Buonfiglio Genovesi

Genovesi in 1988.

**Buonfiglio Genovesi** (born 1st May 1957) is an Italian racing driver.

## Personality

Buonfiglio is a well known face in the Formula One paddock, well liked by drivers and fans alike for his love of racing. Genovesi has a calm but steely attitude on the race track, but is all smiles outside the car.

## Early Years

Buonfiglio Genovesi was born in Trento, Italy to Lotario Genovesi and Ana Quattrocchi. A playful child, Buonfiglio was popular in school and became a well known teenager in the neighbourhood, often getting into mischief while racing his soapbox karts down the various hills just outside of town.

Buonfiglio began working in a local mechanic's shop, acting as their driver for various local hillclimb events inbetween working on cars. Despite racing often underpowered and old machinery, Buonfiglio began to find success.

## Racing Career

### Hillclimb, Rally

Genovesi began his racing career in the Alps, taking various cars from the mechanic store up hills on "test runs", eventually entering official events in his boss' cars. He found great success in the local scene, winning a number of local events. Following a big accident driving an Alpine A110 however, Genovesi moved away from road racing.

### Formula Ford

Genovesi used his hillclimb winnings to purchase a Van Diemen RF82 Formula Ford chassis. It took Buonfiglio a number of years to adjust to the new style of racing, and generally he was not setting the world on fire. However, as his experience grew, he began to climb the grid, eventually finishing runner up in 1983, aged 26, taking a few victories.

### Formula One

Following a shortage of drivers, Buonfiglio Genovesi was thrust into the spotlight just prior to the 1985 Formula One Season. Taking on a testing role for Ligier, Genovesi impressed throughout 1985, and was provided a seat for the 1986 Season.

#### 1986

Genovesi made his debut at the 1986 Brazilian Grand Prix, finishing 11th. The year wasn't anything special for Ligier, but Genovesi impressed, taking 6 points in the season and beating teammate Javier Navarro, his best result being 8th at Monaco.

#### 1987

Genovesi stuck with Ligier for 1987, and little appeared to have changed to the previous year. However, new teammate Alexsandro Pinho took a 2nd place in the 1987 San Marino Grand Prix, taking all the attention away from the Italian. Buonfiglio ended the year with only 2 points finishes - however a surprise 3rd place in the season finale, the 1987 Mexican Grand Prix, provided just the spotlight Genovesi needed to revitalise the season.

#### 1988

Leyton House March signed Genovesi for the 1988 season, and the beginning of the season saw a sporadic showing for Genovesi and the March team on the whole, missing the first round and only fielding 1 car at the 1988 San Marino Grand Prix. Buonfiglio impressed immediately in Imola, qualifying P13 and driving up to P5 before an ineffective strategy demoted him to P9. The suspension on the car gave way in the final corner, sending Genovesi into the wall, but due to Classification rules it was still counted. The incident was notable as Genovesi proceeded to run to the line, the crowd cheering his name, throwing his arms up in celebration. The next race he would participate in was the 1988 French Grand Prix, where he took home another P9.

##### 1988 Belgian Grand Prix

During the 1988 Belgian Grand Prix, Buonfiglio had a huge accident in the Eau-Rouge and Raidillon section of the circuit. Genovesi lost grip going up through Eau Rouge, spearing off to the right of the circuit into the barriers at Raidillon. The accident saw Genovesi's car pierce the armco barrier, tearing it and the barrier to shreds in the process and launching debris across the circuit. Miraculously, Genovesi was unhurt in the accident.

### Post-F1

Following his departure from March at the end of 1988, Buonfiglio would drive for various teams in the World Sportscar Championship, eventually joining Peugeot.