Born in Balcarce, Argentina on 24 June 1911, Fangio’s name will be forever linked with some of the greatest accomplishments in the history of motorsport.

A winner of five Formula One World Championships, Fangio took two of his titles in Maseratis, bringing the most coveted prize in racing back to Maserati’s Modena home in 1954 and 1957.

Fangio will forever be remembered for saving his greatest exploit to win his fifth and final World Championship.

On August 4, 1957, he lost the lead the Nürburgring by pitting for fuel – and unheard-of strategy at the time – but drove the race of his life in a Maserati 250 F to repeatedly smash the lap record, close a 1:48 second gap and overtake the two leading Ferraris for his final Grand Prix victory. At the end of the race, Fangio confessed that he had driven “in a state of grace” and that it was the best he had ever driven in his life.

The son of Italian emigrants to Argentina, Fangio always maintained a special relationship with Italy and, in particular, with Modena and Maserati.

The echo of one of his famous statements still resounds at Maserati’s headquarters in viale Ciro Menotti in Modena:

“I raced and won with cars of all makes, but I always had a special relationship with Maserati. Not only were they safe and reliable cars always on the cutting edge of technology, but there was a relationship of friendship and a special atmosphere between the brand and I.

“I felt at home.”

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