Michele Alboreto RIP

**Craig** · 25 Apr 2001, 19:56 (Ref:84945)

Just heard on Sky News that Michele Alboreto has been killed in a car crash in Germany.

Yet another loss to the motorsport world this year

RIP

Gerard · 25 Apr 2001, 20:07 (Ref:84953)

From Sky News:

ALBORETO KILLED ON TEST DRIVE.

Former Formula One driver Michele Alboreto has been killed in a car crash during a test drive on a circuit in Germany, according to reports.

Alboreto, 44, won five grand prix races in the 1980s and was a member of the Porsche team which won the 1997 Le Mans 24 Hours race and the Audi team which finished third there last year.

Alboreto started racing in 1976, made his Formula Three debut in 1978 and won the European title in 1980.

The Italian was given his Formula One chance by Tyrrell in 1981 and won his first grand prix in Las Vegas the following year.

Alboreto also won the U.S. Grand Prix for Tyrrell in Detroit in 1983, the last victory for a car with a normally aspirated engine before the turbocharged cars monopolised the competition.

He switched to Ferrari and won the Belgian Grand Prix in 1984 and the Canadian and German Grands Prix in 1985 when he finished second in the drivers' championship behind Alain Prost.

That was the zenith of his Formula One career. He returned to Tyrrell in 1989 and drove for a succession of teams - Lola, Arrows, Footwork and Minardi - before bowing out of F1 in 1994 and moving to sportscar racing.

**Craig** · 25 Apr 2001, 20:09 (Ref:84955)

Was he testing a race car, or is it a case of another driver risking his life on track and losing his life in a road accident ?

**Craig** · 25 Apr 2001, 20:18 (Ref:84959)

According to Fiorentina1, he was driving an Audi R8 in preparations for Le Mans:

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...&threadid=9155

Sad, sad news

Ralf's Girl · 25 Apr 2001, 20:20 (Ref:84961)

From Atlas F1:

Quote:

Former Formula One driver Michele Alboreto was killed on Wednesday following an accident while testing in Germany.

Alboreto was killed at 17:30 at the Lausitzring circuit in Germany while he was preparing for this year's Le Mans 24 Hour race, driving an Audi R8.

According to the official statement from Audi, Alboreto was driving down the straight of the circuit when a component of the car failed, sending it off the track at high speed.

"We will do everything we can in order to assess the cause of the accident," said Audi Motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich. "We can't understand what happened because that car had already covered thousands of kilometers without a problem."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has been one of the first Formula One members to express his sorrow upon learning the news.

"Alboreto was an important driver in the history of Ferrari, intelligent and always a great development driver," Montezemolo said. "His death hit me very hard and it makes me very sad. Michele was still competing, moved by a great passion, and this demonstrates that our sport, to which he was very much committed, always involves a big risk."

Alboreto started racing in 1976, made his Formula Three debut in 1978 and won the European title in 1980.

The Italian was given his Formula One chance by Tyrrell in 1981 and won his first Grand Prix in Las Vegas the following year.

Alboreto also won the U.S. Grand Prix for Tyrrell in Detroit in 1983, the last victory for a car with a normally aspirated engine before the turbocharged cars monopolised the competition.

He switched to Ferrari and won the Belgian Grand Prix in 1984 and the Canadian and German Grands Prix in 1985 when he finished second in the drivers' championship behind Alain Prost.

That was the zenith of his Formula One career. He returned to Tyrrell in 1989 and drove for a succession of teams -- Lola, Arrows, Footwork and Minardi -- before bowing out of Formula One in 1994 and moving to sportscar racing.

RIP.

**bella** · 25 Apr 2001, 20:26 (Ref:84964)

good grief. all my thoughts are with his family and friends.

Jay · 25 Apr 2001, 20:32 (Ref:84967)

This is always sad. These deaths in motorsport seem to be occuring all too frequently of late. We all know that this is a very risky sport, yet that never makes it any easier when we lose one.

RIP Michele Albereto.

WoodyTJ · 25 Apr 2001, 20:43 (Ref:84974)

What a sad sad day for motorsport

Liz · 25 Apr 2001, 20:44 (Ref:84975)

Another one from my own generation...race on, Albereto and tell them all we don't forget ...

My prayers are with his family and everyone at Joest and Audi.

DNQ · 25 Apr 2001, 20:45 (Ref:84976)

What sad news. Only 44 years old. My condolences go to his family and friends.

Tristan · 25 Apr 2001, 20:46 (Ref:84977)

Oh no. He was one of my favourites when I first started watching F1. One of the most underrated drivers, well, EVER!! Top bloke. Can anyone find any pics of him in action?? I'll go and try to find one. If everyone who posts here could leave a jpeg or something that'd be great.

I know it might seem crass to think about such a thing at this time, but what does that do to Audi's preparations for Le Mans?? Will the pull out?? I mean, you can'thave the car failing at 200mph on the Muslane at 2am can you??

Speed · 25 Apr 2001, 20:58 (Ref:84992)

Another good racer who died on the track... It hurts.

**Craig** · 25 Apr 2001, 20:58 (Ref:84994)

Quote:

Originally posted by Tristan
I know it might seem crass to think about such a thing at this time, but what does that do to Audi's preparations for Le Mans?? Will the pull out?? I mean, you can'thave the car failing at 200mph on the Muslane at 2am can you??

Quite right.

It isn't the time.

Sodemo · 25 Apr 2001, 20:59 (Ref:84995)

ive been told it was at the Lauztring

DNQ · 25 Apr 2001, 21:00 (Ref:84996)

Tristan · 25 Apr 2001, 21:02 (Ref:85001)

Here we go, Michele Alboreto in happier times (behind the wheel of a Minardi, no less!). Whenever somebody dies in our family, one of the first things we do is reach for the photo album so that we can rember the person and see them in happier times. Kinda helps, I feel. Just thought I'd be a nice thing to do whenever a pilote dies, that's all. If we could all leave a jpeg or something I think it would be a nice little place to remeber the person.

