Alessandro Giuseppe "Alex" Caffi[1] (born 18 March 1964)[2] is an Italian racing driver, former Formula One driver, and team owner.[3] He participated in 75 Grands Prix, debuting on 7 September 1986.[4] In 2006 he raced in the inaugural season of the Grand Prix Masters formula for retired Formula One drivers.[5] He currently serves as the team owner of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series team Academy Motorsport and had acted as an owner-driver during the team's previous guise as Alex Caffi Motorsport.
Caffi was handed his Formula One debut by Osella, at his, and the team's home race, the Italian Grand Prix,[6] in place of Canadian Allen Berg.[7] Qualifying 27th[8] and last in his FA1H (because of a quirk where for this race, and the following one in Portugal, 27 cars were allowed to start) Caffi drove sensibly and steadily to stay out of trouble and come home last of the runners, albeit six laps down[9] and unclassified.
1987
Osella were impressed by his sensible approach, and signed him for a full season in 1987.[5] The Alfa Romeo-powered FA1I was uncompetitive and unreliable; Caffi finished no races out of 16 and failed to qualify twice, though he was classified once.[8] At the opening round, the Brazilian Grand Prix, Caffi retired after 21 laps due to exhaustion[8] as the heat and physically demanding nature of the car proved too much.
As the season drew to a close, Caffi failed to qualify for two of the final four races in Spain and Australia, bookending retirements in Mexico, where he ran as high as 7th due to attrition, and Japan where he ran out of fuel.[8] Despite finishing so few races, none were down to driver error, though Caffi was unclassified in the Drivers' Championship.[10]
1988
1988 saw Caffi switch to the new Scuderia Italia team.[6] Early season form was thin. Their challenger for the season, the Dallara built and Ford-Cosworth powered F188 was not ready for the first race in Brazil, so to fulfil the championship's requirements of entering every race, a modified Formula 3000 car, the 3087, was used as a stop-gap.[11] Not surprisingly, Caffi failed to pre-qualify.[8]
The new car arrived in time for San Marino, but fortunes failed to improve as Caffi retired[8] and an excellent 17th in qualifying at Monaco[8] was ruined when he crashed all alone on the opening lap, the first blot on his career copybook. Caffi's third retirement in a row in Mexico[8] and failure to qualify in Canada[8] only added to the nightmare.
Mid-season though saw a turnaround in both Caffi's, and the team's season, with four finishes on the spin; 8th in the United States, 12th in France after qualifying 14th, 11th in Great Britain and 15th in Germany after qualifying 19th.[8]
Form during the following five races was patchy. Three top-10 finishes; 8th in Belgium after qualifying 15th, 7th in Portugal (his best career finish at the time) after qualifying 17th and 10th in Spain after qualifying 18th, were scattered around a couple of retirements; in Hungary where he qualified in the top-10 for the first time in 10th, and Italy.[8]
1988 concluded with a brace of retirements in Japan, where he spun off, and after qualifying 11th in Australia.[8] For the second season in a row Caffi was unclassified in the Drivers' Championship.[10]
Scuderia Italia expanded to a two-car outfit for the 1989 season, with fellow Italian Andrea de Cesaris in the second Pirelli shod F189.[12] As with the previous year, Caffi failed to pre-qualify for the opening round in Brazil,[8] but San Marino, next on the calendar, saw Caffi qualify 9th and finish just outside the points in 7th.[8]
Momentum continued onto Monaco with another top-10 in qualifying, 9th,[8] followed by the first Formula One points for himself and the team with an excellent drive to 4th.[5] 13th in Mexico was followed by retirement in the United States,[8] when Caffi, who qualified 6th[8] and at one stage was running 2nd[5] only to Alain Prost, was pushed into the wall rather comically whilst trying to lap teammate Andrea de Cesaris.[5]
A second points finish of 6th in Canada[8] was another highlight but Caffi's season rarely peaked after that with just two finishes in the final 10 races; 7th in Hungary (after qualifying a stunning 3rd) and 9th in Japan.[8]
Failure to finish in France, Germany, Belgium, after spinning off, Italy, Portugal where he qualified 7th then collided with three-time World Drivers' Champion Nelson Piquet, Spain and Australia, where he qualified 10th before spinning off, along with a failure to pre-qualify in Great Britain rounded off an inconsistent year.[8] Four points and 19th in the Drivers' Championship were Caffi's rewards.[10]
1990s
1990
Caffi, by now gaining a reputation as a promising talent, was tempted to Arrows for 1990[5] as Japan's Footwork Corporation were investing in the team throughout the year (to the extent that Arrows was renamed Footwork from 1991 to 1996) and Porsche had agreed to supply engines to the squad. Caffi was signed to drive the second A11 alongside another Italian, 1985 World Drivers' Championship runner-up Michele Alboreto.[13]
Injury caused by a pre-season cycling accident forced Caffi to sit out the opening race in the United States, with German Bernd Schneider filling the gap.[14] Retirement in Brazil and failure to qualify in San Marino[8] only compounded Caffi's woes.
