Nicola Giuseppe Larini (born 19 March 1964) is an Italian former racing driver, who competed in Formula One between and . In touring car racing, Larini won the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft in 1993 and the Italian Superturismo Championship in 1992, both with Alfa Romeo.
Larini participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting at the 1987 Italian Grand Prix. He finished second in the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix as a substitute for Ferrari, but only scored points once more in his career. He enjoyed greater success in touring car racing, primarily for Alfa Romeo.
Early career Born in Lido di Camaiore, Tuscany, Larini began car racing in Formula Italia in 1983, then moved up to Formula Abarth in 1984, placing third overall. He also started in Italian Formula Three the same season. In 1986, he won the title for Coloni in a Dallara, and briefly drove for the same team in Formula 3000 the following year.
Formula One Larini's rapid ascendancy in motorsport continued when Coloni entered the final two European rounds of the 1987 Formula One season. Larini failed to qualify for the Italian Grand Prix, but got into the Spanish Grand Prix, only to retire early on.
For the 1988 season, Larini was signed by the Osella Formula One team, and drew good notices for his valiant performances in the hugely uncompetitive car, with a best result of 9th in the Monaco Grand Prix. He would continue with Osella in the 1989 season, their much-improved car suffering from the lottery of pre-qualifying. However, Larini continued to shine, running 6th at the San Marino Grand Prix until a hub failure, and running third at the Canadian Grand Prix until an electrical failure. He would also qualify tenth for the Japanese Grand Prix.
The 1990 Formula One season saw a move up the grid to the Ligier team, but the well-funded French team were at a creative dead-end and the car was a distinct midfielder. A brace of seventh places were Larini's best results in a low-key year, although he easily outshone Philippe Alliot in the other Ligier.
Larini then moved to the new Modena team for the 1991 season, once again having to face pre-qualifying. He got through in the opening round, the United States Grand Prix, and held on for seventh place, but the team would develop acute financial difficulties, and were unable to progress. As a result, Larini would only qualify for four more races.
For the 1992 season, Larini was out of luck for a Grand Prix drive, but was signed by Ferrari to develop their active suspension system. Larini kept his racing instincts sharp by winning the Italian Touring Car Championship for Alfa Romeo, and was called up to the Ferrari Formula One team for the end of the year, replacing Ivan Capelli to race-test the active suspension car. He made a fair impression, but started both races from the back of the grid for technical reasons. However, 1993 saw more Ferrari testing and touring cars, this time taking the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft title in Germany for Alfa Romeo.
In 1994, Larini would have another chance with Ferrari in Formula One, replacing the injured Jean Alesi early in the season. He qualified seventh at the Pacific Grand Prix, but along with Ayrton Senna was eliminated at the first corner by Mika Häkkinen. Then at the San Marino Grand Prix, he took second place, but his first points score was overshadowed by the tragic deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna. It was back to touring cars with Alfa for the rest of the year, with Larini placing third in the German series.
Alfa would drop off the pace for the next two years, with Larini placing sixth in the German series in 1995, and 11th in the ITC in 1996. However, 1997 would see his Ferrari connections land him a seat with Sauber, who were using rebranded Ferrari engines. Larini scored a point on his return at the Australian Grand Prix, but left after five races after a series of disagreements with Peter Sauber.
Later career
After that, Larini was a stalwart in touring cars, for Alfa Romeo for many years in the European Touring Car Championship, and between 2005 and 2009 for Chevrolet in the WTCC (World Touring Car Championship). On November 21, 2009, he announced that he would quit his professional racing driver career, but would not stop racing completely.Larini says goodbye with lucky points For example, in 2016, he won Race 1 in Imola at the European Lotus Cup, in 2017, made his NASCAR Whelen Euro Series debut at Autodromo di Franciacorta, driving the No. 1 Ford Mustang for Alex Caffi Motorsport.
