The motorsports world just lost one of its originals. Edoardo Lualdi Gabardi, a legendary Italian "gentleman driver," has died at age 94.
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Per Varese News, is passing came early Saturday at his home in Busto Arsizio, just two weeks after the death of his wife, Nalda Colombo. The two had shared more than 60 years together.
That part alone hits hard.
Lualdi Gabardi would have turned 95 on May 13. Instead, he leaves behind a legacy that stretches across decades of racing, particularly in hill climbs, where he became a dominant force from the 1950s through the 1970s.
He got his start young. Just 19, lining up at the Mille Miglia in 1950 behind the wheel of a Fiat 500C Topolino. That was the beginning.
What followed was a run that included 84 overall victories. Seventy-seven of those came driving Ferraris. Not bad.
Lualdi Gabardi was more than fast. He was respected. Even Enzo Ferrari took notice, valuing his feel for cars and his approach to racing.
That approach was unique. He would buy top models, win with them, then sell them to fund the next ride. Those same cars are now prized collector pieces.
His résumé includes three Trofei della Montagna titles and three Italian championships, along with wins at tracks like Monza and Vallelunga.
A crash in 1972 ended his driving career. It did not end his connection to racing.
With Lualdi Gabardi gone, another link to a golden era fades. One that included names like Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss.
Different time. Different kind of driver. And now, one fewer left.
