Roberto Ravaglia


Roberto Ravaglia is a former auto racing driver, who currently runs ROAL Motorsport, who operate a Chevrolet operation in the World Touring Car Championship. Before retiring in 1997, he was one of the most successful touring car racing drivers, primarily for BMW, and won seven titles in four different championships.

Racing career

He was twice Italian karting champion and raced in Formula 3 in the early 1980s. In 1984 he made his touring car debut, becoming European Touring Car Championship champion in 1986, and successfully defending the title in 1987 and 1988, with some races outside Europe including the Macau Grand Prix Guia Touring Car races and the James Hardie 1000 in Australia. Later in the 1988 season he was unable to defend his Macau win due to breaking a rib in a road accident driving his Fiat Uno. He switched with BMW to the DTM in 1989, and the Italian Superturismo Championship in 1990, winning both on the first attempt. He was also champion in 1991 and 1993. One of the few unsuccessful seasons of his career was 1996 in the British Touring Car Championship, despite finishing a credible 6th and picking up a win at the British GP support race. He also came in 4th at Supertourismo that year. He was now approaching 40 and did not win another championship as a driver.
Roberto Ravaglia was also successful in the famed Spa 24 Hours race at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, winning the race three times. He won his first 24 hours in 1985 driving a BMW 635 CSi partnered by Formula One drivers Gerhard Berger and Marc Surer. He followed that win with a 3rd place in 1986 and second in 1987 before winning again in 1988 in a BMW M3 partnered by Dieter Quester and Altfrid Heger. His last win in the Ardennes round the clock classic came in 1994. Again driving a BMW, this time the BMW 318is partnered by Thierry Tassin and Alexander Burgstaller.
Ravaglia made three visits to Australia during his racing career, all to drive in the Bathurst 1000. In his debut race in 1985 he finished a fine second with Venezuelan Johnny Cecotto in the Schnitzer BMW 635 CSi which had earlier in the year finished 2nd at Spa, with both drivers sharing the "Rookie of the Year" award. The car, run by Australian Greg "Pee Wee" Siddle and under the name of "Goold Motorsport" and sponsored by retired Australian racer and successful tyre retailer Bob Jane, was initially to be driven by Formula One drivers Riccardo Patrese and Gerhard Berger, but the race was run on the same day as the European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in England. Ravaglia and Cecotto's effort was all the more impressive considering that their Sebring Orange 635 CSi was down on power throughout qualifying and the race with a small electrical gremlin which the Schnitzer mechanics didn't manage to successfully cure.
He returned in 1986, again in a Schnitzer 635 for Goold Motorsport, this time painted in BMW's famous cut-away paint scheme, and initially qualified a surprising 2nd before ending up 9th on the grid after the "Hardies Heroes" Top 10 run-off. To his credit Ravaglia stated his time wouldn't have been possible in qualifying proper without the tow he got from one of the faster V8 Holden Commodore's on the run up Mountain Straight and on the almost 2 km long Conrod Straight, and attributed that lack of a tow in the runoff for his falling to 9th. Partnering former ETCC champion Dieter Quester his race unfortunately ended early when he clashed on lap 2 of 163 with the Jaguar XJS of 1985 winner John Goss. In an uncharacteristic show of raw emotion, Ravaglia physically attacked Goss in the pits after Goss finished his opening driving stint believing the Australian to be totally at fault for the accident and had to be restrained by his team. He later apologised to Goss and professed regret for his actions. Goss, who said in an interview with race broadcaster Channel 7 that he was "astounded" about incident in the pits, declined the option from race officials to have action taken against the Italian believing it to be just "one of those things".
Ravaglia returned to Australia for two rounds of the inaugural World Touring Car Championship. The first being the 1987 James Hardie 1000, which was a disaster for the Schnitzer team and Roberto. After crashing his BMW M3 at the top of the mountain during qualifying he suffered heavy bruising to his ribs which required strapping. Following his final stint at the wheel during the race he was taken to the tracks medical centre after collapsing from exhaustion and dehydration from the physical effort of having to drive the little car around the 6.213 km long Mount Panorama Circuit with bruised ribs that were reportedly strapped too tight, making it hard for him to breathe. His last race in Australia was a week later in the Bob Jane T-Marts 500 at the Calder Park Raceway in Melbourne, a unique track that combined the 2.280 km road course with the then new 1.801 km NASCAR style high banked "Thunderdome". Again teamed with Italian Emanuele Pirro, the pair qualified their M3 9th, but would enjoy a much better race than at Bathurst, finishing 2nd behind the Steve Soper / Pierre Dieudonné Texaco Ford Sierra RS500.
Roberto Ravaglia was also successful in other 24-hour races, twice winning the famous Nürburgring 24 Hours. His first win came in 1989 driving a BMW M3 with another F1 driver Emanuele Pirro and Frenchman Fabien Giroix. His last 24-hour win at the famous Nürburgring was in 1995 driving a BMW 320i with Marc Duez and Alexander Burgstaller.

