Adolfo Mandirola
Adolfo Mandirola, also known as Adolphe Mandirola (1896–1958),[1] was a Swiss racing driver active either side of the Second World War.
Career
[edit]Mandirola's specialism was in hillclimbing, and he finished third in the 5000cc sportscar category at the prestigious La Turbie hillclimb in 1936, in a Maserati, behind future Grand Prix winner Jean-Pierre Wimille and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Raymond Sommer.[2] His entries were via the team name Ecurie Genevoise.[3]
He first appeared at an international race in 1937, finishing 7th at the Turin Grand Prix in a Maserati V8RI. He took part in the 1937 and 1938 Swiss Grands Prix and 1937 Eifelrennen in a Maserati 8CM, retiring from all.[4]
In 1939 tried his hand at the Belgian Grand Prix, in which he also retired, having managed to push Georg Meier into a ditch.[5] His last pre-war Grand Prix appearance was at the 1939 German Grand Prix; he was running last on lap 11, already having made four pit-stops, when he ran out of fuel behind the pits, and had a can of fuel handed to him to top up. This was against the regulations and he was disqualified.[6]
Mandirola had a handful of unsuccessful races in 1947, splitting between a Maserati 4CL and Maserati 6CM,[7] before stepping back from elite sport; he raced in hillclimbs in his re-bodied 8CM[8] until the mid-1950s.
References
[edit]- ↑ "Archives d'Etat du Génève Rapport Annuel 2023" (PDF). archives-etat-ge. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "1 - 4 Courses de côte". Les Pétanos de Volcans. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "Grand Prix de Suisse". L'Auto: 3. 17 August 1937.
- ↑ "Drivers (M)". Golden Era of GP Racing. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ Nixon, Chris (1986). Racing the Silver Arrows. London: Osprey. p. 303.
- ↑ Etzrodt, Hans; Snellman, Leif. "Caracciola wins the German Grand Prix for the sixth time". Golden Era of Grand Prix racing. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "Adolfo Mandirola". StatsF1. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ Tragatsch, Erwin (1970). Das große Rennfahrerbuch. Berne: Hallwag. pp. 209–10.