Umberto Maglioli

Birthday : 1928-06-05
Deceased : 1999-02-07

One of several drivers of the ’50s and ’60s who excelled in sports and GT cars, Maglioli never quite made it in Grand Prix racing. Born in Biella, Italy in 1928, he was introduced to racing by the legendary Giovanni Bracco and accompanied him on several Mille Miglias and Targa Florios. In 1953 he won the Targa (single-handed) for the first time, in a Lancia, and also the Pescara 12hr race, driving a Ferrari with Mike Hawthorn.

His best year, 1954, was also his worst, for in Ferrari sportscars he won the Buenos Aires 1000Km, the Supercortemaggiore 1000Km (with Hawthorn) and the Carrera PanAmericana, but in F1 he was landed with the troublesome Squalo, which he claimed killed his Grand Prix career. Midway through 1955 he was invited to join Maserati, but Ferrari refused to let him go.

1968 Targa Florio Vic Elford Umberto Maglioli Porsche 907
Vic Elford / Umberto Maglioli – Porsche 907 #224

He joined Porsche in 1956 and won the Targa Florio, again single-handed, but the following year an accident put him out of action for 18 months. In 1957 Umberto Maglioli took fourth overall, and was class winner, in the Nurburgring 1000Kms though retired from the German GP, which was his final world championship GP. Unfortunately he later crashed his Porsche during a hillclimb in Austria and his leg injuries were so severe that doctors feared he may not walk again.Despite this, he recovered and eventually returned to the Ferrari team in 1963. There were third place finishes at the Nurburgring and Le Mans (with Mike Parkes) plus the following year he and Parkes took victory in the Sebring 12 Hours in a 275P.

In 1964 he won the Sebring 12hrs for Ferrari and in 1968 scored his third Targa victory (this time with Vic Elford) in a Porsche 907. The unassuming and charming Maglioli retired from racing in 1970.
After retiring Maglioli had a business  in Lugano (Italy) making exclusive watches.

Pictures courtesy unknown and Porsche AG.