Alfonso de Portago facts for kids
Portago aboard his Ferrari 860 Monza, 1957
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| Born | Alfonso Antonio Vicente Eduardo Angel Blas Francisco de Borja Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton 11 October 1928 London, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 12 May 1957 (aged 28) Cavriana, Lombardy, Italy |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Spanish |
| Active years | 1956 – 1957 |
| Teams | Ferrari |
| Entries | 5 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 1 |
| Career points | 4 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1956 French Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1957 Argentine Grand Prix |
| Signature |  |
Alfonso Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton, 11th Marquess of Portago, also known as Alfonso de Portago, was a Spanish nobleman, a talented racing driver, and a bobsleigh athlete. He was also a jockey and a pilot. Born in London in 1928, he came from a very important Spanish family. He was even named after his godfather, King Alfonso XIII.
Alfonso de Portago was known for his exciting and adventurous life. At just 17, he won a $500 bet by flying a plane under the famous London Tower Bridge! He also rode in the tough Grand National horse race twice. He even started Spain's first bobsleigh team with his cousins. They finished an amazing 4th place at the 1956 Winter Olympics, just missing a medal by a tiny bit.
In 1953, he joined the famous Scuderia Ferrari racing team. He competed in many big races like the Carrera Panamericana and several Grand Prix events. He even won the 1956 Tour de France Automobile and came second at the 1956 British Grand Prix.
Sadly, his promising career ended too soon in May 1957. His Ferrari 335 S crashed during the Mille Miglia race in Italy. He and his co-driver, along with nine spectators, lost their lives. Alfonso was only 28 years old. Many tributes were made to him, including the "Portago curve" at the Jarama racetrack.
A famous writer, Gregor Grant, once said that a person like Portago comes along only once in a lifetime. He believed Portago was amazing at everything he tried, from driving and horse racing to bobsledding. He could also speak four languages fluently.
Contents
About Alfonso de Portago
Early Life and Adventures
Alfonso de Portago was born in London and went to school in Biarritz, France. He learned to speak four languages very well and had a clear British accent when he spoke English. He was the heir to an important Spanish title and was a millionaire. His family had famous ancestors, including the explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca.
His father, Antonio Cabeza de Vaca, the 10th Marquess of Portago, passed away when Alfonso was young. His grandfather, Vicente Cabeza de Vaca, 9th Marquess of Portago, was once the mayor of Madrid. Alfonso's mother was Olga Leighton, an Irish nurse.
Alfonso was tall, with dark hair, freckles, and blue eyes. He was known for his daring spirit, like when he flew his plane under London Tower Bridge at age 17. He also rode in the Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree twice as a "gentleman jockey," which means he rode for fun, not as a professional.
Becoming a Race Car Driver
Alfonso de Portago started racing sports cars in 1953. This happened after he met Luigi Chinetti, who imported Ferrari cars to the USA. Chinetti asked Alfonso to be his co-driver in a race called the Carrera Panamericana. Later, Alfonso raced on his own in his personal Ferrari.
He won six big races, including the Tour de France Automobile race, the Grand Prix of Oporto, and the Nassau Governor's Cup (twice). He was known for his daring driving style. In one race in Nassau, he drove very close to the car in front of him at 240 kilometers per hour (about 150 mph). When the car in front braked, both cars skidded for a long distance, but Alfonso used his skill to avoid crashing into the crowd.
Alfonso often needed several cars to finish a race because he pushed them so hard. He was known for burning out brakes, clutches, and transmissions.
He also took part in 5 Formula One Grand Prix races. His first race was on July 1, 1956. His best result was finishing second at the 1956 British Grand Prix. He shared this drive with another racer, Peter Collins. He earned a total of four championship points in his Formula One career. In 1955, he had an accident at the 1955 British Grand Prix when his Ferrari slid on oil. He was thrown from the car and broke his leg.
Bobsleigh Adventures
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bobsleigh | ||
Representing  Spain |
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| World Championships | ||
| Bronze | 1957 St. Moritz | Two-man |
Alfonso de Portago was also a bobsleigh athlete. He gathered some of his cousins to create Spain's first bobsleigh team for the 1956 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Even though he had only practiced a few times, he bought two sleds. With Alfonso steering, his two-man team finished fourth, which surprised everyone. They were very close to winning a medal, missing it by only 0.16 seconds.
He was introduced to bobsledding by an American friend, Edmund Nelson. They later teamed up to win the Tour de France automobile race. Alfonso also won a bronze medal in the two-man bobsleigh event at the 1957 FIBT World Championships in St. Moritz.
His Tragic Death
On May 12, 1957, Alfonso de Portago and his co-driver, Edmund Nelson, were killed in a crash. This happened during that year's Mille Miglia race in Italy. Their car crashed on a straight road section near the village of Guidizzolo. The accident also sadly took the lives of nine spectators.
His Legacy
A curve at the St. Moritz-Celerina Olympic Bobrun is named "Portago curve" in his honor. This was done because of his efforts to help fix up the lower part of the bobsleigh track. There is also a "Portago curve" (number 9) at the Jarama motor racing circuit in Spain.
Personal Life
In 1949, when he was 20, Alfonso married an American model named Carroll McDaniel. They had two children together. His daughter, Andrea Portago, became a photographer. His son, Anthony, was born around 1954.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari D50 | Ferrari V8 | ARG | MON | 500 | BEL | FRA Ret |
GBR 2 † |
GER Ret |
ITA Ret |
15th | 3 |
| 1957 | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari D50A | Ferrari V8 | ARG 5 * |
MON | 500 | FRA | GBR | GER | PES | ITA | 20th | 1 |
- † Indicates shared drive with Peter Collins
- * Indicates shared drive with José Froilán González
Titles
- 11th Marquess of Portago
- 13th Count of la Mejorada
Images for kids
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A one-year-old Alfonso being held by his namesake godfather king Alfonso XIII, around 1929.
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Calle Belascoain from Calle San Lazaro to Malecon in front of the La Casa de Beneficencia during the 1957 Cuban Grand Prix in Havana.
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Portago and Nelson aboard the Ferrari 335 S at the Mille Miglia, 1957.
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Coat of Arms as Marquess of Portago (1943-1957).
See also
In Spanish: Alfonso de Portago para niños