Team management

In 2001, he founded his own racing team, Ravaglia Motorsport, with Aldo Preo. The team took part in the European Touring Car Championship with support from BMW Motorsport, and their driver Peter Kox won the Super Production class championship in the first season. The entry name of the BMW squad was BMW Team Germany in 2001, but it changed to BMW Team Spain in the next season and has been BMW Team Italy-Spain since 2003. The team currently competes in the World Touring Car Championship.

Racing Career Highlights

as Driver

; 1985
; 1986
; 1987
; 1988
; 1989
; 1990
; 1991
; 1992
; 1993
; 1994
; 1995

as Team director

; 2001
; 2005

Career results

Results sourced from Driver Database.
SeasonSeriesPositionCarTeam
1980Formula Fiat Abarth5thFiat Abarth
1981Italian Formula Three Championship5thDallara 381 ToyotaTrivellato Racing
1982Italian Formula Three Championship17thDallara 382 Alfa RomeoTrivellato Racing
1982European Formula 3 Championship10thDallara 382 Alfa RomeoTrivellato Racing
1983European Formula 3 Championship5thRalt RT3 Alfa RomeoTrivellato Racing
1985European Touring Car Championship20thBMW 635 CSiSchnitzer Motorsport
1985Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft16thBMW 635 CSiSchnitzer Motorsport
1985Australian Endurance Championship15thBMW 635 CSiGoold Motorsport
1986European Touring Car Championship1stBMW 635 CSiSchnitzer Motorsport
1987World Touring Car Championship1stBMW M3Schnitzer Motorsport
1988Nissan Mobil 500 series1stBMW M3Schnitzer Motorsport
1988European Touring Car Championship1stBMW M3Schnitzer Motorsport
1988World Sportscar Championship61stCougar C20 PorscheCourage Compétition
1988Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship3rdBMW M3Schnitzer Motorsport
1989Nissan Mobil 500 series3rdBMW M3Schnitzer Motorsport
1989Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft1stBMW M3Schnitzer Motorsport
1990Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft16thBMW M3 EvolutionSchnitzer Motorsport
1990Italian Superturismo Championship1stBMW M3 EvolutionSchnitzer Motorsport
1991Italian Superturismo Championship1stBMW M3 EvolutionBMW Italia / CiBiEmme Engineering
1992Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft7thBMW M3 EvolutionSchnitzer Motorsport
1992Italian Superturismo Championship7thBMW M3 EvolutionSchnitzer Motorsport
1993FIA Touring Car Challenge24thBMW 318iCiBiEmme
1993Italian Superturismo Championship1stBMW 318iCiBiEmme Engineering
1994FIA Touring Car World Cup10thBMW 318iCiBiEmme Engineering
1994Super Tourenwagen Cup20thBMW 318iBMW Team Bigazzi
1994Italian Superturismo Championship4thBMW 318isCiBiEmme Engineering
1994British Touring Car Championship18thBMW 318isSchnitzer Motorsport
1995FIA Touring Car World Cup19thBMW 318isBMW Team Bigazzi
1995Deutscher Tourenwagen Cup6thBMW 318isBMW Team Bigazzi
1996Italian Superturismo Championship4thBMW 320iTeam Bigazzi
1996British Touring Car Championship6thBMW 320iSchnitzer Motorsport
1997FIA GT Championship8thMcLaren F1 GTRSchnitzer Motorsport

Complete European Touring Car Championship results

Results sourced from History of Touring Car Racing.

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314DCPts
1984Schnitzer MotorsportBMW 635 CSiMNZ
Ret		VAL
Ret		DON
Ret		PER
Ret		BRNZEL
18		SAL
8		NÜR
8		SPA
Ret		SIL
Ret		ZOL
Ret		MUG
1		NANA
1985Schnitzer MotorsportBMW 635 CSiMNZ
Ret		VAL
5		DONANDBRN
3		ZELSAL
8		NÜR
4		SPA
1		SILNOGZOL
4		EST
3		JAR
7		20th104
1986Schnitzer MotorsportBMW 635 CSiMNZ
Ret		DON
2		HOC
2		MIS
1		AND
Ret		BRN
6		ZEL
3		NÜR
1		SPA
3		SIL
2		NOG
1		ZOL
2		JAR
1		EST
9		1st211
1987Schnitzer MotorsportBMW M3DON
7		ESTANDZOLZEL
DNS		IMONOGNA22
1988Schnitzer MotorsportBMW M3MNZ
6		DON
1		EST
2		JAR
3		DIJ
3		VAL
2		NÜR
4		SPA
1		ZOL
1		SIL
7		NOG
2		1st297

