Ernesto Prinoth

Ernesto Prinoth (12 April 1923 - 26 October 1981): Italian racing driver from Bolzano, South Tyrol (Alto Adige), who participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix. Made his sole Formula One appearance at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix at Monza on 10 September 1961, driving a Lotus 18-Maserati entered privately. Retired from the race without scoring championship points, his brief F1 career ending as quickly as it began. Before Formula One, Prinoth competed in Italian national motorsport events during the 1950s and early 1960s, primarily in sports car racing and hill climbs where he achieved modest success.

His single Formula One entry at Monza represented his attempt to compete at the highest level of Italian motorsport at his home circuit. After his unsuccessful F1attempt, returned to Italian national racing categories where he continued competing in hill climbs and sports car events through the 1960s. Prinoth represented the generation of Italian privateer drivers who made one-off Formula One entries at their home grand prix, often with limited resources and uncompetitive machinery, driven more by passion and ambition than realistic championship prospects. Passed away on 26 October 1981 at age 58.

Though his Formula One career consisted of a single retirement, Prinoth remained a respected figure in South Tyrolean motorsport circles.