Piero Scotti

Piero Scotti (11 November 1909 - 14 February 1976): Italian racing driver and businessman from Florence who participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, the 1956 Belgian Grand Prix, scoring no championship points, but who achieved greater success racing Ferrari sports cars as a privateer in Italian national events during the 1950s. Born in Florence, Tuscany on 11 November 1909, Scotti was an Italian businessman in the import-export and mineral water business, accumulating sufficient wealth to pursue motorsport as a passion rather than profession. He began racing in the early 1950s, purchasing Ferrari sports cars and competing as a privateer in Italian national sports car races and endurance events.

As a gentleman racer with his own Ferrari machinery, Scotti competed successfully against both amateur and professional drivers throughout Italy, achieving numerous podium finishes and class victories in regional events. His success with Ferrari sports cars established him as one of Italy's capable privateer drivers. Scotti's sole Formula One World Championship appearance came at the 1956 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on 3 June 1956. Rather than driving a Ferrari as might be expected, Scotti entered a privately-owned Connaught, the British Formula One car that occasionally challenged but never matched Ferrari, Maserati, and Mercedes-Benz at the front.

At the daunting 14-kilometer Spa circuit, one of racing's most dangerous tracks with its high-speed public roads through the Ardennes forest, Scotti qualified toward the back of the grid and retired from the race without finishing, his Formula One career ending after this single unsuccessful attempt. Following his brief Formula One appearance, Scotti returned to sports car racing where he was more competitive and comfortable, continuing to race Ferraris in Italian events throughout the late 1950s. He gradually reduced his racing activities as he approached age 50, transitioning from active competition to attending races as a spectator and supporting younger Italian drivers. Scotti retired from motorsport in the early 1960s to focus on his business interests, which had supported his racing throughout the 1950s.

He died on 14 February 1976 in Samedan, Switzerland at age 66. Known for his single Formula One appearance at the 1956 Belgian Grand Prix driving a privateer Connaught, for his successful Ferrari sports car racing in Italian national events, and for being a businessman who raced for passion rather than profession, Piero Scotti represents the Italian gentleman racer tradition—wealthy enthusiasts who purchased exotic machinery and competed at national and occasionally international level without ever achieving major success but who enriched motorsport through their participation and financial support of smaller teams and constructors.