Italian motor sport mourns loss of Clemente Ravetto

Rare example of an entrepreneur, driver, magistrate of the highest level, the Sicilian champion passed away last Sunday, aged 76.

Clemente Ravetto, one of the pillars of the Italian motorsport scene passed away on 18 April 2010 in the Borgo Trento hospital at the age of 76 years. A distinguished driver, entrepreneur and former magistrate, Clemente Ravetto was known and revered in Italy and around the world for his many high profile activities, his immense talents and his very kind nature.

A major international sportsman from 1950-1970, Clemente Ravetto died suddenly following a ruptured aneurism. The official Jaguar driver in 1963 and Italian champion in GT in 1965 at the wheel of a Ferrari GTO, Ravetto participated in, and won numerous races in Italy and around the world, always defending the colours of Italy and his home region of Sicily.

After retiring from competitive racing, Clemente Ravetto maintained his contacts in motorsport with many sporting organisations on a national and international level.

The descendent of a large aristocratic family, Clemente Ravetto was the vice-prosecutor of the Republic of V rone, was a Knight of the Order in Malta and had been decorated with the title of Knight of the Italian Republic.

His heir, Manfredi, general manager of the HRT F1 Team, Hispania Racing heard of his father’s death while in Shanghai where he was competing in the Chinese Grand Prix. He had a race against time and the elements to make it home in time for the funeral which took place on Friday, and honour the memory of his famous father.