There are not many drivers who managed to race a Ferrari Formula 1 car without being part of the Maranello Scuderia. Back in the fifties, it was quite usual for privateer racers to acquire a car and compete with it, but this gradually became more and more rare. In the seventies, a young and talented Italian driver by the name of Giancarlo Martini did just that and yesterday, at the age of 66, he has passed away.

Born in Lavezzola, Italy, on 16 August 1947, Martini took part in two famous classics of that era on the Formula 1 calendar back in 1976 – the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch and the Graham Hill Trophy at Silverstone, both non-championship counting events. He took part in a 312 T, the car which had won the F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles the previous year.

It was Enzo Ferrari who entrusted the running of the car to a youngster who was full of ideas and courage and who wanted to make his way in the world of racing and who went by the name of Giancarlo Minardi.

In fact Minardi, who was just weeks younger than Martini, had already been running the latter in Formula Italia and then European F2 events with a March-BMW through his Scuderia Everest outfit.

The plan called for Minardi to run F1 Ferraris in second string events, although the experiment wasn't repeated after these less than successful races - a warm up crash in the first outing at Brands Hatch was followed up by an off the pace 10th place at Silverstone. However, curiously, the deal also included Dino V6 engines for Everest's on going F2 programme and during the 1977-1978 season the Maranello powerplants were run firstly in the back of Ralt chassis and then in Chevrons.

It was from the Scuderia Everest team beginnings (named in deference to a Italian rubber company that as the title sponsor) that Minardi's eponymous outfit was born in 1980, going on to become a famous name in the history of Formula 1 for the following two decades after entering in 1985.

In fact, a nephew of Martini, Pierluigi, was the driver chosen to debuted the first F1 Minardi in 1985. The Minardi M185  was powered by Carlo Chiti's Motori Moderni engine.

Pierluigi went on to contest no less than 103 of his 119 Formula 1 grands prix at the wheel of a Minardi, once starting from the front row in the 1990 US Grand Prix, as well as finishing fourth in Imola and Estoril the following year. Olivier Martini was Pierluigi's younger brother and he tested a Minardi F1 car in 1997.

Team owner Gian Carlo Minardi also passed comment on Martini's death. "The 66 year-old Giancarlo Martini was not only a great sportsman and businessman, but, above all, a very generous and kind friend of mine. We shared success and the passion for motor sport. A hearty hug to his wife Paola and his sons Jacopo, Benedetta and Donata."