07/09/2009
NEWS STORY
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Following Ferrari's announcement that 36-year-old veteran Giancarlo Fisichella is to replace 38-year-old Luca Badoer, Pitpass got to wondering when was the last time the Maranello outfit ran a rookie.
During a conversation on Friday, Pitpass editor Chris Balfe and Mike Lawrence, having ruled out Giancarlo Baghetti, Phil Hill and Lorenzo Bandini, all of whom made their F1 debuts with other teams before switching to Scuderia Ferrari, decided that the honour of being the team's last rookie belonged to Dan Gurney who made his F1 debut at Reims in 1959.
However, over the weekend, editor Balfe contacted that font of all F1 statistical knowledge David Hayhoe, the man behind the excellent Grand Prix Data Book.
"Ferrari ran rookie Arturo Merzario in 1972, Ignazio Giunti and Clay Regazzoni in 1970," advised David, "Derek Bell in 1968, Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1963, Ricardo Rodriguez in 1961 and Richie Ginther and Willy Mairesse in 1960."
So now you know.
It's 37 years since the Scuderia last ran a rookie.
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