  emilio giuseppe "nino" farina (30 october 1906 â 30 june 1966) was an italian racing driver. he stands out in the history of grand prix motor racing for his much-copied "straight-arm" driving style and his status as the first ever formula one world champion. ==biography==  born in turin, piedmont, and nicknamed "nino", farina was the son of giovanni farina who ran a bodyshop in turin and nephew of pinin farina of coach building and car design fame. he qualified as a doctor of law at turin university and served in the italian army, first as a cavalry officer and later, during world war ii, in a tank regiment. farina began his motor racing career in hill-climbs, graduating to circuit racing with maserati. but it was not until he moved to alfa romeo, as number two driver to tazio nuvolari, that his racing career really blossomed. during the late 1930s he won numerous minor races in the voiturette class, securing himself the italian drivers' champion three years in a row (1937â1939). he then went on to take his first major race win, at the 1940 tripoli grand prix in libya. sadly for farin
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