Piero Dusio
Piero Dusio (October 13, 1899 – November 7, 1975) was an Italian soccer player, businessman and racing driver.
Dusio was born at Scurzolengo, province of Asti. His active soccer career (three games for Juventus 1921-22)[1] ended in a knee injury, after which he started a textile business (oil cloth), which evolved into sporting goods as well as becoming supplier of military uniforms. He raced in the Mille Miglia (1929-38), was sixth in 1936 Italian Grand Prix, winning a class victory (50th overall) in Mille Miglia in a Siata 500cc (1937), and formed the Scuderia Torino (1939).[2][3] He commissioned Dante Giacosa of Fiat to develop a racing car (1944), and formed the «Consorzio Industriale Sportiva Italia» (1944). The firm became Cisitalia and involved Carlo Abarth, Rudolf Hruska and Ferry Porsche. Dusio won in the Giovanni Savonuzzi-completed car's premiere race at Coppa Brezzi in Turin (1946).[4]
Piero Dusio continued financing racing car projects, but the expenses in engineering the complex 202MM[5] almost ruined Cisitalia (1947), as well as involved the Juventus corporation (where Dusio was president 1941-1947). Consequently, Dusio moved to Argentina and established Autoar (Automotores Argentinos) S.A.I.C. (March 22, 1949)[6], financially supported by Juan Peron.[7] His son, Carlo Dusio continued to run a refinanced Cisitalia company in Torino (1948-1964).[8]
Dusio tried but failed to qualify for one Formula One World Championship grand prix (Italy 1952) with a Cisitalia D46, but he failed to set a time in practice due to engine problems. He raced in the Buenos Aires Grand Prix in 1954, and also started Cisitalia Argentina Industrial y Comercial SA, planning cars such as the Cisitalia 750 (1960).
He died at Buenos Aires in 1975.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Piero Dusio | Cisitalia D46 | Cisitalia | SUI |
500 |
BEL |
FRA |
GBR |
GER |
NED |
ITA DNQ |
NC | 0 |