Championships 1986 – Italian Formula 3 Champion – Dallara Alfa Romeo Marlboro 1992 – Italiano Superturismo Champion – Alfa Romeo 155 GTA turbo 1992 – Monza Rally Show Winner 1993 – DTM Champion – Alfa Romeo 155 V6 2.5 TI DTM
Racing record Career summary
SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition1985FIA European Formula 3 CupTeam Gulf Coloni10000N/A4th1986FIA European Formula 3 CupTeam Gulf Coloni10001N/A3rdInternational Formula 3000 ChampionshipColoni Racing100000NC1987International Formula 3000 ChampionshipForti Corse400000NCWorld Touring Car ChampionshipAlfa Corse200013035thFormula OneEnzo Coloni Racing Car Systems100000NC1988Formula OneOsella Squadra Corse1000000NC1989Formula OneOsella Squadra Corse800000NC1990Formula OneÉquipe Ligier Gitanes1600000NC1991Formula OneModena Team SpA500000NC1992Italian Superturismo ChampionshipAlfa Corse2010710152841stFormula OneScuderia Ferrari200000NC1993Deutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftAlfa Corse2211312152611stFIA Touring Car Challenge20002542nd1994Deutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftAlfa Corse1821581503rdFormula OneScuderia Ferrari20001614th1995Deutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftAlfa Corse140115716thInternational Touring Car Championship91233594th1996International Touring Car ChampionshipMartini Alfa Corse2621249511th1997Formula OneRed Bull Sauber Petronas50000119th1998Italian Superturismo ChampionshipNordauto Engineering20302133313rdSuper Tourenwagen CupAlfa Corse200102326th1999Italian Superturismo ChampionshipNordauto Engineering20314133434thSportsRacing World CupTarget 24402122717thSuper Tourenwagen CupAlfa Corse200012026th2000European Touring Car ChampionshipNordauto Engineering2000391954th2001European Touring Car ChampionshipAlfa Romeo Team Nordauto20314116042nd2002European Touring Car ChampionshipGTA Racing Team Nordauto1942411863rd2003European Touring Car ChampionshipGTA Racing Team Nordauto201427924th2004Porsche SupercupPorsche AG100000NC2005World Touring Car ChampionshipChevrolet RML190000916th2006World Touring Car ChampionshipChevrolet RML1800022412thTC 2000 ChampionshipChevrolet Pro Racing100000NC2007World Touring Car ChampionshipChevrolet RML220006715th2008World Touring Car ChampionshipChevrolet RML2401244811th2009World Touring Car ChampionshipChevrolet RML2410012713th2010Superstars SeriesRangoni Motorsport100000NC201124 Hours of Nürburgring - E1-XP2Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus10001N/A2ndVolkswagen Scirocco R-CupN/A100110NC201224 Hours of Nürburgring - E1-XPGlobal Partner Enterprise SA11001N/A1stVolkswagen Scirocco R-CupN/A100010NC2013Superstars SeriesPetri Corse20000331stVolkswagen Scirocco R-CupN/A211010NC2016Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe - ProPetri Corse500002611th2017NASCAR Whelen Euro SeriesAlex Caffi Motorsport2000011629th 2018 Italian GT Championship - GT3 Petri Corse Motorsport20000630th24 Hours of Nürburgring - TCRHyundai Motorsport N10001N/A2nd 2026 Italian GT Championship Sprint Cup - GT Cup Div.2 A2 Motorsport
Complete International Formula 3000 results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pts 1986 Coloni Racing March 85B Cosworth SIL VAL PAU SPA IMO MUG PER ÖST BIR BUG JAR NC 0 1987 Forti Corse Dallara 3087 Cosworth SIL VAL SPA PAU DON PER BRH BIR IMO BUG JAR NC 0
