Alberto Colombo Cause of Death And Obituary: Italian Formula 2 Stalwart and Motorsports Legend Passed Away at 77
The world of motorsports has lost one of its most passionate and persevering drivers, Alberto Colombo, who passed away on January 7, 2024, at the age of 77. Colombo was a former Formula One and Formula Two racer, who competed in various championships from the 1970s to the 1980s. He was best known for winning the 1974 Italian Formula Three Championship and scoring several podiums and points in Formula Two.
A Late Bloomer with a Big Dream
Alberto Colombo was born on February 23, 1946, in Varedo, Lombardy, Italy. He started his racing career relatively late, at the age of 24, when he joined the Italian Formula Ford Championship in 1970. He quickly showed his talent and speed, winning four races and finishing second in the standings. He then moved up to the Italian Formula Three Championship in 1972, driving for the Scuderia del Lario team. He had a breakthrough season in 1974, when he switched to a March 743 Toyota and dominated the competition, winning six races and the title by a large margin.
His success in Formula Three earned him a chance to enter the European Formula Two Championship in 1975, the feeder series for Formula One. He drove for various teams, such as Trivellato Racing Team, Delta Squadra Corse, AFMP Euroracing, and San Remo Racing, mostly in March chassis powered by BMW engines. He proved to be a consistent and reliable performer, often finishing in the top 10 and scoring points. His best season was in 1977, when he finished seventh in the championship, with three podiums and 18 points. He also participated in some non-championship races, such as the Misano Grand Prix, where he finished fifth in 1976.
A Brief and Unsuccessful Stint in Formula One
Colombo’s dream was to race in Formula One, the pinnacle of motorsports. He got his opportunity in 1978, when he was signed by the ATS Racing Team, a small and struggling outfit run by German businessman Günter Schmid. Colombo was supposed to drive alongside German driver Jochen Mass, but he failed to qualify for the first two races of the season, the Belgian and Spanish Grands Prix. He was then replaced by another Italian driver, Harald Ertl, who also failed to qualify for the next two races.
Alberto Colombo did not give up on his Formula One ambition, and tried to enter the Italian Grand Prix, the home race for him and his fans, with another low-budget team, Team Merzario, run by former Ferrari driver Arturo Merzario. However, he faced another disappointment, as he failed to pre-qualify for the race, meaning he did not even get a chance to compete for a spot on the grid. He was the only driver to enter three Formula One races in 1978 and not start any of them.
Alberto Colombo’s Return to Formula Two and a Quiet Retirement
After his unsuccessful attempt in Formula One, Colombo returned to Formula Two, where he continued to race for San Remo Racing until 1980. He still showed some flashes of his old form, scoring three podiums and 17 points in 1979, and finishing third at Hockenheim and sixth at Misano in 1980. He also switched to a Toleman TG280 Hart for the last three races of the 1980 season, but did not improve his results. He decided to retire from racing at the end of the year, at the age of 34.
Colombo then faded away from the public eye, and lived a quiet life in his hometown of Varedo. He rarely gave interviews or attended motorsports events, preferring to stay away from the spotlight. He maintained his passion for racing, however, and followed the careers of his fellow Italian drivers, such as Riccardo Patrese, Michele Alboreto, and Alessandro Nannini. He also kept in touch with some of his former rivals and friends, such as Vittorio Brambilla, Bruno Giacomelli, and Elio de Angelis.
A Legacy of Passion and Perseverance
Colombo’s death was announced by his family on January 8, 2024, one day after he passed away peacefully in his sleep. He is survived by his wife, Maria, and his two sons, Marco and Luca. His funeral was held on January 10, 2024, at the church of San Martino in Varedo, where he was buried. Many former drivers, team owners, journalists, and fans paid their respects and tributes to Colombo, remembering him as a humble and hard-working man, who never gave up on his dream of racing in Formula One, despite the odds and obstacles.
Colombo may not have achieved much success or fame in Formula One, but he left a lasting impression in Formula Two and Formula Three, where he demonstrated his skill and speed, and earned the respect and admiration of his peers. He was one of the many drivers who dedicated their lives to motorsports, and contributed to the rich and diverse history of the sport. He was a true racer, who loved to drive fast and compete with the best. He was Alberto Colombo, an Italian Formula Two stalwart and motorsports icon, who crossed the final finish line at 77.
