Early Years and Beginnings in Racing
Arturo Francesco “Art” Merzario, born on 11 March 1943 in Civenna, Como, Italy, embarked on his racing career as a test driver with works Fiat Abarths. His early forays into racing included participation in GT racing and European mountain-climb events. In 1969, Merzario’s talent shone through when he won the Mugello Grand Prix in a 2-litre Abarth, outperforming notable drivers like Nino Vaccarella and Andrea de Adamich. This victory paved the way for his drive with the Ferrari sportscar team in 1970, marking the beginning of a significant phase in his racing career.
Major Successes and Highlights
Merzario’s racing career reached new heights in the early 1970s. In 1972, he achieved remarkable success by winning the Spa 1000 km, the Targa Florio, and the Rand 9 Hour races, and was also crowned the European two-litre Champion for Abarth. His Formula One debut came in the same year at the British Grand Prix, where he impressively scored points in his first race. During his time with Ferrari in 1973, he had promising starts in Brazil and South Africa. However, the season turned challenging with Ferrari’s evolved car, the 312B3. Merzario continued to race in Formula One with various teams, including Williams and his own Merzario team, until 1979. Notably, he was one of the heroic drivers who helped save Niki Lauda from his burning car during the 1976 German Grand Prix.
Life and Legacy After Racing
After his active Formula One career, Merzario returned to sports cars, achieving success with Alfa Romeo, including winning the Targa Florio again in 1975. He continued racing in sports cars and GT racing into the 1990s, winning the 1985 Italian Prototype Championship. Merzario’s signature look, often photographed wearing a cowboy hat with sponsorship patches, became iconic in the racing world. Even after retiring from professional racing, Merzario remained active in sports car racing well into his sixties, mostly competing in an Italian prototype series.
Career Stats
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | WDC Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari 312B2 | Ferrari 001/1 3.0 F12 | 20th | 1 |
| 1973 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari 312B2 / Ferrari 312B3 | Ferrari 001/1 3.0 F12 / Ferrari 001/11 3.0 F12 | 12th | 6 |
| 1974 | Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso–Marlboro FW | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 17th | 4 |
| 1975 | Frank Williams Racing Cars / Copersucar-Fittipaldi | Williams FW03 / Fittipaldi FD03 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | NC | 0 |
| 1976 | Ovoro Team March / Walter Wolf Racing | March 761 / Wolf–Williams FW05 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | NC | 0 |
| 1977 | Team Merzario / Shadow Racing Team | March 761B / Shadow DN8 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | NC | 0 |
| 1978 | Team Merzario | Merzario A1 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | NC | 0 |
| 1979 | Team Merzario | Merzario A1B / Merzario A2 / Merzario A4 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | NC | 0 |