So here's to Michele. (and apparently he was a thoroughly nice bloke)

Speed · 25 Apr 2001, 21:04 (Ref:85003)

From: www.autoracing.com.br

**Craig** · 25 Apr 2001, 21:07 (Ref:85006)

Maxmil · 25 Apr 2001, 21:12 (Ref:85012)

He was a fine driver. I saw him win at Detroit in 1983 for Tyrrell. It was the last win for an unblown engine before the turbos came in.

RIP

TimD · 25 Apr 2001, 21:14 (Ref:85013)

He was more spectacular than even Ayrton Senna on his day.

On the three occasions when I saw the two of them racing at the sharp end of the field, Michele was by far the more flamboyant behind the wheel. Perhaps Senna was quicker, but for me the memories will be of the red Ferrari 156/85 plunging down Brands' Paddock Hill Bend, becoming squirrelly under the camber, before it bottomed out, and then - only then, did Michele use the unsettling of the grounded car to snap it back into line, under power all the way, for the following straight.

That was qualifying, the Michele Alboreto way.

He had a chance at that 1985 championship, and it is a perpetual cruelty of our sport that the "nearly" champions are not appreciated for the wins they scored, the points they earned.

Thank you for the memories, Michele Alboreto. I will cherish them always.

Run Free · 25 Apr 2001, 21:15 (Ref:85016)

Ciao, Michele.
Grazie

Suzy · 25 Apr 2001, 21:21 (Ref:85022)

May you rest in peace - you will be sorely missed.

Suzy

Tristan · 25 Apr 2001, 21:22 (Ref:85023)

Pardon me, Craig.

If I remeber correctly, wasn't it Michele who came out of that HORROR crash at San Marino?? 91 I think.

Anyway, keep it up with the gif's and jpegs. I cna't believe what a response we've got! I only posted that request, what, 15 mins ago! Shows what a thoroughly decent bunch of people we've got in this forum (who know a fine competitor when they see one)

Mania · 25 Apr 2001, 21:24 (Ref:85024)

Sad and tragic news..

RIP and my thoughts are with his family..

Tommi · 25 Apr 2001, 21:25 (Ref:85025)

Alboreto, Michele (I)

1978 - Won Italian Fiat Abarth championship (5 wins). 4th in Formula Italia
championship. 4th in only Italian F3 entry
1979 - Runner up in Italian F3. 3 wins, twice second. 6th in European F3 (2nd
Enna, Zolder, 3rd Monza). 2nd in Giro d'Italia Rally (Fiat Ritmo)
1980 - European F3 champion, 4 wins (Osterreichring, La Charte, Monza, Kassel
Calden). 3rd in Italian F3. Sportscars (Lancia), 6th (2nd at Brands,
Mugello, Watkins Glen)
1981 - 12 races for Tyrrell. DNQ=2. Ret=5. No points. Sportscars (Lancia), 1
win (Watkins Glen). Drove for Minardi in F2 (Won at Misano)
1982 - 16 races for Tyrrell. 1 win (Las Vegas, US). 25 points, J7th
in championship. Sportscars (Lancia), 5th, 3 wins (Silverstone,
Nurburgring, Mugello)
1983 - 15 races for Tyrrell. 1 win (US GP).
10 points, J12th.
1984 - 16 races (Ferrari). 1 win (Belgium). 30.5 points, 4th.
1985 - 16 races (Ferrari). 2 wins (Germany, Canada) 53 points, 2nd.
1986 - 16 races (Ferrari). 14 points, J8th.
1987 - 16 races (Ferrari). 15 points
1988 - 16 races (Ferrari). 24 points
1989 - 14 races (6 Tyrrell, 8 Larrousse). 6 points.
1990 - 16 races (Footwork Arrows). 0 points. DNQ=3
1991 - 16 races (Footwork). 0 points. DNQ=7
1992 - 16 races (Footwork). 7 points
1993 - 14 races (Lola). 0 points. DNQ=5.
1994 - 16 races (Minardi). 1 point.
1995 - DTM (Alfa Romeo). Sportscars (Ferrari): 4th Sebring 12hrs
IMSA (Ferrari 333SP): 2nd at Texas World Speedway
1996 - IMSA (Ferrari 333SP): 2nd Sebring. IRL (Scandia Simon Lola Ford T94),
4th Disney World, 3rd New Hampshire (1:37:18.64). Drove Scandia Simon
Ferrari 333SP in Dayton 24hrs (retired). Le Mans 24hrs (Porsche WSC95)
with D.Theys & P.Martini - retired
1997 - Le Mans 24 Hrs (Joest Porsche WSC95) with S.Johansson, T.Kristensen,
1st, 361 laps
1998 - Le Mans 24 Hrs (Porsche LMP1 98): retired/engine electrics, with
S.Johansson & Y.Dalmas. Petit Le Mans (Porsche LMP1-98), 2nd, with
S.Johansson & J.Muller.
1999 - American Le Mans Series (Joest Audi R8R): 3rd Sebring, with R.Capello
& S.Johansson). Le Mans 24 Hrs (Joest Audi R8R): 4th, with R.Capello & L.Aiello.
2000 - ALMS (Joest Audi Sport Audi R8)
Mar 18 Sebring 2nd, R.Capello, A.McNish
Sep 30 Road Atlanta 1st, R.Capello, A.McNish
Le Mans 24 Hrs (Joest Audi Sport Audi R8): 3rd, with C.Abt & R.Capello

--------------------------------------------------

Speaks for it's self doesn't it...... RIP.

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