Former Ferrari engineer Mauro Forghieri has died

He is a Ferrari legend. Not as a driver, but as an engineer. For over 20 years, he has been the genius behind the Scuderia, creating numerous racing wonders and bringing glory back to Maranello.

Born in 1935, in Modena (Italy), he studied at the University of Bologna and joined Ferrari in 1960 as an intern in the engine department. Two years later, he was promoted to the position of technical director of the racing team. He would hold this position until 1984.

For 22 years, Mauro Forghieri will create some of the most beautiful and impressive cars in the history of Formula 1. It all started in the 1964 season when John Surtees became champion driving his car.

4 driver titles and 7 constructors.

He was also behind the 312 B3, then the 312 T and 312 T2, made famous by Niki Lauda. With these cars, the Austrian driver won two championships in 1975 and 1977, after several years of drought. “Forghieri was undoubtedly a phenomenal engineer,” said Niki Lauda.

Jody Scheckter brought him one last driver’s title in 1979. The Italian should have won another world championship in 1982 with his duo Pironi-Villeneuve, but fate was cruel to this team. One died at the wheel and the other crushed his legs at Hockenheim.

After about fifty successes with his longtime team, he left the firm in 1987 following the recruitment of several engineers, reducing his internal influence. He then ended his career at Lamborghini and later Bugatti. At the French automaker, he was in charge of the development of the EB110.