Antonio Ascari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonio Ascari
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Antonio in an Alfa Romeo P2 in 1925
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| Born | 15 September 1888 Bonferraro, Italy
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| Died | 26 July 1925 (aged 36) |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Children | Alberto Ascari |
Antonio Ascari (born September 15, 1888 – died July 26, 1925) was a famous Italian race car driver. He won four major Grand Prix races. Sadly, he passed away too soon during the 1925 French Grand Prix. Antonio was also the father of Alberto Ascari, who later became a two-time World Champion in racing.
Early Life
Antonio Ascari was born in Bonferraro Di Sorgà, a town near Mantua in Italy. His father was a wheat salesman. Antonio left school early and worked in a blacksmith's shop for a while.
Later, his family moved to Milan. There, he became a mechanic for a car company called De Vecchi. In 1911, he got his first chance to drive in a touring car race in Modena. During World War I, he worked on aircraft. After the war, he opened his own business. It was an Alfa Romeo car dealership in Milan.
Racing Career
Antonio started racing cars at the highest level in 1919. That year, he bought a Fiat Grand Prix 4500 car. He entered a famous hill climb race called Parma–Poggio di Berceto. He won this race, which was also the first race for Enzo Ferrari. Antonio then won another hill climb race called Consuma.
He raced the same car in the 1919 Targa Florio race. He was doing very well until his car slid off the road. Even though he crashed, the bosses at Alfa Romeo noticed his talent. They asked him to join their racing team. Alfa Romeo also gave him the right to sell their cars across the whole Lombardy region.
Besides selling cars, Antonio helped develop new models. He was involved in making the Alfa Romeo ES Sport. He raced for Alfa Romeo in the Targa Florio in 1920 and 1921. He didn't win those years, but he finished fourth in 1922. In 1923, he was leading the Targa Florio race. His car broke down just before the finish line. He managed to get it going again, but his teammate, Ugo Sivocci, passed him and won. Antonio finished second.
A month later, Antonio won his first big Grand Prix race. He drove an Alfa Romeo RL TF at the Cremona Circuit. He was supposed to race in the 1923 Italian Grand Prix with a new P1 car. However, his team pulled out of the race. This happened after his teammate Sivocci died during practice.
In 1924, Antonio won again at Cremona. He was driving the new P2 car, designed by Vittorio Jano. He had bad luck again in the 1924 Targa Florio. His car stopped just a few hundred yards from winning. Antonio, his mechanic, and some fans pushed the car over the line. But he was disqualified for getting outside help. He had a similar problem at the 1924 French Grand Prix. However, he then went to Monza and won the 1924 Italian Grand Prix. He led that race from start to finish.
In 1925, a new racing series began. It was called the World Manufacturers' Championship. Alfa Romeo did not race in the first event, the 1925 Indianapolis 500. Instead, they went to Spa-Francorchamps for the 1925 Belgian Grand Prix. Only two teams, Alfa Romeo and Delage, showed up to race. By the middle of the race, most cars had stopped. Only Antonio and his teammate Giuseppe Campari were left. Antonio won the race by a huge lead of almost 22 minutes!
Death and Legacy
On July 26, 1925, Antonio Ascari was racing in the 1925 French Grand Prix. This race took place at the Autodrome de Montlhéry, near Paris. He was leading the race on lap 23. At a left turn, his car swerved and crashed into a wooden fence. The car overturned. Antonio was badly injured. Help was slow to arrive. Antonio died in the ambulance on his way to the hospital. He was 36 years old.
After his death, Alfa Romeo pulled their other cars from the race. The race winners, Robert Benoist and Albert Divo, drove to the crash site. They placed their winner's garlands there to honor Antonio.
Antonio's death brought a lot of sadness in France and Italy. His body was shown in Montlhéry, where many people came to pay their respects. As his coffin traveled to Milan by train, people placed flowers at every stop. In Milan, his coffin was displayed at the Alfa Romeo building. Thousands of people came to see it. Many more lined the streets for his funeral procession. He was buried at the Cimitero Monumentale.
Antonio's son, Alberto Ascari, was seven years old when his father died. Alberto also became a famous race car driver. He won the Formula One championship twice in 1952 and 1953. Sadly, Alberto also died in a racing accident at age 36. And just like his father, he died on the 26th day of the month.
Images for kids
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Ascari in Alfa Romeo 20-30 ES at the 1922 Targa Florio
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At Cremona in 1924
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At Belgian GP in 1925
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See also
In Spanish: Antonio Ascari para niños
