Attilio Bettega facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Italian |
| Born | 19 February 1953 Trento, Italy |
| Died | 2 May 1985 (aged 32) Zérubia, Corsica |
| World Rally Championship record | |
| Active years | 1978–1985 |
| Co-driver | Isabella Torghele Gianni Vacchetto Maurizio Perissinot Mario Mannucci Arnaldo Bernacchini Sergio Cresto |
| Teams | Fiat, Lancia |
| Rallies | 26 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Rally wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 6 |
| Stage wins | 47 |
| Total points | 130 |
| First rally | 1978 San Remo Rally |
| Last rally | 1985 Tour de Corse |
Attilio Luigi Antonio Bettega (born February 19, 1953 – died May 2, 1985) was a famous rally driver from Italy. He was known for his exciting driving style in the World Rally Championship.
Contents
Attilio Bettega's Life and Career
Attilio Bettega was born in a town called Molveno in Trentino, Italy. He started his rally career with the Fiat team. Later, in 1982, he joined the Lancia team. He drove the powerful Lancia 037 rally car for them.
Success in Rally Racing
During his time with Lancia, Attilio Bettega showed great skill. He finished on the podium four times in races that were part of the World Rally Championship. A podium finish means he placed in the top three. His best result was in 1984 at the Rallye Sanremo. He drove his Lancia 037 to a fantastic second place.
The Tragic Accident
In the 1985 rally season, Attilio Bettega took part in two big races. These were the Safari Rally and the Tour de Corse. The Tour de Corse was held in Corsica, an island in France.
During the fourth part of the rally, called a special stage, something went wrong. Bettega lost control of his Lancia car. It crashed into a tree. Sadly, the impact was very severe, and Attilio Bettega died instantly. His co-driver, Maurizio Perissinot, was not hurt in the crash.
Impact on Rally Safety
Attilio Bettega's death made people question how safe the Group B rally cars were. These cars were very fast and powerful. Just one year after Bettega's accident, another terrible crash happened. His former teammate, Henri Toivonen, and his co-driver, Sergio Cresto, also died in a rally crash. This second accident happened at the same event, the Tour de Corse.
These two tragic events led to a big change in rally racing. The dangerous Group B cars were banned from competition. This was done to make the sport much safer for drivers and co-drivers.
A Rallying Family
Attilio Bettega's love for rally racing continued in his family. His son, Alessandro Bettega, has also become a rally driver. He is following in his father's footsteps.
See also
In Spanish: Attilio Bettega para niños
