Clemente Biondetti was one of those tech-savvy drivers who preferred to tinker with their private cars and compete in races than to submit to large racing teams and the associated team orders. From 1927 on he drove Salmson , Bugatti and Maserati . His strengths have always been the great endurance races, where a good car is less important than driving skills. In 1937 he joined yet the works team of Alfa Romeo in; the victory at the Mille Miglia in 1938 and third place at the Coppa Ciano in the same year were his best results.
After the Second World War he competed in Alfa Romeo and Ferrari and was able to win the prestigious Mille Miglia three more times (1947, 1948 and 1949 ).
After 1950 he concentrated on sports car racing , but cancer affected him so much that he had to retire from racing in 1954. Clemente Biondetti died the following year.
The Italian also competed three times in the Le Mans 24-hour race . In 1938 , when he made his debut, as a partner of Raymond Sommer just before the end of the race he looked like the sure winner when he was twelve laps ahead in an Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring. However, suspension damage after a tire failure prevented success.
Italy
Raymond Summers
José Froilán González
SEB
ONLY
CAP
