Emanuele Pirro


Emanuele Pirro is an Italian racing driver who has raced in Formula One, touring cars and in endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans which he has won a total of five times. Two times Italian Karting Champion, Formula Fiat Abarth Champion, two times Italian Touring Car Champion, two times Italian Overall Champion, German Touring Car Champion, he also achieved records in endurance racing that place him amongst the best in the discipline, including; five wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two times ALMS Champion, two times winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring, three times winner of Petit Le Mans, winner of the 24 Hours Nürburgring, two times winner of the Macau Guia Race and two times winner of the Goodwood RAC Historic TT. He has taken part in over 500 official national and international races.

Personal life

He was born in Rome, however he traces his roots to the small town of Latera near Viterbo through his mother's family. He is married to Marlene, with whom he has two sons, Cristoforo, born in 1993 and Goffredo, born in 1996.

Career

He began racing cars in 1980 after having raced seven years in go-karts, where he was two time Italian Champion and runner up in both the European and the World Karting Championships. He went on to win races in all the feeder series he competed in including F3, F3000 and Formula Nippon.

Formula One

In 1988 he was contracted by McLaren to become test driver to develop the new Honda powertrain for the MP4/4, staying on in that role for the following 3 seasons.
His racing career in F1 started at the 1989 French Grand Prix for the Benetton-Ford team, replacing Johnny Herbert who was still recovering from injuries sustained in a F3000 accident. For the 1990 and 1991 seasons, he raced for BMS Scuderia Italia.

Touring cars

Together with his single seater commitments he raced as a factory driver for BMW in touring car racing up until 1993. He raced and won in ETCC, WTCC, Italian Supertouring and DTM. In DTM he became one of the only drivers to win in his debut in the series. Notably, he won the 24 Hours Nürburgring, the Macau Guia Race twice, and the Wellington 500 four times, with the legendary BMW M3 E30 and team Schnitzer. After leaving BMW in 1993 he joined Audi to win the 1994 and 1995 Italian Touring Car Championships followed by the German Touring Car Championship in 1996. Between the years of 1994 and 1996 racing in the Italian and German Supertouring championships, he contested a total of 70 races finishing only once outside of the top 10 after being taken out at the start in 1994 at the Salzburgring.

Sportscars

After his debut in endurance races at the young age of 19 winning in his class with the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Gr.5 at the 24 Hours of Daytona, winning the Kyalami 9 Hours and a terrible experience at Le Mans the same year, he scarcely participated in these races except sporadic appearances in Japan, first with a Nissan Gr.C at the Fuji 1000 km and with a Porsche 962 Gr.C at the Suzuka 1000 km. That is until his return to Le Mans in 1998 with a McLaren F1 alongside Dindo Capello and Thomas Bscher ending with a retirement. In 1999 Audi unveiled the R8R with which he scored his first of a record breaking nine consecutive podiums at the French classic. In 2000 along with Tom Kristensen and Frank Biela he scored the first of three consecutive wins with the new Audi R8. In 2006 together with Frank Biela and Marco Werner he became the first driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel car, repeating the win in the following year. In 2008 he announced the end of his racing career with Audi sportscars. Between the years of 1999 and 2008 he won five 24 Hours of Le Mans, two ALMS championships, two 12 Hours of Sebring and three Petit Le Mans. After 2008 he competed in a number of additional races including a 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans with Drayson Racing in a Lola-Judd LMP1 car, the 24 hours of the Nuerburgring with an Audi R8 GT3, the 2011 Gold Coast 500 in the Australian V8 Supercars Championship.

After racing

In 2010 he won the “X-Prize Competition 100mpg-e” with Edison2.
He regularly competes in historic racing.
In roles still linked to motorsport, he serves as a Brand Ambassador for Audi, and is a member of; FIA Drivers’ Commission, FIA Circuits’ Commission, FIA Historic Motorsport Commission, ACI Circuits and Safety Commission. In addition, he is the President of the Italian Karting Commission, and Vice President of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Club and the Club des Pilotes des 24 Heures du Mans. He is also a Steward for F1 races, TV pundit and is a frequent guest speaker at events hosted by multinational companies.
He owns the Faloria Mountain Spa Resort, a 5-star hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Finally he has been a regular player for over 25 years in the Nazionale Piloti football team and the “Star Team for the Children” for Prince Albert of Monaco as well as taking part in other charity events.

