Enzo Ferrari

The founder of Scuderia Ferrari and of the Ferrari car company.

Enzo Ferrari (18 February 1898 - 14 August 1988) was an Italian racing driver and businessman who founded Scuderia Ferrari and, later, the Ferrari car company. During his lifetime his team won nine World Drivers' Championships and eight World Constructors' Championships.

Quick Facts

Born: 18 February 1898, Modena
Died: 14 August 1988
Founded: Scuderia Ferrari (1929)
Titles in his lifetime: 9 drivers', 8 constructors'

Facts from the source article.

Background

Born in Modena, he decided to become a racing driver after watching Felice Nazzaro win the 1908 Circuito di Bologna at the age of ten. His father and brother died in 1916, and he was discharged from the army after falling ill in the 1918 flu pandemic. He became a test driver for CMN in Milan, made his racing debut in a 1919 hillclimb, and went on to race for Alfa Romeo before founding Scuderia Ferrari in 1929. He was widely known as il Commendatore, and as il Drake, a name British rivals gave him after Francis Drake.