Raffaele "Lele" Pinto (13 April 1945 – 8 December 2020) was a

rally Rally or rallye may refer to: Gatherings * Demonstration (political), a political rally, a political demonstration of support or protest, march, or parade * Pep rally, an event held at a United States school or college sporting event Sports ...

driver, who won the 1974 Rally Portugal.

Career

Pinto began rallying in 1968. In 1972, he won the

European Rally Championship The European Rally Championship (officially FIA European Rally Championship) is an automobile rally competition held annually on the European continent and organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The championship has b ...

in a

Fiat 124 Sport Spider The Fiat 124 Sport Spider is a convertible sports car marketed by Fiat for model years 1966–1985. Designed by and manufactured at the Italian '' carrozzeria'' Pininfarina factory, the monocoque, front-engine, rear drive ''Sport Spider'' deb ...

. The following year, the

World Rally Championship The World Rally Championship (abbreviated as WRC) is the highest level of global competition in the motorsport discipline of rallying, owned and governed by the FIA. There are separate championships for drivers, co-drivers, manufacturers and t ...

was run for the first time, and Pinto competed with Fiat, winning the 1974 Rally Portugal. For 1975, he moved to

Lancia Lancia () is an Italian car manufacturer and a subsidiary of FCA Italy S.p.A., which is currently a Stellantis division. The present legal entity of Lancia was formed in January 2007 when its corporate parent reorganised its businesses, but it ...

, where he remained until the end of 1977, driving the legendary Lancia Stratos HF.

WRC victories

References

External links

World Rally ArchiveRallybase
1945 births 2020 deaths World Rally Championship drivers European Rally Championship drivers Italian rally drivers {{Europe-rally-bio-stub