Consalvo Sanesi facts for kids
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| Born | 28 March 1911 |
|---|---|
| Died | 28 July 1998 (aged 87) |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Italian |
| Active years | 1950–1951 |
| Teams | Alfa Romeo |
| Entries | 5 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 3 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1950 Italian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1951 British Grand Prix |
Consalvo Sanesi (born March 28, 1911, died July 28, 1998) was a famous Italian racing driver. He was best known as the main test driver for Alfa Romeo after World War II. This meant he helped develop and test their powerful racing cars. He also competed in some of the very first Formula One World Championship races.
Sanesi was very experienced with Alfa Romeo cars. This often made him one of the fastest drivers on the track. However, this speed did not always lead to top results in Formula One. He scored only 3 championship points in his five races. He found more success in sports car racing, where he continued to compete into the mid-1960s.
Racing Highlights
Consalvo Sanesi showed his amazing speed in sports car races. In 1953, during the famous Mille Miglia race in Italy, he set the fastest average speed for one part of the race. He drove at about 112.8 miles per hour (181.5 km/h). He even beat racing legends like Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio. Sadly, his car broke down, and he could not finish that race.
A year later, in 1954, Sanesi achieved a great victory. He won his class in the challenging Carrera Panamericana race in Mexico. This race was known for being very tough.
In November 1954, Sanesi raced an Alfa Romeo again in the Pan American race. He led the European touring car class for a while. His Alfa Romeo team did very well, taking the top five spots in that division.
A Heroic Rescue
Consalvo Sanesi stopped racing at the highest level after a very serious accident. This happened during the 1964 12 Hours of Sebring race in Florida, USA. After a crash, his Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ car caught fire.
Another driver, Jocko Maggiacomo, was watching from the side of the track. He bravely rushed into the flames and pulled Sanesi to safety. Maggiacomo's quick actions saved Sanesi's life. Sanesi had been racing with his teammate, Roberto Bussinello, in that event.
In November 1964, Jocko Maggiacomo received a special "Gentleman of the Road" award. The Milan Automobile Club gave him this award for his heroic rescue of Consalvo Sanesi.