Race results

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011Pts
Onyx Race EngineeringMarch 842BMWSIL
6		HOC
4		THR
4		VAL
12		MUG
4		PAU
Ret		HOC
Ret		MIS
Ret		PER
6		DON
2		BRH
6		6th18

Complete International Formula 3000 results

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789101112Pts
1985Onyx RacingMarch 85BCosworthSIL
7		THR
1		EST
4		NÜR
C		VAL
1		PAU
2		SPA
Ret		DIJ
Ret		PER
2		ÖST
4		ZAN
5		DON
Ret		3rd38
1986Onyx RacingMarch 86BCosworthSIL
2		VAL
3		PAU
2		SPA
19		IMO
Ret		MUG
6		PER
13		ÖST
Ret		BIR
Ret		BUG
1		JAR
2		3rd29

Complete Japanese Formula 3000 Championship results

YearEntrant1234567891011DCPts
1988Team LeMansSUZ
9		FUJ
5		MIN
2		SUZ
4		SUG
2		FUJ
4		SUZ
3		SUZ
4		3rd25
1989Team LeMansSUZ
5		FUJ
Ret		MIN
Ret		SUZ
1		SUGFUJSUZSUZ6th11
1991Team HayashiSUZAUTFUJMINSUZSUGFUJSUZFUJ
C		SUZFUJNC0

Complete Formula One results

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft/Masters results

YearTeamCar123456789101112131415161718192021222324Pts
1989BMW M Team SchnitzerBMW M3 EvoZOL
1		ZOL
2		HOC
1		HOC
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		MFA
1		MFA
2		AVU
1		AVU
2		NÜR
1
DNS		NÜR
2
DNS		NOR
1		NOR
2		HOC
1		HOC
2		DIE
1		DIE
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		HOC
1		HOC
2		NC0
1990Schnitzer MotorsportBMW M3 Sport EvoZOL
1		ZOL
2		HOC
1		HOC
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		AVU
1		AVU
2		MFA
1		MFA
2		WUN
1		WUN
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		NOR
1		NOR
2		DIE
1		DIE
2		NÜR
1
1		NÜR
2
3		HOC
1
7		HOC
2
11		15th36
1992BMW M Team BigazziBMW M3 Sport EvoZOL
1
6		ZOL
2
3		NÜR
1
14		NÜR
2
3		WUN
1
Ret		WUN
2
16		AVU
1
23		AVU
2
3		HOC
1
10		HOC
2
Ret		NÜR
1
21		NÜR
2
10		NOR
1
6		NOR
2
8		BRN
1
3		BRN
2
Ret		DIE
1
Ret		DIE
2
Ret		ALE
1
6		ALE
2
10		NÜR
1
Ret		NÜR
2
8		HOC
1
9		HOC
2
5		12th85
2004Audi Sport Team JoestAudi A4 DTM 2004HOC
7		EST
11		ADR
9		LAU
6		NOR
9		SHA1
Ret		NÜR
11		OSC
15		ZAN
7		BRN
5		HOC
Ret		11th11

1 – A non-championship one-off race was held in 2004 at the streets of Shanghai, China.

