The legacy of Lella Lombardi

Motorsport has often been associated with masculinity, with the roar of engines and the smell of burning rubber being perceived as the soundtrack and scent of manliness. Naturally, it makes one wonder what it is about driving a sleek machine at breakneck speeds that makes it an exclusively masculine enterprise?

Is it because historically, male drivers have enjoyed a more substantial slice of the sponsorship pie, leaving their female counterparts to pick up the crumbs when it comes to financial support?

Is it the perception that motorsport demands Herculean physical prowess that has fueled the notion that it’s a domain best suited for men. But let’s face it – in the era of power steering and state-of-the-art technology, do we really need biceps the size of tire stacks to conquer the asphalt?

Well, what is it then? Is it the limited exposure of women in junior categories or scarce female representation as drivers and in other leadership roles? Rising from the margins to carve a niche for herself, Lella Lombardi is a woman worth knowing.

She is the only woman to ever score any championship points in Formula 1. The details of this remarkable feat are rather interesting. Lombardi was competing in the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix which was then a street race held in downtown Montjuïc and the state of the track had been a major area of concern for the members of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA). 

While the memory of Francois Cevert’s loss, just two years prior at the Watkins Glen due to compromised barrier construction, was fresh in the minds of the drivers when the rushed job at the Montjuïc track sent the members of the GPDA in a rage so much so that they went on a strike. However, the GPDA were ultimately strong-armed by the organisers and Guarda Civilia to concede. 

What followed was tragic to say the least. After several crashes, a fateful oil leak, more crashes and a total disruption of the status quo, 14 drivers were out of the race. It was in the 26th lap when the rear wing of Rolf Stommelen’s Embassy Hill got disjointed, hurtling him right into the barrier and then the barrier on the other side of the track. With a broken leg, wrist and a couple of fractured ribs, Stommelen emerged from the car alive but the same couldn’t be said about the spectators on whom Stommelen’s car landed.

The crash killed four people- fireman Joaquín Benaches Morera, spectator Andrés Ruiz Villanova, and photo-journalists, Mario de Roia and Antonio Font Bayarri. The race however, went on for another 4 laps before it was stopped. On account of the race being cut short, it became the first Formula 1 Grand Prix to award half-points.

Photo credit: Lellalombardi.it

Lella Lombardi finished 6th with 0.5 points, holding the unceremonious record for the lowest number of points in a Formula 1 career but also becoming the first woman to score points in a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The first Formula 1 Championship took place in 1950 and in the 74 years since then, only five women have attempted to enter a World Championship Grand Prix. And out of that modest number, only two managed to qualify for the race and were able to compete in it- Maria Teresa de Filippis and Lella Lombardi. Lombardi was also one of the only three openly LGBTQ+ F1 drivers.

So, who was Lella? 

Photo Credit: F1

Hailing from Frugarolo, Italy, Lella Lombardi, born in 1941, initially found herself behind the wheel as the delivery person for her family’s butcher shop. Despite a burgeoning passion for cars, she had to discreetly nurture this interest in an era when female drivers were not as welcome as their male counterparts. It wasn’t long before Lombardi’s secret was unveiled, thanks to her notable performance in the 1965 Formula Monza, catching the attention of the press and her unsuspecting parents.

Before her foray into Formula 1, Lombardi established a successful junior career, earning the title of Italian Formula Three runner-up in 1968 and clinching victory in the Italian Formula 850 Series in 1970. The laurels continued with Lombardi securing the Formula Ford Mexico championship in 1971, catapulting her into the international spotlight.

Her global breakthrough led to her Formula One debut in 1974, where the Daily Mail, dubbing her the ‘Tigress of Turin’, inadvertently misplaced her hometown but underscored the rare attention bestowed upon female racers during that era. 

During an interview at the 1975 Swedish Grand Prix, Lella Lombardi was confronted with the perennial question of whether women had a place in Formula 1. In response, she offered a wry grin and a succinct retort, “Considering that I race, judge for yourself.” It was this understated grace coupled with the firm belief that her racing prowess would serve as her advocate that characterised Lella’s journey through life and the male-dominated domain of motorsports.  

Photo Credit: Lellalombardi.it

Robin Herd, the engineer responsible for the design of the March 761 that Lella piloted in 1976, recounted an intriguing anecdote about her experience with the car that season. Lella had persistently complained about her 761 ‘taking a set,’ meaning that the chassis was locking into a cornering mode beyond her control. Her concerns were initially dismissed, in part due to gender biases prevalent at the time. However, when the team eventually dismantled the car, they discovered Lella was right – the chassis was indeed bent.

As it turned out, the chassis had previously suffered damage in a crash involving Vittoria Brambilla, Lella’s teammate at March and colloquially known as ‘The Monza Gorilla.’ Despite Brambilla’s competence as a driver, his penchant for crashes had left the chassis inadequately straightened. Herd, reflecting on the situation, expressed regret for not heeding Lella’s insights.

Photo Credit: F1

Post-Formula 1, Lombardi transitioned to sports car racing, achieving triumphs such as victories in the 6 hours of Pergusa and 6 hours of Vallelunga races in 1979. She also made multiple appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, securing a commendable ninth place in 1976.

Navigating the 1980s, Lombardi ventured into touring cars, facing performance challenges attributed to health issues, initially manifested as chest pains but ultimately revealing a more severe reality.

Retiring from racing in 1988, Lombardi embarked on a new venture, founding Lombardi Autosport. Tragically, her untimely demise occurred on March 3, 1992, succumbing to breast cancer at the age of fifty. In adherence to her wishes, her team persisted beyond her passing, a testament to Lombardi’s enduring legacy in the world of motorsport.

Fast forward to the contemporary landscape of motorsport, where discussions about diversity and inclusion have gained prominence. Figures like Lewis Hamilton, a vocal advocate for diversity, have ushered in a new era, not only in terms of drivers but also behind the scenes. The sport is gradually evolving to embrace inclusivity, propelled by initiatives aimed at educating and raising awareness, ensuring equal opportunities at every level of the racing ecosystem.