A Formula One driver and a prominent GT driver in the nineties, the Italian was most successful in endurance racing. He has driven the 24 Hours of Le Mans twelve times in all and won on five occasions, each time with Audi.

After Franck Biela, but before Dindo Capello, Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen, the Audi driver retired from professional racing in 2008. Champion of Italy in Formula Abarth and a competitor in Formula 3000, he raced 37 times in Formula One. He took over from Johnny Herbert in 1989 at Benetton-Ford and then moved on to BMS Scuderia Italia, but the podium proved elusive. He got back into winning mode when he moved to GT racing. He took part in the German and Italian championships, winning the latter in 1994 and 1995 and the German Super Tourenwagen Cup in 1996.

In 1994, a new contract proved a career-changer. Emanuele Pirro signed with Audi. When the carmaker set its sights on the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999, the Italian was an obvious choice. Having raced a Lancia Beta Monte Carlo in 1981 and a McLaren F1 GTR-BMW with Gulf Team Davidoff in 1998, Emanuele Pirro was back at Le Mans, with a new carmaker. And what a carmaker! Audi reigned over endurance racing in the early years of the new millennium and Emanuele Pirro contributed to that success. He raced for Audi solidly from 1999 to 2008. Initially, he drove the Audi R8 with Frank Biela and Tom Kristensen for Audi Sport Team Joest and then with Champion Racing and he linked up with the official team again in 2006 with the Audi R10.

Pirro played a role in Audi’s first win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a victory he shared with Frank Biela and Tom Kristensen. He was part of the 2006 team, the first to win the race with a diesel-powered engine, alongside Frank Biela and Marco Werner. Before taking a well-deserved retirement, Pirro won one last race at Road Atlanta in 2008 in the American Le Mans Series. However, he has stayed on at Audi as an ambassador for the brand. Even now, every year, he can be found in the Audi pit at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His expertise is crucial to the German team. Pirro is also vice-chairman of the Le Mans drivers’ club, chaired by Gérard Larrousse. The organisation provides drivers with the opportunity get together and socialise throughout the year.

Happy Birthday Emanuele, from all at the Automobile Club de l’Ouest.

Geoffroy Barre — Translated from French by Emma Paulay