Corrado Fabi

Corrado Fabi is an Italian former racing driver who recorded 18 participations (12 starts) in the Formula One World Championship in 1983 and 1984. Before entering F1 with Osella Squadra Corse, Fabi was the European Formula 2 champion in 1982 with March.

In 1984, Corrado replaced his older brother Teo in Brabham's F1 team in three Grand Prix events while Teo was busy in the CART Indy Car World Series. Later in the season, Corrado recorded four Indy Car starts with Forsythe Racing. He ended a career in 1984 after father's death to take over a family business.

Corrado Fabi

Starting a career in Formula 3

Born in April 1961 in Milan, Corrado Fabi started to race go-karts at the age 12 but his racing career started in 1979 when he entered the Italian Formula 3 Championship. Driving a March-Toyota, he finished 11th in the points in his rookie season.

Next year, he joined Euroracing to driver March-Alfa Romeo, focusing more on the European F3 Championship and finishing third in the points, behind Michele Alboreto and Thierry Boutsen. Fabi was a race winner two times.

One victory in first Formula 2 season

In 1981, Corrado Fabi graduated to Formula 2 European Championship, driving a March 812-BMW for Roloil Marlboro Team. He was a race winner once, at Mugello, adding three more podiums to his account and finishing fifth in the points.

In 1981, Fabi also made his one-off attempt in the World Sportscar Championship, driving a BMW M1 for BMW Italia at Mugello 6 Hours. He and Christian Danner finished eighth.

Corrado Fabi spent two F2 seasons with Roloil Marlboro-sponsored March team

European Formula 2 champion in 1982

In 1982, Fabi was a race winner five times in the Formula 2 European Championship, including three wins in his home rounds at Mugello, Vallelunga and Misano. At the wheel of March 822-BMW, he won the championship title with a just one-point advantage over teammate Johnny Cecotto. Fabi was the youngest champion in F2 history.

In September, he proved that he was the master of Mugello circuit, scoring a podium at Mugello 1000 Km race, a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. He finished in the second place together with Alessandro Nannini in Martini Racing's #40 Lancia LC1 Spider.

Corrado Fabi was driving the #31 Osela F1 car in 1983

Formula One season with Osella Squadra Corse

In 1983, Corrado Fabi stepped into Formula One World Championship, joining Italian team Osella Squadra Corse to drive the #31 car. They started a season with V8 Cosworth engine and then switched to Alfa Romeo V12 after eight rounds. The results were disappointing with both engines.

In fifteen Grand Prix events, Fabi recorded six DNQs, seven DNFs and finished just two races. He was tenth in the Austrian Grand Prix and eleventh in the Dutch Grand Prix.

Fabi brothers - Corrado (left) and Teo

1984 - sharing cars with brother Teo

In 1984, Corrado Fabi was sharing cars with his brother Teo. The older brother started a season with Brabham's MRD International team, driving the #2 Brabham BT53-BMW in five rounds. Corrado then replaced brother in two Grand Prix events, in Monaco and Canada, recording two DNFs. Corrado was driving the #2 Brabham one more time, in July at Dallas Grand Prix, finishing seventh, nearly missing to score a point.

For the rest of the season, Teo Fabi returned to #2 car but Corrado replaced him in the CART Indy Car World Series, driving the #33 car for Forsythe Racing in four events (Mid-Ohio, Sanair, Phoenix and Caesars Palace). His best result was the sixth place at Phoenix.

Corrado Fabi (in the middle) with his brother Teo and Nelson Piquet

Retiring from racing in 1948 to lead a family business

After F1 and Indy Car attempts in 1984, Corrado Fabi closed his career, focusing on business interests. His father died that year and Corrado had to manage the family transport business.

He briefly re-appeared at race tracks in 1987, joining Genoa Racing in three Formula 3000 events. The results were bad, two DNQs and one DNF, so he definitely retired from racing after that.

Photos: The Cahier Archive, Cor van Veen,