Complete Italian Touring Car Championship results

YearTeamCarClass1234567891011121314151617181920Pts
1992CiBiEmme EngineeringBMW M3 Sport EvolutionS1MNZ
1
4		MNZ
2
3		MAG
1
3		MAG
2
1		MUG
1		MUG
2		BIN
1		BIN
2		VAL
1
4		VAL
2
3		IMO
1		IMO
2		MIS
1
Ret		MIS
2
6		PER
1		PER
2		VAR
1		VAR
2		MNZ
1		MNZ
2		6th82
1993Scuderia BigazziBMW 318iMNZ
1		MNZ
2		VAL
1		VAL
2		MIS
1		MIS
2		MAG
1		MAG
2		BIN
1		BIN
2		IMO
1		IMO
2		VAR
1		VAR
2		MIS
1		MIS
2		PER
1
5		PER
2
4		MUG
1
4		MUG
2
Ret		13th28
1994Audi Sport ItaliaAudi 80 QuattroMNZ
1
2		MNZ
2
2		VAL
1
10		VAL
2
1		MAG
1
1		MAG
2
1		BIN
1
1		BIN
2
1		MIS
1
4		MIS
2
4		VAL
1
2		VAL
2
1		MUG
1
4		MUG
2
2		PER
1
4		PER
2
4		VAR
1
2		VAR
2
2		MUG
1
10		MUG
2
2		1st269.5
1995Audi Sport ItaliaAudi A4 QuattroMIS
1
2		MIS
2
1		BIN
1
1		BIN
2
1		MNZ
1
1		MNZ
2
2		IMO
1
1		IMO
2
1		MAG
1
1		MAG
2
2		MUG
1
3		MUG
2
5		MIS
1
1		MIS
2
1		PER
1
5		PER
2
4		VAR
1
2		VAR
2
1		VAL
1
1		VAL
2
2		1st317
1996A.Z.K./ROCAudi A4 QuattroMUG
1		MUG
2		MAG
1		MAG
2		MNZ
1		MNZ
2		BIN
1		BIN
2		MIS
1		MIS
2		IMO
1		IMO
2		PER
1		PER
2		PER
1		PER
2		VAR
1		VAR
2		VAL
1
5		VAL
2
4		15th18

Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617181920Pts
1994Racing Organisation CourseAudi 80 Quattro CompetitionAVU
2		WUN
3		ZOL
3		ZAN
2		ÖST
4		SAL
Ret		SPA
5		NÜR
2		3rd87
1995Racing Organisation CourseAudi A4 QuattroZOL
1		ZOL
2		SPA
1		SPA
2		ÖST
1		ÖST
2		HOC
1		HOC
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		SAL
1		SAL
2		AVU
1
10		AVU
2
7		NÜR
1
1		NÜR
2
1		16th105
1996A.Z.K./ROCAudi A4 QuattroZOL
1
1		ZOL
2
1		ASS
1
3		ASS
2
2		HOC
1
1		HOC
2
1		SAC
1
3		SAC
2
1		WUN
1
2		WUN
2
1		ZWE
1
2		ZWE
2
3		SAL
1
8		SAL
2
10		AVU
1
4		AVU
2
1		NÜR
1
1		NÜR
2
1		1st678
1997A.Z.K./ROCAudi A4 QuattroHOC
1
11		HOC
2
9		ZOL
1
4		ZOL
2
10		NÜR
1
20		NÜR
2
7		SAC
1
6		SAC
2
Ret		NOR
1
5		NOR
2
3		WUN
1
Ret		WUN
2
Ret		ZWE
1
4		ZWE
2
1		SAL
1
13		SAL
2
7		REG
1
19		REG
2
11		NÜR
1
13		NÜR
2
10		6th357
1998Abt Sportsline Team AudiAudi A4HOC
1
16		HOC
2
7		NÜR
1
Ret		NÜR
2
13		SAC
1
17		SAC
2
Ret		NOR
1
19		NOR
2
19		REG
1
13		REG
2
8		WUN
1
Ret		WUN
2
Ret		ZWE
1
14		ZWE
2
Ret		SAL
1
7		SAL
2
2		OSC
1
7		OSC
2
Ret		NÜR
1
10		NÜR
2
12		16th205

