Racing driver killed during road test

Alboreto was hired by Ferrari in 1984

BERLIN, Germany -- Italian motor racing driver Michele Alboreto has been killed in an accident while test-driving a new Audi racing car in Germany.

The 44-year-old died after the car spun out of control and turned over on a straight section of the Lausitzring circuit, in what Audi's sporting chief Wolfgang Ullrich called an "incomprehensible tragedy."

The carmaker said it did not yet know what caused the crash, adding that the new R8 car had already completed thousands of miles of tests on various circuits without incident.

Alboreto, who was born in Milan on December 23, 1956, broke into Formula One with the Tyrrell team in 1981 and won his first race in Las Vegas that year and again in Detroit two years later.

He was hired by Ferrari in 1984 and a year later came close to becoming the first Italian to win the drivers' championship in more than 30 years, finishing second behind the Frenchman Alain Prost.

"Alboreto was an important driver in the Ferrari history," said Ferrari chairman Luca Di Montezemolo. "His death caused me a deep sorrow."

After three more seasons with the famous Italian team and spells with smaller teams he turned to sports cars and sealed the Le Mans 24 Hours title in 1997 with Stefan Johansson and Tom Kristensen for the TWR Porsche team.

His most recent success came with victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring race in the United States.

Alboreto leaves his wife, Nadia, and two daughters.

FIA
Formula One Supporters Association
Audi
Ferrari

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