Giannino Marzotto

Count Giannino Marzotto (1928-2012) was an Italian nobleman, entrepreneur and racing driver who is most known because of his two victories at the famous Mille Miglia race, in 1950 and 1953. He scored both wins driving Ferrari cars.

Giannino Marzotto

Starting a racing career on 20th birthday

Born in April 1928 in Valdagno near Vicenza, as one of four sons of Count Gaetano Marzotto, Giannino started his racing career in April 1948, few days before his 20th birthday. He was driving his father's Lancia Aprilia at Targa Florio (Giro di Sicilia), finishing 16th overall and second in T1.5 class. In May 1948, Giannino and his brother Umberto participated together at Mille Miglia, finishing in the 28th place.

Giannino Marzotto continued to race in a Lancia Aprilia for the next two years, scoring some notable results, such were class victories at Targa Florio or Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti.

Giannino Marzotto (right) triumphed at Mille Miglia in 1950

First win at Mille Miglia in a Ferrari 195 S

In April 1950, Giannino was racing in a Ferrari 195 S for the first time at Targa Florio, together with Marco Crosara who became his longstanding co-driver. They didn't finish the race because they stopped to rescue Fabrizio Serena and Mario Theodoli, the crew in the #435 Lancia Aprilia which had an accident.

Three weeks later, Marzotto and Corsara clinched a victory at Mille Miglia in the #724 Ferrari 195 S Berlinetta Touring. They defeated Dorino Serafini and Ettore Salani in another Ferrari 195 S by seven and half minutes. Juan Manuel Fangio finished third in an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500.

Later in 1950, Marzotto scored two more wins. He won Roma 3 Hours in a Ferrari 195 S and Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti in a Ferrari 166 MM.

Italian racing great Giannino Marzotto

Marzotto continued to collect victories in 1951

In 1951, Marzotto continued with good performances not only in sports car races but also gaining some success in Formula 2 races. In June, he won Coppa della Toscana sports car races in a Ferrari 212 Export. Driving the same car, he retired both at Targa Florio and Mille Miglia.

In Formula 2 races, he won Grand Prix de Rouen-les-Essarts and finished third at Grand Premio de Roma in a Ferrari 166.

In 1952, Marzotto was driving Ferrari 340 America, retiring at Giro delle Calabria and finishing second at Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti.

Giannino Marzotto's #547 Ferrari at 1953 Mille Miglia

1953 – victory at Mille Miglia, fifth place at Le Mans 24h

In 1953, Marzotto purchased a Ferrari 340 MM Vignale Spyder in which Luigi Villoresi recently won Targa Florio. Marzotto was racing in that car, carrying the number 547, at Mille Miglia, scoring his second win in the famous race. Partnered with Marco Crosara, he defeated Juan Manuel Fangio in an Alfa Romeo 6C 3000.

In June, Giannino Marzotto made a debut at 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving the factory-entered #15 Ferrari 340 MM Berlinetta together with his brother Paolo. They were only of Scuderia Ferrari crews to finish the race, in the fifth place.

Giannino Marzotto's last race was the 1954 Mille Miglia, in which he was driving factory-entered Ferrari 375 Plus. He retired from the race due to an illness.

Giannino Marzotto (left) and Enzo Ferrari (second right)

Marzotto was Mille Miglia Club president until his death

After retiring from racing, Marzotto focused on business opportunities. He stayed involved in motorsport until his death. He served as a president of the Mille Miglia Club two times, first from 1988 to 1990 and then from 2011 until his death in July 2012. He was also the Honorary President of the Luigi Bonfanti Automobile Museum, which dedicated a permanent section to him.

Photos: Getty Images, vicenzatoday.it, grandprixhistory.org,