Hugely popular driver killed in a testing crash at Paul Ricard. Musically talented, he could've been a concert pianist if he so chose. Well mannered and cultured, somewhat a throwback to an earlier age of racing, he overcame the rich boy tag with some fast - and gritty - drives. Unusually somewhat for an Italian driver - he had great mechanical sympathy as well, nursing rather than pushing the car home. The son of a former powerboat racer who earnt a fortune in the construction industry, Elio did well in karts but caused a sensation in his first year of racing when he won the 1977 Italian Formula 3 championship.

Biography last updated 1 Nov 2015