Paolo Barilla


Paolo Barilla is a businessman and a former Formula One driver who raced for the Minardi team. He is now the Deputy Chairman of the Barilla Group and, as of January 2017, had a net worth of US$1.39 billion.

Racing career

Barilla started racing in 1975 and won the Italian 100cc karting title the following year. He entered Formula Fiat Abarth in 1980 and the next year moved up to Formula 3, in which he won some races and finished third in the Italian Championship. He then entered Formula 2 in 1982 with Minardi, but between 1983 and 1988 he concentrated in sports car racing, winning 24 Hours of Le Mans by a three-lap margin in 1985, among other victories, in the Joest Racing Porsche 956, co-driven at various times with Klaus Ludwig, Paul Belmondo, Marc Duez and Louis Krages.
In 1987 Barilla returned to single-seaters and raced in the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship, before returning to Minardi in 1989 for a test. This test gave him the chance to replace Pierluigi Martini at Suzuka that year and afterwards was signed to drive for the team in 1990. Barilla wasn't quick enough to qualify regularly and was replaced before the end of the year by Gianni Morbidelli.
Barilla was featured in a 2017 about the restoration of a Ferrari 312B historic Formula 1 race car.

Business career

In 1990 Barilla retired from racing and joined his family's businesses. Upon his return to the corporation, he briefly filled in as the CEO from 1999 to 2000 before taking a more permanent position as a Deputy Chairman.
In 2010 he was appointed President of the Industrial Association AIDEPI, established in the same year. From 2010 onwards, he held numerous membership positions until he was appointed, in 2014, Vice-president of the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition Foundation, a multidisciplinary and independent thinking center that works on food sustainability.
Barilla will then be elected in 2016 President of the International Pasta Organization, a non-profit association dedicated to increasing consumption and awareness of pasta, promoting consumer understanding of the nutritional value and health benefits of this food.
From March 2017 to December 2018, he was the Chairman of the Italian Food Association, and since 1 January 2019, he has taken on the role of Deputy Vice-Chairman, a position in the sign of continuity with the commitments taken to protect the industry, both nationally and internationally.

Racing record

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910111213Pts
Minardi TeamMinardi Fly 281FerrariSILHOCTHRNÜRVALMUGPAUPER
Ret		SPANC0
Minardi TeamMinardi Fly 281BMWDON
10		MISMANNC0
Minardi Team SrlMinardi Fly 281BBMWSIL
7		HOC
Ret		THR
7		NÜR
15		MUG
Ret		VAL
11		PAU
DNQ		SPA
12		HOC
12		DON
DSQ		MAN
Ret		PER
Ret		MIS
8		NC0
Minardi Team SrlMinardi M283BMWSILTHRHOCNÜRVALPAUJARDONMISPERZOL
Ret		MUGNC0

Complete International Formula 3000 results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011Pts
1986San Remo RacingMarch 85BCosworthSILVALPAUSPAIMOMUGPERÖSTBIRBUG
DNQ		JARNC0
1987Pavesi RacingRalt RT21CosworthSIL
11		VAL
17		SPA
Ret		PAU
8		DON
10		BRH
Ret		BIR
Ret		IMO
8		BUG
17		NC0
1987Pavesi RacingRalt RT20CosworthPER
7		JAR
DNQ		NC0
1988Cobra InternationalMarch 88BCosworthJER
Ret		17th3
1988Spirit TOM's RacingReynard 88DCosworthVAL
DNQ		PAU
Ret		SIL
Ret		MNZ
Ret		PER
DNQ		BRH
4		BIR17th3
1988Jordan RacingReynard 88DCosworthBUG
Ret		ZOL
Ret		DIJ
7		17th3

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Complete Formula One results

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910111213141516Pts
1989Minardi Team SpAMinardi M189Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8BRASMRMONMEXUSACANFRAGBRGERHUNBELITAPORESPJPN
Ret		AUSNC0
1990SCM Minardi TeamMinardi M189Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8USA
Ret		BRA
Ret		NC0
1990SCM Minardi TeamMinardi M190Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8SMR
11		MON
Ret		CAN
DNQ		MEX
14		FRA
DNQ		GBR
12		GER
DNQ		HUN
15		BEL
Ret		ITA
DNQ		POR
DNQ		ESP
DNQ		JPNAUSNC0