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

YearTeamCar123456789101112131415161718192021222324Pts
1985Team SchnitzerBMW 635 CSiZOL
2		WUN
7		AVUMFAERDERDDIEDIEZOLSIENÜR16th30
1988BMW M Team SchnitzerBMW M3 EvoZOL
1		ZOL
2		HOC
1		HOC
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		BRN
1		BRN
2		AVU
1		AVU
2		MFA
1		MFA
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		NOR
1		NOR
2		WUN
1		WUN
2		SAL
1
C		SAL
2
C		HUN
1		HUN
2		HOC
1		HOC
2		NC0
1989BMW M Team SchnitzerBMW M3 EvoZOL
1
1		ZOL
2
1		HOC
1
6		HOC
2
Ret		NÜR
1
24		NÜR
2
DNS		MFA
1
3		MFA
2
2		AVU
1
1		AVU
2
5		NÜR
1
3		NÜR
2
3		NOR
1
4		NOR
2
4		HOC
1
5		HOC
2
5		DIE
1
2		DIE
2
9		NÜR
1
4		NÜR
2
6		HOC
1
10		HOC
2
2		1st285
1990BMW M Team SchnitzerBMW 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
3		NOR
2
1		DIE
1		DIE
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		HOC
1		HOC
2		16th32
1992Schnitzer MotorsportBMW M3 Sport EvoZOL
1
8		ZOL
2
4		NÜR
1
11		NÜR
2
6		WUN
1
19		WUN
2
17		AVU
1
15		AVU
2
Ret		HOC
1
6		HOC
2
3		NÜR
1
8		NÜR
2
7		NOR
1
5		NOR
2
3		BRN
1
2		BRN
2
3		DIE
1
8		DIE
2
Ret		ALE
1
Ret		ALE
2
Ret		NÜR
1
Ret		NÜR
2
Ret		HOC
1
1		HOC
2
1		7th134

Complete World Touring Car Championship results

YearTeamCar1234567891011DCPts
1987BMW MotorsportBMW M3MNZ
DSQ		JAR
ovr:1
cls:1		DIJ
ovr:2
cls:1		NÜR
ovr:2
cls:1		SPA
Ret		BNO
ovr:4
cls:2		SIL
ovr:2
cls:2		BAT
ovr:12
cls:5		CLD
ovr:2
cls:1		WEL
ovr:2
cls:1		FJI
ovr:3
cls:1		1st269

Complete World Sportscar Championship results

YearTeamCar1234567891011DCPts
1988Courage CompétitionCougar C20 PorscheJERJARMNZ
7		SILLMSBRNBRHNÜRSPAFUJSAN61st8

Complete FIA GT Championship results

YearTeamCarClass1234567891011Pts
1997Schnitzer MotorsportMcLaren F1 GTRGT1HOC
Ret		SIL
1		HEL
11		NÜR
4		SPA
4		ZEL
Ret		SUZ
8		DON
5		MUG
5		SEB
2		LAG
11		8th26

Complete British Touring Car Championship results

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526Pts
1994BMW Motorsport Team SchnitzerBMW 318iTHRBRH
1		BRH
2		SNESIL
1
Ret		SIL
2
Ret		OULDON
1
12		DON
2
9		BRH
1		BRH
2		SIL
Ret		KNO
1		KNO
2		OUL
5		BRH
1		BRH
2		SIL
1		SIL
2		DON
1		DON
2		18th10
1996BMW Team SchnitzerBMW 320iDON
1
7		DON
2
7		BRH
1
6		BRH
2
6		THR
1
6		THR
2
2		SIL
1
2		SIL
2
2		OUL
1
7		OUL
2
5		SNE
1
Ret		SNE
2
Ret		BRH
1
9		BRH
2
Ret		SIL
1
1		SIL
2
3		KNO
1
3		KNO
2
3		OUL
1
9		OUL
2
5		THR
1
4		THR
2
5		DON
1
Ret		DON
2
5		BRH
1
NC		BRH
2
2		6th157

Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results

YearTeamCar12345678910111213141516Pts
1994BMW Team BigazziBMW 318iAVUWUNZOLZANÖSTSALSPA
8		NÜR20th3
1995BMW Team BigazziBMW 318iZOL
1
5		ZOL
2
3		SPA
1
2		SPA
2
4		ÖST
1
4		ÖST
2
4		HOC
1
9		HOC
2
8		NÜR
1
5		NÜR
2
Ret		SAL
1
3		SAL
2
3		AVU
1
6		AVU
2
11		NÜR
1
8		NÜR
2
Ret		6th309

Complete Bathurst 1000 results