Arturo Merzario

Arturo Francesco 'Art' Merzario (born 11 March 1943 in Civenna, Como, Italy) is an Italian racing driver and motorsport executive who competed in Formula One from 1972 to 1979. His name was erroneously registered as 'Arturio' on his birth certificate. Merzario began his career as a test driver with works Fiat Abarths before progressing to GT racing and European mountain-climb events. In 1969, he won the Mugello Grand Prix in a 2-litre Abarth ahead of established drivers including Nino Vaccarella and Andrea de Adamich, earning him a drive with Ferrari's sportscar team for 1970.

His sports car success was remarkable: in 1972, he won the Spa 1000km, Targa Florio, and Rand 9 Hour races while also capturing the European two-litre Championship for Abarth. He added another Targa Florio victory in 1975 with an Alfa Romeo T33. Merzario's Formula One debut came in 1972, and he became one of few drivers to score points at their first race, finishing sixth at the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch for Ferrari. In 1973, Ferrari confirmed him for the full season alongside Jacky Ickx.

Merzario showed promise with fourth-place finishes in Brazil and South Africa in the old 312B2, but Ferrari's evolved 312B3 proved disappointing. Disillusioned, Enzo Ferrari overhauled the team for 1974, and Merzario moved to Williams, later driving for Fittipaldi, March, and Wolf-Williams. In 1977, he founded his eponymous Merzario team, initially using March 761B cars, though the operation struggled through three seasons. Merzario participated in 85 Grands Prix with 57 starts, scoring 11 championship points.

His most heroic moment came during the 1976 German Grand Prix when Niki Lauda crashed and his car caught fire. Merzario, along with Guy Edwards, Brett Lunger, and Harald Ertl, stopped to help, with Merzario jumping into the flames and pulling Lauda from the wreckage. Lauda later stated that Merzario 'really saved my life' and would not have survived without his courage. At the 1976 Italian Grand Prix, six weeks after the incident, Lauda returned to racing and presented Merzario with his gold Rolex watch in gratitude.