Nino Vaccarella

Nino Vaccarella (4 March 1933 - 23 September 2024): Italian racing driver from Palermo, Sicily, nicknamed 'The Flying Headmaster' because he worked as a physical education teacher while simultaneously competing at the highest levels of motorsport, who participated in ten Formula One World Championship Grands Prix between 1961 and 1965 with a best finish of fourth place, but who achieved far greater fame and success in sports car racing where he won the Targa Florio three times (1965, 1971, 1975) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1964 co-driving with Jean Guichet. Born and raised in Palermo, Vaccarella began racing in the mid-1950s in hillclimbs and local Sicilian events while maintaining his teaching career, displaying the remarkable ability to balance professional education work with the demands of international motorsport.

His dual career earned him the affectionate nickname 'The Flying Headmaster,' and he remained dedicated to both pursuits throughout his racing years, often racing on weekends and returning to teach during the week. Vaccarella's first Formula One appearance came at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix at Monza on 10 September 1961, driving a Ferrari 156 as a substitute driver. He qualified 12th and finished seventh, completing 42 of 43 laps in a respectable debut. He returned to Formula One for two races in 1962, driving a Lotus 24-Climax at both the Italian Grand Prix (retired, clutch failure) and the United States Grand Prix (ninth place).

His best Formula One result came at the 1965 Italian Grand Prix at Monza on 12 September 1965, when he finished fourth in a Ferrari 1512, earning three World Championship points. This would be his final points finish. Vaccarella made additional Formula One appearances in 1965 at Syracuse and the German Grand Prix (both retirements), and his final World Championship starts came in 1965. Across ten Formula One starts, Vaccarella scored three championship points, but Formula One was never his primary focus or greatest achievement.

Vaccarella's true genius emerged in sports car racing, particularly at the legendary Targa Florio, the grueling Sicilian road race held on the treacherous Madonie mountain circuit consisting of over 10 laps of roughly 72 kilometers each through mountain villages, combining technical sections, high-speed straights, and precipitous drops with minimal safety barriers. Racing on his home roads that he knew intimately, Vaccarella became the master of the Targa Florio, achieving his first victory in 1965 co-driving a Ferrari 275P2 with Lorenzo Bandini, defeating John Surtees after an intense battle. This victory made Vaccarella a Sicilian hero and established him as one of sports car racing's elite drivers.

He would add two more Targa Florio victories: in 1971 co-driving an Alfa Romeo 33/3 with Toine Hezemans, and remarkably in 1975 at age 42, co-driving an Alfa Romeo 33 TT 12 with Arturo Merzario, cementing his status as the greatest modern Targa Florio specialist. Beyond the Targa Florio, Vaccarella achieved success throughout the World Sportscar Championship. His greatest triumph came at the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans where, co-driving a Ferrari 275P with Frenchman Jean Guichet, he won the legendary endurance race, one of motorsport's most prestigious victories. This Le Mans triumph placed Vaccarella among the sport's immortals.

He also achieved numerous other podium finishes at Le Mans, the Nürburgring 1000km, Sebring 12 Hours, and other major endurance events throughout the 1960s and 1970s, primarily driving for Ferrari and later Alfa Romeo. Vaccarella continued racing sports cars well into the 1970s, competing successfully even as a veteran against much younger rivals, demonstrating his enduring skill and commitment. He officially retired from racing in the late 1970s, having competed for nearly 25 years at the highest level while simultaneously maintaining his teaching career. Following retirement, Vaccarella became a respected figure in Italian motorsport, serving in various administrative and ambassadorial roles, and remained particularly connected to preserving the history and legacy of the Targa Florio, which was discontinued as a World Championship event after 1973 due to safety concerns but continued in historic racing forms.

He published his autobiography and frequently attended historic racing events, where his presence was celebrated by fans who remembered his heroic performances in Sicily. Vaccarella was inducted into various motorsport halls of fame and received numerous honors from Italian sporting organizations, recognizing his contributions to Sicilian and Italian motorsport heritage. He remained active in the classic car community and continued attending events well into his 80s, always maintaining his characteristic modesty and warmth despite his legendary status. Nino Vaccarella passed away on 23 September 2024 at the age of 91 in Palermo, mourned throughout Italy and the motorsport world as one of the great gentleman racers of the golden era.

Known for his remarkable ability to balance teaching and racing, his unmatched mastery of the Targa Florio circuit, his Le Mans victory, his smooth yet aggressive driving style, and his humble, approachable personality despite great achievements, Vaccarella embodied the spirit of the 1960s sports car racing era when talented amateurs could compete successfully against full professionals through skill, bravery, and local knowledge.