Former Ferrari sporting director and mananger of the legendary Lancia rally team, Cesare Fiorio was hospitalised in a critical condition late last week after a cycling accident near his home town.
Fiorio was cycling in the countryside of Ceglie Messapica and is now hospitalized in critical condition at Perrino Hospital in Brindisi, where he was admitted with injuries to his head and arms.
Little is known about the accident, but it has been established that the 78 year old, a keen cyclist, was found lying on the main road between Ostuni and Carovigno in Natalicchio district on the.
A passer-by at the scene found him on the ground unconscious and immediately called for an ambulance, whereupon he was rushed to intensive care.
Fiorio is one of the most important figures of Italian motorsport, having led the Lancia rally team to seven constructors’ titles in the World Rally Championship, in addition to three titles won with Fiat as well as five drivers’ titles.
He also headed up Lancia’s world endurance campaign during the nineties, winning the world championship with them on three occasions.
In 1989 he debuted as sporting director of Ferrari, with the task of making the team competitive again after some disappointing seasons in the eighties. During his tenure in charge of the team they scored 25 podiums and nine victories in 36 races, coming close to the title in 1990 with Alain Prost.
After his time at Maranello, in 1994, he returned to Formula 1 as team manager of Ligier, then owned by Flavio Briatore, but he was released the following year when Tom Walkinshaw took over the team.
Fiorio remained in Formula 1 until 2000, ending his managerial career at Minardi.
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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