi Sport North America LMP Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 M SEB
ovr:1
cls:1
NÜR
ovr:3
cls:3
SON
ovr:2
cls:2
MOS
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret
TEX
ovr:1
cls:1
ROS
ovr:4
cls:4
PET
ovr:2
cls:2
MON
ovr:2
cls:2
LSV
ovr:1
cls:1
ADE
ovr:15
cls:5
3rd 232
Audi R8R CHA
ovr:6
cls:6
SIL
ovr:5
cls:5
2001 Audi Sport North America LMP900 Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 M TEX
ovr:2
cls:2
SEB
ovr:2
cls:2
DON
ovr:2
cls:2
JAR
ovr:2
cls:2
SON
ovr:2
cls:2
POR
ovr:2
cls:2
MOS
ovr:1
cls:1
MID
ovr:4
cls:4
MON
ovr:1
cls:1
PET
ovr:1
cls:1
1st 202
2002 Audi Sport North America LMP900 Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 M SEB
ovr:5
cls:5
SON
ovr:14
cls:8
MID
ovr:1
cls:1
AME
ovr:2
cls:2
WAS
ovr:3
cls:3
TRO
ovr:2
cls:2
MOS
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret
MON
ovr:1
cls:1
MIA
ovr:1
cls:1
PET
ovr:6
cls:6
4th 206
2003 ADT Champion Racing LMP900 Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 M SEB
ovr:2
cls:2
ATL SON TRO MOS AME MON MIA PET 18th 22
2004 ADT Champion Racing LMP1 Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 M SEB
ovr:2
cls:2
MID LIM SON POR MOS AME PET MON 13th 22
2005 ADT Champion Racing LMP1 Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 M SEB
ovr:2
cls:2
ATL
ovr:3
cls:3
MID
ovr:3
cls:3
LIM
ovr:2
cls:2
SON
ovr:1
cls:1
POR
ovr:1
cls:1
AME
ovr:1
cls:1
MOS
ovr:3
cls:3
PET
ovr:1
cls:1
MON
ovr:2
cls:2
1st 182
2006 Audi Sport North America LMP1 Audi R10 TDI Audi 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel) M SEB TEX MID LIM UTA
ovr:1
cls:1
POR
ovr:2
cls:2
AME
ovr:1
cls:1
MOS
ovr:4
cls:4
PET
ovr:7
cls:5
MON
ovr:2
cls:2
5th 80
2007 Audi Sport North America LMP1 Audi R10 TDI Audi 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel) M SEB
ovr:1
cls:1
STP
ovr:2
cls:2
LNB
ovr:9
cls:2
TEX
ovr:12
cls:2
UTA
ovr:6
cls:2
LIM
ovr:23
cls:4
MID
ovr:3
cls:1
AME
ovr:3
cls:2
MOS
ovr:4
cls:2
DET
ovr:2
:cls:1
PET MON 4th 175
2008 Audi Sport North America LMP1 Audi R10 TDI Audi 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel) M SEB STP
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret
LNB
ovr:2
cls:2
UTA
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret
LIM
ovr:21
cls:3
MID
ovr:2
cls:2
AME
ovr:2
cls:2
MOS
ovr:2
cls:2
DET
ovr:DSQ
cls:DSQ
PET
ovr:1
cls:1
MON
ovr:2
cls:2
3rd 156
2010 Drayson Racing LMP1 Lola B09/60 Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 L V10 M SEB
ovr:12
cls:4
LNB MON
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret
UTA
ovr:2
cls:2
LIM MID AME MOS PET 12th 46

Macau Grand Prix Guia Race results[]

Year Team Car Class Pos.
1989 Germany Team Schnitzer BMW M3 Sport Evolution Group A Division 2 DNF
1990 Germany Team Schnitzer BMW M3 Sport Evolution Group A Division 2 2nd
1991 Germany Watson’s Team Schnitzer BMW M3 Sport Evolution DTM 1st
1992 Germany Mobil 1 Team Schnitzer BMW M3 Sport Evolution DTM 1st
1993 Germany Watson’s Team Schnitzer BMW 318i FIA Class 2 3rd
  • Spa 24 hours : 1st: 1986, 1990
  • 4 hours of Jarama: 1st: 1987
  • Grand Prix of Nürburgring 1st,1986

References[]

"Five-time LeMans winner Emanuele Pirro joins APR Motorsport for Rolex 24 at Daytona". APR Motorsport. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 201

  1. ^ Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. pp. 297–8. ISBN 0851127029.

Sources[]

External links[]

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Masahiro Hasemi
Guia Race
Winner

1991–1992
Succeeded by
Charles Kwan
Preceded by
Roberto Ravaglia
Italia Superturismo Championship
Champion

19941995
Succeeded by
Rinaldo Capello
Preceded by
Joachim Winkelhock
Super Tourenwagen Cup
Champion

1996
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Pierluigi Martini
Yannick Dalmas
Joachim Winkelhock
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
2000-2002
With: Frank Biela & Tom Kristensen
Succeeded by
Rinaldo Capello
Tom Kristensen
Guy Smith
Preceded by
Allan McNish
American Le Mans Series
Champion

2001
Succeeded by
Tom Kristensen
Preceded by
Marco Werner
J.J. Lehto
American Le Mans Series
Champion

2005
With: Frank Biela
Succeeded by
Allan McNish
Rinaldo Capello
Preceded by
J.J. Lehto
Marco Werner
Tom Kristensen
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
2006-2007
With: Frank Biela & Marco Werner
Succeeded by
Rinaldo Capello
Tom Kristensen
Allan McNish
Retrieved from ""