21st of November – When Ettore Bugatti died 61 years ago, it seemed a good-bye from the Grands Prix as well for the marque. The company, passed on to his son Roland, didn’t build a proper racecar until 1955. Gioacchino Colombo, hired away from Maserati, designed the mid-engined Bugatti 251 for 2.5-liter Formula 1 rules. It had an odd transversal straight 8 DOHC engine arrangement that saw Maurice Trintignant fighting more with his own car at the French GP that year, than battling for positions with his rivals. After the disaster the car went back to Molsheim and straight to the museum, the final page of Bugatti racing history had been written.
Died: 21st of November 1953 in Silao, Mexico, aged 50.
21/11/1953, Felice Bonetto dies.
Known as ‘the pirate’, Bonetto was a fearless competitor who took no prisoners and was possessed of so much courage that some of his racing exploits placed him in the category of the foolhardy. He won the Portuguese GP in Lisbon and placed third in the Mille Miglia before competing in the gruelling Carrera Panamericana. He lay in second place to Taruffi when he was killed after skidding off the road and crashing into a lamp standard in the village of Silao.
Born: 9th of June 1903 in Brescia, Italy.
Died: 21st of November 1953 in Silao, Mexico, aged 50.
21/11/1943, 64 years ago, Jacques Laffite is born in Paris, France.
Laffite competed in Formula One from 1974 to 1986. He raced in 176 GPs, scoring 6 victories, 7 pole positions, 6 fastest laps for a total of 228 points. A crash right after start at the 1986 British Grand Prix in Brands Hatch ended his career due to severe leg injuries.
