Who Is Juan Manuel Fangio? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Juan Manuel Fangio was born on June 24, 1911, in Balcarce, Argentina, and passed away on July 17, 1995. Known as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time, Fangio's career spanned the 1950s during which he won the World Championship of Formula One five times. Renowned for his speed and skill on the track, Fangio has left an indelible mark on motorsports history that continues to influence racers today.
| Occupation | Business |
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| Date of Birth | |
| Age | 84 Years |
| Birth Place | N/A |
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| Country | |
| Date of death | 17 July, 1995 |
| Died Place | N/A |
Popularity
Juan Manuel Fangio's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Fangio stood at an impressive height of about 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm). During his racing career, he maintained a weight of approximately 150 lbs (68 kg), showcasing an athletic build that contributed to his exceptional performance behind the wheel.
In October 1948, Fangio however suffered a personal tragedy in another gruelling race, this time 1948 South American Grand Prix, another point-to-point race from Buenos Aires to Caracas, Venezuela—a 20-day event covering a distance of 9580 km through Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and finally Venezuela.
In a race that killed 3 spectators and 2 drivers. Fangio, with his co-driver Daniel Urrutia battled hard with brothers Juan and Oscar Galvez, and Domingo Marimon throughout- Fangio was pushing hard to make up lost time he incurred in Argentina.
On the 10th day, on the Lima to Tumbes stage in northern Peru, on coastal roads along the Pacific Ocean, Fangio was driving at night in thick fog generated from the ocean in near-pitch black darkness when he approached a left-hand bend at 140 kph near the village of Huanchaco, not far from the small city of Trujillo.
With his car's lights not helping him in the thick fog, he approached the bend too fast, lost control of the car and tumbled down an embankment, and Urrutia was thrown out of the car through the front windscreen. Oscar Galvez stopped to help Fangio, who had neck injuries, then soon found the badly injured Urrutia.
Another competitor, Luciano Marcilla, stopped and took Fangio and Urrutia to the nearest hospital in the town of Chocope 50 km (31 mi) away. Fangio survived but 35-year-old Urrutia did not, suffering multiple fatal cervical and basal skull fractures.
Domingo Marimon won the race, but the race was a disaster and was marred by the deaths of three spectators and three drivers (including Urrutia).
Fangio believed he would never race again and entered a depressed state after the death of his friend, but he recovered, and his successes in Argentina caught the attention of the Argentine Automobile Club and the Juan Peron-led Argentine government, so they bought a Maserati and sent him to Europe in December 1948 to continue his career.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
While Fangio was known for his prowess on the racetrack, his personal life remained relatively private. He never married, which has led to speculation regarding his relationships. Reports suggest that he had several romantic relationships throughout his life; however, there is no confirmed record of a long-term partner or boyfriend. Fangio often preferred to keep details of his personal life away from the media spotlight.
Fangio's grandfather, Giuseppe Fangio, emigrated to Buenos Aires from Italy in 1887. Giuseppe was able to buy his own farm near Balcarce, a small town near Mar del Plata in southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, within three years by making charcoal from tree branches.
Giuseppe brought his family, with his 7-year son Loreto, later the racing driver's father, to Argentina from the small central Italian town of Castiglione Messer Marino in the Chieti province of the Abruzzo region. His mother, Herminia Déramo, was from Tornareccio, slightly to the north.
Fangio's parents married on 24 October 1903 and lived on farms, where Herminia was a housekeeper and Loreto worked in the building trade, becoming an apprentice stonemason.
Net Worth and Salary
With a career that spanned several decades, Juan Manuel Fangio's net worth at the time of his passing in 1995 was estimated at $20 million. His earnings came not just from his racing contracts but also from endorsements and business ventures tied to the motorsport industry. Adjusted for inflation, his legacy and impact in the racing world would likely compound his net worth significantly in the current day, marking him as a timeless figure in the sport.
Career, Business and Investments
Fangio is best known for his stellar Formula One career, where he drove for teams like Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati, and Mercedes-Benz. His five World Championships (1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957) set a record that stood for 46 years. Post-retirement, Fangio became involved in motorsport administration and was a consultant for various automotive companies. His passion for racing also led him to invest in car-related businesses, enhancing his legacy as an innovator in the field.
From childhood, he abandoned his studies to pursue auto mechanics. In 1938, he debuted in the newly-formed Argentine stock car racing series Turismo Carretera, competing in a Ford V8.
In 1940, he competed with Chevrolet, winning the Grand Prix International Championship and devoted his time to the Turismo Carretera becoming its champion, a title he successfully defended a year later. Fangio then competed in Europe between 1947 and 1949, where he achieved further success.
Social Network
Although Juan Manuel Fangio passed away before the era of social media, his legacy has continued to thrive online. Fan pages and memorial accounts dedicated to him can be found across platforms like Instagram and Facebook, celebrating his accomplishments and sharing historical footage of his racing career. Additionally, tributes and documentaries continue to educate new generations about his contributions to motorsport.
Fangio's record of five World Championship titles stood for 46 years until German driver Michael Schumacher surpassed it in 2003. Schumacher said, "Fangio is on a level much higher than I see myself. What he did stands alone and what we have achieved is also unique. I have such respect for what he achieved.
You can't take a personality like Fangio and compare him with what has happened today. There is not even the slightest comparison." When Lewis Hamilton equaled Fangio's five titles in 2018 he praised Fangio calling him the "Godfather of our sport".
Education
Fangio's formal education was largely overshadowed by his passion for racing. Growing up in a modest household, he began his foray into the world of automobiles by working in an auto body shop. He honed his skills through practical experience rather than formal training, showcasing his natural talent behind the wheel.
He was appointed president of Mercedes-Benz Argentina in April 1974 and the following year, he was part of an exhibition test in Dijon on the occasion of the Swiss Grand Prix aboard a Maserati 250F.
On the 50th anniversary of the Nürburgring circuit, Fangio took part in the Fifth International Race of Historic Racing and Sports Cars, called "Parade of Remembrance", with the Mercedes-Benz W196 R. In 1979 he raced at the English circuit of Donington Park on the occasion of an event organized by the Gunnar Nilsson Foundation.
