'Consalvo Sanesi' (
28 March 1911,
Terranuova Bracciolini,
Arezzo -
28 July 1998,
Milan) was best known as the
Alfa Romeo works' test driver in the period following
World War II, but he also competed in five
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on
September 3,
1950. Although, on his day, his experience with the cars meant that he was often one of the fastest men on the racetrack, somehow this rarely translated into good results. He scored only 3 championship points. He found some success driving in
sports car racing, continuing into the mid-1960s.
On the 1953
Mille Miglia he posted the fastest stage average speed, 112.8mph, beating greats such as
Nino Farina and
Juan Manuel Fangio, but on this occasion his car let him down and he failed to finish.
[1] A year later he won his class in the
Carrera Panamericana.
Sanesi entered an Alfa Romeo in the November
1954 Pan American race in
Mexico. In the European touring car class of the event he led at one juncture with a total time of 8 hours,
29 minutes, and 24 seconds. He was overtaken by fellow Italian and Alfa Romeo drivers,
Sergio Mantovani and Mario Della Favera.
[2] A couple of days later Sanesi
established a 17 minute lead in his car, with the Alfa Romeo
marque sweeping the first five
positions of the European touring car division.
[3]
He gave up front line racing following a near-death accident during the 1964
12 Hours of Sebring race, when following a crash his
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ burst into flames. Only the prompt and courageous actions of Jocko Maggiocommo, a fellow driver watching at the trackside who dived into the flames and pulled Sanesi clear, saved his life. Sanesi was paired with driver Roberto Businello in the event.
[4]
Maggiacomo received a ''Gentleman of the Road'' award in November 1964 for his effort in rescuing Sanesi. Maggiacomo was a
Poughkeepsie, New York garage attendant. The commendation was presented by the Milan Automobile Club.
[5]
Complete Formula One World Championship Results
()
References
1. Public Proving Ground
2. ''Hill Pacing Mexican Auto Race By 39 Seconds After 657 Miles'', New York Times, November 21, 1954, Page S1.
3. ''Co-Pilot Is Killed In Mexican Event'', New York Times, November 23, 1954, Page 31.
4. ''Race Drivers Picked'', New York Times, March 18, 1964, Page 51.
5. ''Italians Honor U.S. Mechanic'', New York Times,
November 9, 1964, Page 10.