Early Career and Path to Formula 1
Pierluigi Martini was born on April 23, 1961 in Lugo, Italy. Motorsports ran in his family – his uncle Giancarlo Martini was an amateur racer in the 1970s and his younger brother Oliver also pursued a career in racing.
Martini began racing in the junior formulas in Italy in the late 1970s. He competed in Italian Formula Three from 1981 to 1983, winning the championship in his final year with 4 race wins and 8 podium finishes. This earned him the promotion to the European Formula 3 Championship in 1983, which he also won convincingly with 6 wins and 8 podiums.
In 1983, Martini also made a one-off appearance in Formula 2 at the Misano circuit, finishing an impressive 2nd position in his Minardi car. This connection with Minardi team owner Giancarlo Minardi would shape his future Formula 1 career.
The following year, Martini got his first taste of Formula 1 when he was signed by Toleman to replace Ayrton Senna at the 1984 Italian Grand Prix. However, he failed to qualify for what would have been his debut F1 race.
Martini also raced sportscars in 1984, competing at Le Mans in a Lancia LC2 run by Scuderia Jolly Club. However, he did not finish the legendary 24 hour race.
Formula 1 Career with Minardi
In 1985, Pierluigi Martini finally made his full-time debut in Formula 1 after Giancarlo Minardi decided to enter his own team into the world championship. Martini raced for Minardi in their first ever season using the Motori Moderni V6 turbo engine. It was a challenging debut year and Martini finished only 2 of 15 races, with an 8th place in Australia being his best result.
Martini continued racing for Minardi from 1985 to 1991, 1994 and 1995 – spending the majority of his Formula 1 career with the small Italian outfit. The team became renowned as perennial underdogs, usually running customer engines and operating on very limited budgets compared to the large manufacturer teams.
But Minardi attracted a legion of passionate supporters who loved the plucky team for fighting well above their weight class and ability. And Pierluigi Martini was the driver who spearheaded Minardi’s underdog fight, scoring valuable points and landmark results for the team over the years.
Landmark Results for Minardi
Some of Pierluigi Martini’s highlights with Minardi:
- 1988 Detroit GP – Finished 6th to score Minardi’s first ever World Championship point
- 1989 Portuguese GP – Led Minardi’s only lap ever in an F1 race while running in 5th place
- 1990 United States GP – Qualified 2nd position on the grid, Minardi’s best ever qualifying effort in F1
- 1991 San Marino GP – Finished 4th, equaling Minardi’s best ever race result at that time
- 1991 Portuguese GP – Finished 4th again, matching the team’s best F1 finish
Martini raced with Minardi through multiple engine partnerships – first with Motori Moderni turbo V6 engines, then Ford-Cosworth V8s, Ferrari V12s in 1991, and Lamborghini V12s in 1992. He consistently helped Minardi punch above their weight and extracted the maximum from the cars.
Brief Stint with Scuderia Italia
In 1992, Pierluigi Martini moved to Scuderia Italia, another small Italian team, for a single season. He drove the Dallara 192 chassis powered by a Ferrari V12 engine. However, the results were not forthcoming and his best finish was 6th position at the Spanish GP.
So for 1993, Martini went back to Minardi for this third stint with the team. The switch rejuvenated him as he scored points in the opening South African GP with a fine 4th place finish. Over the next races, he added further points scoring finishes – another 4th in Monaco and 6th places at Donington and Imola.
He continued racing for Minardi in 1994 and the first part of 1995. But after 9 races in 1995, Martini and Minardi parted ways in Formula 1 as he stepped away from the sport at the age of 35.
Switch to Sports Cars and Le Mans Success
With his F1 career coming to an end, Pierluigi Martini switched his focus to sports car racing. In 1996 he raced a Porsche WSC-95 for Joest Racing at Le Mans, but did not finish. The following year, he drove a Porsche 911 GT1 to 8th position at Le Mans and also competed in several FIA GT Championship rounds.
In 1998, Martini was signed by BMW Motorsport to race in their brand new Le Mans program. But the maiden outing ended in early retirement. He remained with BMW for 1999 and was entered in the legendary 24 hour race alongside Joachim Winkelhock and Yannick Dalmas.
The trio piloted their BMW V12 LMR to a dominant victory in 1999, with Martini getting his hands on the coveted Le Mans trophy at his 5th attempt. This stands out as the crowning achievement of his post-F1 racing career.
Later Years and Retirement
After the Le Mans win with BMW, Pierluigi Martini briefly raced in American Le Mans Series but soon stepped back from regular racing for a few years.
He made a short-lived comeback in 2006, competing in the Grand Prix Masters series for retired F1 drivers over the age of 45. However, after just 2 races he exited the series and this marked his final professional races as a driver.
In his post-retirement years, Martini has made appearances at historic motorsport events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Minardi collectors events where fans get to see some of the cars he raced in period.
Now in his 60s, the Italian driver will be fondly remembered as Minardi’s stalwart underdog fighter who helped the plucky team take the fight to the mighty F1 establishments during the 80s and 90s. His name became synonymous with the Minardi team’s spirited, passionate approach to racing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many races did Pierluigi Martini start in F1?
Pierluigi Martini started a total of 118 Formula 1 Grand Prix starts between 1984 and 1995.
What teams didPierluigi Martini race for in F1?
He raced for Minardi, Toleman and Scuderia Italia:
- Minardi – 1985 to 1991, 1993 to 1995
- Toleman – Single race in 1984 (Italian GP)
- Scuderia Italia – 1992
When did Pierluigi Martini retire from F1?
He effectively retired from Formula 1 in 1995 after the German Grand Prix held on July 30th of that year. This marked his final F1 race after competing in the world championship regularly since 1984.
What was the biggest success Pierluigi Martini Achieved In F1?
His best results with Minardi were twin 4th place finishes at the 1991 San Marino and Portuguese Grands Prix. These equaled Minardi’s highest ever finish in Formula 1 for several years, but the biggest success was P2 in qualifying to the 1990 Phoenix Grand Prix.