Piero Drogo

Piero Francesco Carlo Drogo was an influential figure in the world of motorsport and automotive design, born in Vignale Monferrato, a small town in the province of Alessandria. His mother, Rosina Monzeglio, hailed from this region, while his father, Luigi Drogo, was of Sicilian descent and had relocated to the area for work. Piero’s passion for racing began at a young age, and in the early 1950s, while still in his twenties, he moved to Venezuela to pursue a career as a race car driver.

In 1956, Drogo began his motorsport journey, competing in races such as the Gran Premio del Venezuela at the Los Proceres circuit in Caracas. Driving a Ferrari 500 TR (chassis 068MDTR), he finished in eighth place. The following year, he achieved a seventh-place finish in the same race, now paired with fellow Venezuelan driver Julio Pola, and driving under the colors of Scuderia Madunina Venezuela.

In 1957, Drogo acquired a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (chassis 0714TR), a car that would become legendary not only for its racing pedigree but also for its historical significance and value. This car was later sold for over 9 million euros at an auction in 2009. Drogo and Pola went on to race the Ferrari in the 1000 km of Buenos Aires, finishing in seventh place, and later participated in the Gran Premio di Cuba in 1958.

In 1958, Drogo also raced in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Cuban driver Alfonso Gómez Mena in a Ferrari 250 (chassis 0722TR). Unfortunately, the pair did not finish the race. That same year, Drogo returned to Italy and settled in Bomporto, Modena, where he married Anna Pia Fornaciari in 1959.

In the late 1950s, Drogo continued to make his mark in racing, partnering with Brazilian driver Fritz d’Orey for the 46th edition of the Tour de France, where they raced in a Ferrari 250 GT. He also participated in the 43rd edition of the Targa Florio, securing a fifth-place finish with Mennato Boffa in a Maserati A6G.

Piero Drogo’s racing career came to an end in 1960 after he participated in the Gran Premio d’Italia at Monza, driving a Cooper T43 Climax. He finished in eighth place. Drogo is notable for being one of the first Venezuelan drivers to compete in Formula 1, alongside Ettore Chimeri, both of whom had their racing licenses issued in Venezuela.

After retiring from active competition, Drogo briefly worked in the mechanical department at Stanguellini in Modena, where he further honed his understanding of automobile construction. Soon after, he founded Carrozzeria Sports Cars in Modena, a coachbuilding company that became renowned for producing a range of high-quality vehicles, most of which were built on Ferrari chassis, but also featured other brands like Iso Rivolta, Jaguar, and Maserati.

Unfortunately, Piero Drogo’s promising career was cut short when, in 1973, at the age of 46, he died in a tragic car accident near Bologna. He was driving his Ferrari 250 GT California when he collided with a truck inside a tunnel. His legacy, however, remains in the automotive world through his contributions as a driver and as a coachbuilder.