TAZIO NUVOLARI
Tazio Nuvolari won more than 150 races,
including 24 Grands Prix, 2 Mille
Miglias, and Le Mans.
TAZIO NUVOLARI AND
THE MASERATI 8CM
“I LIKE TO DRIVE BUT I DON’T LIKE TO TALK”
TAZIO NUVOLARI
Belgian Grand Prix 1933
Tazio Nuvolari bought the Maserati 8CM Monoposto from Raymond Sommer in 1933. In the same year he had the chassis reinforced at the Belgian Imperia car factory and prepared the car for the Grand Prix championship. Despite driving for Scuderia Ferrari in 1933, he took part in the Belgian Grand Prix of that year in the Maserati. He started far back, but was already in the lead after 1 lap and held that position for the rest of the race. The Bugattis of Varzi and Dreyfus finished second and third respectively.
Tazio Nuvolari
For many, Tazio Nuvolari, born in the small Italian village of Mantovano and herefore also called ‘il Mantovano Volante’ (the flying Mantuan), was the best driver in the world in his time. “The greatest of the past, present and future,” according to Ferdinand Porsche. Despite his career being interrupted by World War II, Nuvolari won more than 150 races, including 24 Grands Prix, two Mille Miglias and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Not only was he one of the greatest drivers ever to race, he was also one of the bravest. Countless broken bones, cuts and burns rarely kept him out of the cockpit for long.
A dull ending
His greatest wish was to die in a racing car. But due to his exceptional talent, this wish was never fulfilled. The Flying Mantuan died in his bed in 1953 at the age of 61. Mantua is home to the Museo Tazio Nuvolari, where his life is literally laid out before you.
Maserati 8CM Monoposto Grand Prix Car
Three famous drivers have driven this first Maserati monoposto (single-seater): Nuvolari, Taruffi and Sommer. After Nuvolari had won the Belgian Grand Prix with it, the car was sold to Piero Taruffi. He took third place in the Coppa Acerbo. Due to changes in the regulations, the car was later used in the South African Grand Prix in 1937 and 1938. The Maserati was acquired by the Louwman Museum in 1988 and the rest is history.