The following four races were patchy with a 5th, and two points, in Monaco followed by an 8th in Canada, failure to qualify in Mexico and retirement in France.[8] Five consecutive top-10 finishes mid-season; in Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Belgium and Italy brought about a consistency to Caffi's performance.[8]
His, and everybody's, Portuguese Grand Prix was ended early when he crashed into the Lola of Aguri Suzuki[15] and the resulting foot injuries ruled Caffi out of the next race, Spain, with Schneider once again deputising.[16]
Another positive performance of 9th in Japan was cancelled out by failure to qualify for the final round in Australia.[8] Over the course of the season Caffi scored all the team's points and outperformed the more experienced Alboreto to end 1990 with two points and 16th in the Drivers' Championship.[10]
1991
As Caffi's career gradually rose in stock throughout the previous year, 1991 looked promising for the Italian. Unfortunately, the season turned out to be anything but. The Porsche 3512V12 was cumbersome and underpowered, whilst both cars, the A11C and the FA12 were little better.[17]
For the first time in his Formula One career, Caffi failed to qualify for any of the opening four races; in the United States, Brazil, San Marino, and Monaco.[8]
The latter would be best remembered for a huge crash in practice,[5] when Caffi slid off line and into the barriers at the Swimming Pool series of corners. The impact was so heavy, the car broke in three; the gearbox and rear wing broke free from the engine, which in turn came clear of the tub.[17] Despite suffering no serious injuries as a result of the crash,[17] Caffi was injured shortly after in a road accident.[5]
As a result, Footwork drafted in Stefan Johansson for the races in Canada, Mexico, France and Great Britain[18] and when Caffi returned to fitness, he discovered the team were trying to keep the Swede on. He managed to regain his seat via a legal injunction, but the struggles re-commenced with failure to qualify in Belgium compounded by pre-qualification failures in Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Spain.[8]
The season ended on a slightly higher note, as Caffi finished 10th in Japan and kept his head above water to finish 15th in the deluge in Australia.[8] A season of catastrophe yielded no points and no classification in the Drivers' Championship.
1992
Footwork signed Aguri Suzuki to partner Michele Alboreto ahead of the 1992 season[4] and Caffi was, rather abruptly, shown the door. With little time to find a drive, and most seats taken, he had no option but to sign for the new Andrea Moda team,[5] alongside Italian Enrico Bertaggia. The team, owned by shoe-magnate and playboy Andrea Sassetti, had bought out the Coloni squad in 1991 and planned to use their C4 chassis with Judd V10 power for the new season.[19]
However, registration problems with the FIA (involving Sassetti's refusal to pay the $100,000 entrance fee for new teams) meant that Caffi managed no more than a few exploratory laps at the South African Grand Prix, the opening round of 1992.[19] Before the next round in Mexico, the team's new car, the Nick Wirth-designed S921, was built and prepared but freight delays forced Sassetti to withdraw both Caffi and Bertaggia from the Mexican event.[19]
After two races Caffi had had enough, voiced his displeasure of the situation and was fired by Sassetti, with Brazilian super-sub Roberto Moreno taking his seat.[19] No points from both races meant no classification in the Drivers' Championship, but more significantly, it signalled the end of the Italian's Formula One career at the age of 28.
Later life
After F1 he raced on and off in sports and touring cars, mainly in the United States, where in 1998 he had an IRL test at Pikes Peak Raceway.[6] After a brief career in Spanish and Italian Touring Cars,[2] Caffi found his niche in sportscars, racing in GTs,[2]FIA Sportscar, and ALMS. He returned to International motorsport in the IRC Rally Monte-Carlo 2011, driving a Skoda Fabia S2000. 25 years after his Formula 1 career Italian Alex Caffi won on the streets of the Principality during the Monaco Grand Prix Historique 2016. Caffi was one of the high-profile winners during the 10th running of the GP Historique when he guided the Kessel Racing Ensign N176 to victory in the Pre 1977 3-litre F1 race.
In 2016, Caffi formed his own racing team Alex Caffi Motorsport. Alex Caffi Motorsport entered the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series on the same year as its formation, competing on a part-time basis for its debut season before stepping up to full-time competition in 2017.[20] The team took part in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series under the Alex Caffi Motorsport guise for five seasons before it was rebranded to Academy Motorsport in 2021 after entrepreneur Federico Monti became the co-owner of the team.[21] Academy continues to compete in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series to this day,[2] currently fielding the #1 Ford Mustang and #5 EuroNASCAR FJ 2020 in both EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2.[22][23]
When he is not racing he is an instructor at the official Subaru Italia safety driving and racing school.[6]
Michele Alboreto was an Italian racing driver. He was runner up to Alain Prost in the 1985 Formula One World Championship, as well as winning the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans and 2001 12 Hours of Sebring sports car races. Alboreto competed in Formula One from 1981 until 1994, racing for a number of teams, including five seasons (1984–88) for Ferrari.
Nicola Larini is an Italian racing driver. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 6 September 1987. He finished second in the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix on a substitute outing for Ferrari, but only scored points once more in his career. He enjoyed greater success in touring car racing, primarily for Alfa Romeo.
