Carlo Maria Abate

Carlo Maria Abate (born 10 July 1932 and died 29 April 2019), was an Italian former auto racing driver. He was one of the best Ferrari 250 GTO specialists. Abate preferred to be addressed as "Carlo Mario Abate" instead of his christened name. When listed by surname, Abate is alphabetically the first Formula 1 driver.
He entered three Grand Prix between 1962 and 1963, but made no starts. He later became the director of a private clinic.
== Career ==
=== Pre Formula 1 ===
He began racing in 1955, rallying at the wheel of a Fiat 1100. He later turned to Touring Cars with decent success, winning the 1959 Italian GT Championship and the prestigous Mille Miglia race later that year. 
=== Formula 1 ===
==== 1962 ====
In 1962, he first tried his hand at Formula 1 racing, for the Scuderia Republica di Venezia team. He was entered into two championship races, the French Grand Prix at Rouen in a Lotus 18 and the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in a Lotus 18/21, on both occasions powered by engines. He would eventually withdraw from and not compete in these races.
Abate met more success in non-championship rounds, where he drove a 718, apart from in the Reims Grand Prix, where he drove a Lotus 18. He was fourth in the Naples Grand Prix and retired from the Reims Grand Prix. His best result of the year would be scored at the Mediterranean Grand Prix at Enna Pergusa, where he finished third behind the works cars.
==== 1963 ====
He mostly focused on touring cars in 1963, winning that years Targa Florio and the Reims Grand Prix, which was changed to a sports car race that year. He did however make some appearances in Formula 1, mostly in non-championship races.
He was entered into the Italian Grand Prix by Count Volpi in a Porsche 718, but withdrew. This would be his final entry into a championship round. He also entered the Mediterranean Grand Prix for Volpi, finishing 8th. He competed in a further two non-championship races for Scuderia Centro Sud, in a Cooper-Climax T51, his best result being third in the Syracuse Grand Prix. 
Carlo called it quits at the end of the season, ending his career to start a private clinic. 
==Formula One Statistical Overview==
===Formula One Record===
Year	Entrant 	Team	WDC Points	WDC Pos.	Report
 	Scuderia SSS Republica di Venezia	 	0 	NC 	Report
 	Count Volpi 	 	0 	NC 	Report
===Career Statistics===
===Career Results===
== External Links ==
* Wikipedia Article
* StatsF1 Article
* Motorsport Magazine Database Page
* DriverDB page
==Notes==
==External links==
Category:1932 births
Category:2019 deaths
Category:Italian Drivers
Category:1962 Début Drivers
Category:Team Lotus Drivers
Category:Porsche Drivers