Nino Vaccarella: One of the best racing drivers of the 1960s and 70s

Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1964, Nino Vaccarella, who recently passed away at the end of 2021, was a legendary driver. The Italian left his mark on his era, notably by winning the 4 biggest motor racing competitions…

1964: Vaccarella triumphs at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ferrari

It was in 1961 that he took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time, in a Maserati. Three years later, Nino Vaccarella won the race for the first time at the wheel of a Ferrari, with the French driver Jean Guichet. The two teammates even broke the distance record, with 4,965 km covered at an average speed of 195 km/h.

In total, Vaccarella would participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans eleven times, including six times with Ferrari.

A driver with a considerable track record

Enzo Ferrari said about Nino Vaccarella: "Apparently calm and composed, one could feel in him the fire and passion for his homeland. He was an excellent sports car driver."

This very flattering image is explained by his numerous victories in other prestigious automobile competitions, such as the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 1000 kilometers of the Nürburgring as well as the Targa Florio, the legendary Italian automobile race.

It was on this circuit, traced on the roads of his native Sicily, that Nino Vaccarella won three times: in 1965, 1971 and 1975.

Nino Vaccarella in the spotlight in the Luc Kieffer X Le Mans collection

In his recent collection, designer Luc Kieffer paid tribute to this legendary driver by creating cufflinks , tie clips , collar stays and scented candles in the colours of the Ferrari team and bearing the name "Nino".