Roberto Pupo Moreno, usually known as Roberto Moreno and also as Pupo Moreno, is a Brazilian former racing driver. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 15 championship points. He raced in CART in 1986, and was Formula 3000 champion before joining Formula One full-time in 1989. He returned to CART in 1996 where he enjoyed an Indian summer in 2000 and 2001, and managed to extend his career in the series until 2008. He also raced in endurance events and GT's in Brazil, but now works as a driver coach and consultant, and although this takes up a lot of his time, he is not officially retired yet, as he appears in historic events. Away from the sport, he enjoys building light aeroplanes.
Andrea Moda Formula was a Formula One team that competed during the 1992 Formula One World Championship. The team was owned by Italian shoe designer Andrea Sassetti, who named the team after his company. The team contested nine races but managed to only qualify for one. Statistically, and by general perception, Andrea Moda is widely considered to be one of the poorest constructors to ever enter Formula One.
Shadow Racing Cars was a Formula One and sports car racing team, founded and initially based in the United States although later Formula One operations were run from the British base in Northampton. The team held an American licence from 1973 to 1975 and a British licence from 1976 to 1980, thus becoming the first constructor to officially change its nationality. Their only F1 victory, at the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix, was achieved as a British team.
Borja García Menéndez is a Spanish racing driver. He last competed in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, having last driven for Alex Caffi Motorsport in a part-time effort in 2018. He was the 2004 Spanish Formula Three champion, and raced in the inaugural GP2 Series season.
Patrick Lemarié is a French auto racing driver born February 6, 1968, in Paris. He currently competes in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, driving the No. 5 car for Academy Motorsport in the EuroNASCAR PRO class having previously competed for FEED Vict Racing and DF1 Racing. The son of Jean Pierre Lemarié (1941–2016), he spent four years performing testing work for the British American Racing Formula One team but was never considered for a race seat due to his lack of experience. Lemarié's manager, Craig Pollock, hired him to drive for the new PK Racing Champ Car team in 2003. He scored two tenth-place finishes in the first two events but was replaced after six races for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca expert Bryan Herta. Lemarié has also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans series, Indy Lights, Toyota Atlantic and Formula 3000.
Christophe Bouchut is a French professional racing driver. He currently competes in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, driving for Dexwet-df1 Racing and Alex Caffi Motorsport in a part-time effort. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1993. He was named as the first driver for the F1 Larrousse team for the 1995 season, but the team withdrew before the first race.
Racing Engineering is a Spanish racing team founded in 1999 by Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón that currently competes in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. The team's headquarters are located in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, near Jerez, where all car preparation and race team organization is based. The team has won 12 championship in many categories including Spanish Formula 3, World Series by Nissan, and GP2 Series.
Alon Day is an Israeli professional stock car racing driver. He last competed in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, driving the No. 24 Chevrolet SS for PK Carsport and is a four-time champion in the series. Day is the first Israeli driver to compete in an IndyCar-sanctioned series, and is also the first Israeli to compete in one of NASCAR's top three touring series.
The Coloni C4 is a Formula One car designed by Christian Vanderpleyn for the Coloni team for use in the 1991 Formula One season, although it never qualified for a race and was the slowest car in the field.
CAAL Racing is an Italian racing team based in Todi, Province of Perugia that currently competes in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. The team has won the Elite 1 championship twice in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series as well as winning the team championship five times in the defunct Superstars Series. The team priorly fielded the No. 54 Chevrolet Camaro for Gianmarco Ercoli and Luli del Castello, the No. 56 Chevrolet Camaro for Nicolò Rocca and Gil Linster, and the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro for Max Lanza and Alberto "Naska" Fontana and is currently fielding the No. 54 Chevrolet Camaro for Gianmarco Ercoli and Alberto "Naska" Fontana, the No. 56 Chevrolet Camaro for Marc Goossens and Sven van Laere, and the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro for Max Lanza and Roberto Benedetti.
The 2019 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is the eleventh Racecar Euro Series season, and the seventh under the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series branding. Alon Day and Ulysse Delsaux entered the season as the defending champion in the Elite 1 and Elite 2 category respectively, however Delsaux will not defend his title as he will move up to Elite 1 for the 2019 season.
Kenko Miura is a Japanese racing driver who last competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 33 Toyota Tundra for Reaume Brothers Racing. Miura previously competed in the Asian Formula 3 Series and the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. Miura has competed in a total of 22 Euro Elite 1 races since 2017 and in 17 Euro Elite 2 races between 2017 and 2018. He won the 2018 Challenger's Trophy over Dario Caso.
Ulysse Delsaux is a French professional racing driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, driving the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro for RDV Competition in both the EuroNASCAR PRO and the EuroNASCAR 2 class. He is a one-time champion in the Euro Series, having won the EuroNASCAR 2 championship in 2018.
The 2020 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is the twelfth Racecar Euro Series season, and the eighth under the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series branding. Loris Hezemans and Lasse Sørensen entered the season as the defending champion in the EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2 category respectively, although Sørensen will not defend his title as he moved up to the EuroNASCAR PRO class in 2020. Hendriks Motorsport will enter the season as the defending team's champion.
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