Complete American Le Mans Series results

YearEntrantClassChassisEngineTyres123456789101112RankPoints
1999Audi Sport Team JoestLMPAudi R8RAudi 3.6 L Turbo V8SEB
ovr:5
cls:5		ATLMOSSONPORPETMONLSV52nd20
2000Audi Sport North AmericaLMPAudi R8Audi 3.6L Turbo V8SEB
ovr:1
cls:1		NÜR
ovr:3
cls:3		SON
ovr:2
cls:2		MOS
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret		TEX
ovr:1
cls:1		ROS
ovr:4
cls:4		PET
ovr:2
cls:2		MON
ovr:2
cls:2		LSV
ovr:1
cls:1		ADE
ovr:15
cls:5		3rd232
2000Audi Sport North AmericaLMPAudi R8RAudi 3.6L Turbo V8CHA
ovr:6
cls:6		SIL
ovr:5
cls:5		3rd232
2001Audi Sport North AmericaLMP900Audi R8Audi 3.6L Turbo V8TEX
ovr:2
cls:2		SEB
ovr:2
cls:2		DON
ovr:2
cls:2		JAR
ovr:2
cls:2		SON
ovr:2
cls:2		POR
ovr:2
cls:2		MOS
ovr:1
cls:1		MID
ovr:4
cls:4		MON
ovr:1
cls:1		PET
ovr:1
cls:1		1st202
2002Audi Sport North AmericaLMP900Audi R8Audi 3.6L Turbo V8SEB
ovr:5
cls:5		SON
ovr:14
cls:8		MID
ovr:1
cls:1		AME
ovr:2
cls:2		WAS
ovr:3
cls:3		TRO
ovr:2
cls:2		MOS
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret		MON
ovr:1
cls:1		MIA
ovr:1
cls:1		PET
ovr:6
cls:6		4th206
2003ADT Champion RacingLMP900Audi R8Audi 3.6L Turbo V8SEB
ovr:2
cls:2		ATLSONTROMOSAMEMONMIAPET18th22
2004ADT Champion RacingLMP1Audi R8Audi 3.6L Turbo V8SEB
ovr:2
cls:2		MIDLIMSONPORMOSAMEPETMON13th22
2005ADT Champion RacingLMP1Audi R8Audi 3.6L Turbo V8SEB
ovr:2
cls:2		ATL
ovr:3
cls:3		MID
ovr:3
cls:3		LIM
ovr:2
cls:2		SON
ovr:1
cls:1		POR
ovr:1
cls:1		AME
ovr:1
cls:1		MOS
ovr:3
cls:3		PET
ovr:1
cls:1		MON
ovr:2
cls:2		1st182
2006Audi Sport North AmericaLMP1Audi R10 TDIAudi 5.5L Turbo V12 SEBTEXMIDLIMUTA
ovr:1
cls:1		POR
ovr:2
cls:2		AME
ovr:1
cls:1		MOS
ovr:4
cls:4		PET
ovr:7
cls:5		MON
ovr:2
cls:2		5th80
2007Audi Sport North AmericaLMP1Audi R10 TDIAudi 5.5L Turbo V12 SEB
ovr:1
cls:1		STP
ovr:2
cls:2		LNB
ovr:9
cls:2		TEX
ovr:12
cls:2		UTA
ovr:6
cls:2
LIM
ovr:23
cls:4		MID
ovr:3
cls:1
AME
ovr:3
cls:2		MOS
ovr:4
cls:2		DET
ovr:2
:cls:1		PETMON4th175
2008Audi Sport North AmericaLMP1Audi R10 TDIAudi 5.5L Turbo V12 SEBSTP
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret		LNB
ovr:2
cls:2		UTA
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret		LIM
ovr:21
cls:3		MID
ovr:2
cls:2		AME
ovr:2
cls:2		MOS
ovr:2
cls:2		DET
ovr:DSQ
cls:DSQ		PET
ovr:1
cls:1		MON
ovr:2
cls:2		3rd156
2010Drayson RacingLMP1Lola B09/60Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 L V10SEB
ovr:12
cls:4		LNBMON
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret		UTA
ovr:2
cls:2		LIMMIDAMEMOSPET12th46

Macau Grand Prix Guia Race results