Piercarlo Ghinzani

Piercarlo Ghinzani (16 January 1952 - Present): Italian racing driver from Maserada sul Piave who competed in Formula One from 1981 to 1989. Participated in 76 races with Osella, Toleman, and Ligier without scoring championship points. His best F1 results were sixth-place finishes at the 1981 Belgian Grand Prix and 1984 Dallas Grand Prix, both achieved with Osella. Started racing in Formula Monza in 1975 before progressing through Formula Three.

Made F1 debut at 1981 San Marino Grand Prix with Osella at age 29. Spent most of his career driving for the underfunded and uncompetitive Osella team from 1981-1985, occasionally showing his ability to handle difficult cars. Brief stints with Toleman (1984) and Ligier (1987-1989) followed. Failed to qualify for multiple races during his career due to competitive machinery limitations. Despite his F1 struggles, Ghinzani found success as a team owner after retiring from driving.

Founded Team Ghinzani in 1992, which competed successfully in Italian Formula 3 and various junior formulae for two decades, becoming a respected training ground for young drivers. The team operated until 2012, contributing to the development of several drivers who reached higher levels of motorsport. His legacy rests more on his team ownership and contribution to junior motorsport than his F1 results.