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| Cesare Fiorio | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cesare Fiorio |
| Birth date | 1 June 1939 |
| Birth place | Turin |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Occupation | Racing driver; Team manager; Motorsport director |
Cesare Fiorio (born 1 June 1939) is an Italian former racing driver, team manager, and motorsport director known for roles with Lancia, Ferrari, and Scuderia Italia. Over a career spanning touring cars, sports cars, World Rally Championship, and Formula One, he worked alongside figures such as Mauro Forghieri, Sandro Munari, Miki Biasion, Nigel Mansell, and organizations including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Automobile Club d'Italia, and Federazione Italiana Sport Automobilistici.
Born in Turin, Fiorio began competing in regional events amid Italy's postwar motorsport resurgence tied to manufacturers like Lancia, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Abarth. He raced in endurance events associated with circuits such as Monza, Mugello, Vallelunga, and Imola, often against drivers like Piero Taruffi, Emilio Bertolli, Giuseppe Farina, and contemporaries from Ferrari and Lotus. Fiorio competed in touring and GT machinery related to marques including Maserati, Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, participating in races connected to series organized by bodies like Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and events in calendars with rounds at Spa-Francorchamps, Nürburgring, Le Mans, and Targa Florio. His driving experience informed later technical and managerial collaborations with engineers from Autodelta, Bertone, and Pininfarina.
Fiorio moved from cockpit to management during the 1960s and 1970s, aligning with corporate motorsport programs at Abarth, Fiat, and Lancia. He coordinated test programs involving facilities such as Balocco Proving Ground and worked with technical directors including Luciano Pederzani and Giovanni Michelotti. In management he interfaced with sanctioning bodies like Commission Sportive Internationale and promotional entities including Motorsport Magazine and Autosport. His administrative role connected him to commercial partners such as Pirelli, Magneti Marelli, SKF, and Shell, while liaising with promoters of events like the Sanremo Rally, RAC Rally, Safari Rally, and Acropolis Rally.
As head of the Lancia competition department, Fiorio oversaw campaigns of the Lancia Stratos, Lancia 037, and Lancia Delta S4, managing drivers including Sandro Munari, Miki Biasion, Hannu Mikkola, Markku Alén, and Attilio Bettega. Under his direction Lancia contested the World Rally Championship organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and achieved titles that involved engineers from Mauro Forghieri-linked circles and preparers such as Martini Racing. He negotiated homologation with FIA Group A and FIA Group B regulations and coordinated logistics across European stages like Monte Carlo Rally, Rallye Sanremo, RAC Rally, and Rally Argentina. His tenure intersected with manufacturer rivals including Ford, Peugeot, Toyota, Opel, and Audi Sport, and with media coverage by outlets like BBC Sport, La Gazzetta dello Sport, and Autosport.
In 1989 Fiorio succeeded Derek Warwick-era administrators to become sporting director and team manager at Ferrari, overseeing Formula One operations at Autodromo Nazionale Monza and Ferrari's Maranello facility. He managed driver line-ups featuring Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Gerhard Berger, Michele Alboreto, and Jean Alesi, and worked with engineers including John Barnard, Mauro Forghieri, and Sergio Pininfarina-connected designers. Fiorio negotiated with engine suppliers and partners such as Marlboro, Shell, Goodyear, and Magneti Marelli, and oversaw chassis development against competition from McLaren, Williams, Benetton, Lotus, and Jordan Grand Prix. His period included entries at grands prix like the Monaco Grand Prix, British Grand Prix, Hungarian Grand Prix, and Italian Grand Prix, and involved interactions with regulatory bodies including the FIA and figures such as Jean-Marie Balestre.
After Ferrari, Fiorio led Scuderia Italia, collaborating with founders linked to Dallara and drivers from Formula 3000 and Formula Three ladders such as Emanuele Pirro, Andrea de Cesaris, Mika Salo, and Pedro Lamy. He later managed programs in sportscar racing with entries in FIA World Sportscar Championship events and endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Daytona 24 Hours, engaging with constructors such as Courage Compétition and sponsors like Martini & Rossi. Fiorio also advised teams interacting with series promoters including FIA GT Championship and International Formula 3000, and worked with manufacturers such as Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini, and Mercedes-Benz Motorsport on development and competition strategies.
Following active management Fiorio became a motorsport commentator and public figure, appearing in broadcasts with RAI, Sky Italia, Eurosport, and contributing to publications such as La Repubblica, Corriere della Sera, and Autosprint. He received recognition from Italian institutions including the Automobile Club d'Italia and honors tied to motorsport heritage organizations such as Ferrari Museum and events at Maranello. Fiorio has participated in ceremonies with personalities like Enzo Ferrari-era veterans, attended anniversaries at the Monza Circuit, and been honored by regional bodies in Piedmont and national award committees including those associated with CONI and Federazione Italiana Sport Automobilistici.
Category:Italian motorsport people Category:1939 births Category:Living people