Tony Lanfranchi facts for kids
| Born | 25 June 1935 Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 7 October 2004 (aged 69) London, England |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  British |
| Active years | 1968–1969 |
| Teams | BRM and privateer Cooper |
| Entries | 2 (0 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1968 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1969 Canadian Grand Prix |
Anthony Lanfranchi (born June 25, 1935 – died October 7, 2004) was a British racing driver. He was known for competing in many different types of car races throughout his long career. Tony raced in famous events like the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans and even some Formula One races. He also competed in the British Formula Three Championship and later became well-known in saloon car racing.
Contents
Tony Lanfranchi: A Racing Legend
Tony Lanfranchi was a talented racing driver from the United Kingdom. He loved speed and spent his life competing in various car races. His career showed how passionate he was about motorsports.
Early Days and First Wins
Tony started his racing journey in Huddersfield, driving sports cars. He had success with cars like the Healey Silverstone and the Elva Courier in the early 1960s. In 1963, he really made a name for himself nationally with an Elva-Ford Mk. VI.
One of his early achievements was winning the very first Harewood hillclimb event on September 16, 1962. He set the fastest time of the day, showing his skill and speed.
Formula One Dreams
In 1967, Tony was supposed to make his big Formula One debut at a race called the BRDC Daily Express Trophy at Silverstone. Sadly, a fire broke out in the paddock before practice, destroying three cars. This accident stopped Tony from racing that day.
He did get to compete in some non-championship Formula One races in 1968. These races were not part of the official Formula One World Championship, but they were still very competitive.
Touring Car Triumphs
Later in his career, Tony became a prominent figure in saloon car racing. This type of racing involves cars that look more like regular road cars, but they are specially modified for speed. He competed in the British Saloon Car Championship for many years, driving different cars like the Morris Mini Cooper S, Hillman Imp, and BMW 3.0 CSi. He even drove a Vauxhall Nova Sport and a Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v.
Tony showed great skill in touring car races, often achieving good results and even winning class championships in 1983 and 1986.
Life Beyond the Track
In 1980, a book was written about Tony Lanfranchi's life and racing career. It was titled Down the Hatch: the life and fast times of Tony Lanfranchi by Mark Kahn. This book helped share his exciting story with more people.
His Legacy
Tony Lanfranchi passed away on October 7, 2004, after battling cancer. He is remembered as a dedicated and versatile racing driver who competed across many different racing categories. His passion for motorsports left a lasting mark on the British racing scene.
Racing Record Summary
Tony Lanfranchi had a long and varied racing career. Here are some of the major championships and events he competed in:
- British Saloon / Touring Car Championship: He raced in this championship for many years, from 1965 to 1989, driving various cars and often achieving strong results in his class.
- 24 Hours of Le Mans: This is one of the most famous endurance races in the world. Tony competed in it three times: in 1965, 1969, and 1985.
- Formula One World Championship: He was entered in two Formula One Grand Prix races in 1968 and 1969, though he did not start either race.
- Non-Championship Formula One Races: Tony also took part in several Formula One races that were not part of the official world championship, showing his skill against top drivers.
- European F5000 Championship: This was a popular single-seater racing series. Tony competed in this championship in 1969, 1970, and 1972.
