Лелла Ломбарди: Итальянская гонщица и пионер в Формуле-1

Italian racing driver (1941–1992)

Maria Grazia "Lella" Lombardi (26 March 1941 – 3 March 1992) was an Italian racing driver who participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix. Lombardi is one of two female drivers to qualify for Formula One and is the only female driver who scored points in Formula One. Lombardi grew up in Italy and developed an interest in racing by driving a delivery van for her family. Starting in karting and moving to Formula Monza and Formula Three, Lombardi advanced through racing until she reached Formula One. She is the only woman to win points in Formula One, winning half a point in the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix. Lombardi was also the first woman to qualify and compete in the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch and raced in sports cars. She won the 6 Hours of Pergusa and the 6 Hours of Vallelunga. Lombardi's story has impacted generations of racers. Her experience has shaped the involvement of women in racing and how people perceive women in the racing industry.

Lombardi was born in Frugarolo, a small town in Piedmont in Italy. Her father was a butcher, who gave Lella her first job as a delivery driver for the family's shop. At first, Lombardi’s father found her passion for racing hard to accept but embraced it once she finished runner up in a 1968 race. Lella Lombardi was also one of the first female racers in a same sex relationship. Lombardi died of breast cancer in Milan on 3 March 1992. She was 50 years old and was buried in Frugarolo. She was survived by her partner, Fiorenza. Lombardi is commemorated by a sculpture in her birthplace, Frugarolo.

After a brief experience with karting as a child, Lombardi bought her first car in 1965, racing in Formula Monza. She moved on to Formula Three in 1968. In 1974, Lombardi was signed to drive the Shellsport Luxembourg Lola in Formula 5000 and finished fourth. That winter, she met an Italian nobleman, Count Vittorio Zanon, who sponsored her entrance into F1. Lombardi also successfully performed at other races, including the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, where she finished seventh. At the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, Lombardi had a one off drive for Williams. However, she was prevented from starting due to an ignition problem. In 1976, Lombardi was confirmed at March Engineering alongside Brambilla and Stuck. She finished 14th at the Brazilian Grand Prix that year, and subsequently, the team decided to replace her with Ronnie Peterson. Then, Lombardi briefly moved to RAM Racing, her best result being 12th at the Austrian Grand Prix.

In 1974, Lombardi was the first female racing driver to qualify and compete at the Race of Champions in Brands Hatch. She raced a Lola Chevrolet and finished 14th. In the 1975 event, she was once again able to qualify and compete with a March Ford. She was retired after 20 laps.

Lombardi later raced in sports cars. In 1979, she won the 6 Hours of Pergusa and the 6 Hours of Vallelunga. She also competed four times at the 24 hours of Le Mans, where she finished 20th in 1976 in a Lancia Stratos Turbo. Lombardi had also raced in the Firecracker 400 NASCAR race at the Daytona International Speedway in 1977. There were two other female drivers in the field: American Janet Guthrie and Belgian Christine Beckers. Lombardi finished 31st. Lombardi retired from racing in 1988. In 1989, she founded her own racing team, Lombardi Autosport.

Lella Lombardi’s racing career has influenced the perceptions of subsequent generations of women in racing. Lombardi is considered an F1 trailblazer, after which women increasingly joined Formula One in many capacities aside from driving. Journalist Phil Pash reports that though Lombardi viewed racing as a masculine sport, she succeeded regardless because of her 'competitive spirit.' Chadwick argues that for women entering Formula One in 2022, financial support is a greater obstacle than gender. The W series is a women’s racing championship, which eliminates financial barriers, and gives equal opportunity to female racers. Lombardi is credited with making Formula One accessible to women.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pts 1974 ShellSPORT Luxembourg Lola T330 Chevrolet 5.0 V8 BRH MAL SIL OUL BRH ZOL THR ZAN MUG MNZ MAL MON THR BRH OUL SNE MAL BRH 5th 88

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts 1974 Allied Polymer Group Brabham BT42 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT CAN ITA USA NC 0 1975 March Engineering March 741 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA 21st 0.5 Lavazza March March 751 ESP MON BEL SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA Frank Williams Racing Cars Williams FW04 USA 1976 Lavazza March March 761 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON SWE FRA NC 0 RAM Racing with Lavazza Brabham BT44B GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA JPN

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 1974 ShellSPORT Luxembourg Lola T330 Chevrolet 5.0 V8 PRE ROC INT 1975 Lavazza March March 751 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC INT SUI

Year Team Co Drivers Car Class Laps 1975 Elf Switzerland Marie Claude Charmasson Renault Alpine A441 S2.0 20 DNF DNF 1976 Aseptogyl Christine Dacremont Lancia Stratos Ferrari GTP 265 20th 2nd 1977 Inaltera Christine Beckers Inaltera LM Ford Cosworth S+2.0 279 11th 4th 1980 Scuderia Torino Corse Mark Thatcher Osella PA8 BMW S2.0 157 DNF DNF

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Pts 1977 Charles Dean 05 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT N/A 0