Complete Formula One results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pts Enzo Coloni Racing Car Systems Coloni FC-187 Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5 V8 BRA SMR BEL MON DET FRA GBR GER HUN AUT ITA POR ESP MEX JPN AUS NC 0 Osella Squadra Corse Osella FA1I Osella 890T 1.5 V8t BRA NC 0 Osella FA1L SMR MON MEX CAN DET FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS Osella Squadra Corse Osella FA1M89 Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 BRA SMR MON MEX USA CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS NC 0 Equipe Ligier Gitanes Ligier JS33B Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 USA BRA SMR MON CAN MEX FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS NC 0 Modena Team SpA Lambo 291 Lamborghini 3512 3.5 V12 USA BRA SMR MON CAN MEX FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS NC 0 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari F92AT Ferrari 038 3.5 V12 RSA MEX BRA ESP SMR MON CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR JPN AUS NC 0 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 412T1 Ferrari 041 3.5 V12 BRA PAC SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR EUR JPN AUS 14th 6 Red Bull Sauber Petronas Sauber C16 Petronas SPE-01 3.0 V10 AUS BRA ARG SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA AUT LUX JPN EUR 19th 1
Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pts 1993 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti ZOL1 ZOL2 HOC1 HOC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 WUN1 WUN2 NÜR1 NÜR2 NOR1 NOR2 DON1 DON2 DIE1 DIE2 ALE1 ALE2 AVU1 AVU2 HOC1 HOC2 1st 261 1994 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti ZOL1 ZOL2 HOC1 HOC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 MUG1 MUG2 NÜR1 NÜR2 NOR1 NOR2 DON1 DON2 DIE1 DIE2 NÜR1 NÜR2 AVU1 AVU2 ALE1 ALE2 HOC1 HOC2 3rd 150 1995 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti HOC1 HOC2 AVU1 AVU2 NOR1 NOR210† DIE1 DIE2 NÜR1 NÜR2 ALE1 ALE2 HOC1 HOC2 6th 71 † — Retired, but was classified as he completed 90% of the winner's race distance.
Complete International Touring Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Pts 1995 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti MUG1 MUG2 HEL1 HEL2 DON1 DON2 EST1 EST2 MAG1 MAG2 4th 59 1996 Martini Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti HOC1 HOC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 EST1 EST2 HEL1 HEL2 NOR1 NOR2 DIE1 DIE2 SIL1 SIL2 NÜR1 NÜR2 MAG1 MAG2 MUG1 MUG2 HOC1 HOC2 INT1 INT2 SUZ1 SUZ2 11th 95
Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pts 1998 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 156 HOC1 HOC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SAC1 SAC2 NOR1 NOR2 REG1 REG2 WUN1 WUN2 ZWE1 ZWE2 SAL1 SAL2 OSC1 OSC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 26th 23 1999 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 156 SAC1 SAC2 ZWE1 ZWE2 OSC1 OSC2 NOR1 NOR2 MIS1 MIS2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SAL1 SAL2 OSC1 OSC2 HOC1 HOC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 26th 20
Complete Italian Superturismo Championship results
Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Pts 1992 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 GTA S1 MNZ1Ret MNZ21 MAG12 MAG23 MUG1Ret MUG22 BIN11 BIN21 VAL11 VAL21 IMO11 IMO21 MIS11 MIS21 PER14 PER2Ret VAR12 VAR22 MNZ14 MNZ23 1st 284 1998 Nordauto Engineering Alfa Romeo 156 BIN15 BIN23 IMO14 IMO24 MNZ11 MNZ22 VAR13 VAR23 VAL14 VAL2Ret MAG12 MAG210 PER13 PER22 MIS12 MIS2DSQ MNZ12 MNZ23 VAL11 VAL21 3rd 331 1999 Nordauto Engineering Alfa Romeo 156 MIS13 MIS23 BIN15 BIN25 IMO14 IMO2Ret PER13 PER22 MAG18 MAG23 MUG1Ret MUG22 MIS11 MIS23 VAR11 VAR23 MNZ12 MNZ22 VAL11 VAL24 4th 343
Complete European Touring Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)