"Geki" was the racing

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

of Giacomo Russo (23 October 1937 – 18 June 1967), who was a racing driver from Italy. An experienced driver in the Italian lower formulae, he also participated in three

Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

Italian Grands Prix from 1964 to 1966, failing to qualify for the 1964 race, driving a

Brabham Motor Racing Developments Ltd., commonly known as Brabham ( ), was a British race car, racing car manufacturer and Formula One racing team. It was founded in 1960 by the Australian driver Jack Brabham and the British-Australian designer Ron Ta ...

for Rob Walker. For his two Grand Prix starts, he drove for

Team Lotus Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport categories including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, American Championship Car Racing, Ind ...

. He scored no championship points. However, he was a four-time Italian

Formula Three Formula Three (F3) is a third-tier class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers. History Formula Three (adop ...

series champion, winning consecutive championships from 1961 to 1964. He was killed in a horrific accident in an Italian Formula Three race at

Caserta Caserta ( ; ) is the capital of the province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. An important agricultural, commercial, and industrial ''comune'' and city, Caserta is located 36 kilometres north of Naples on the edge of the Campanian p ...

in 1967. After an accident involving Beat Fehr, Andrea Saltari and Franco Foresti, Fehr ran down the track to warn the oncoming racers of the damaged cars and oil on the track ahead. The next group of cars included Geki,

Massimo Natili Massimo Natili (28 July 1935 – 19 September 2017) was a racing driver from Italy. He participated in two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 15 July 1961. He scored no championship points. Career Natili started in Formula On ...

, Jürg Dubler, Romano "Tiger" Perdomi and Corrado Manfredini who were unable to avoid colliding with the wreckage on the track. Geki's

Matra Matra (an acronym for Mécanique Aviation Traction) was a major French industrial Conglomerate (company), conglomerate. Its business activities covered a wide range of industries, notably aerospace manufacturer, aerospace, defence industry, def ...

then crashed into a wall and he was killed instantly. Fehr was struck by one of the cars and was also killed, and Perdomi died in hospital eight days later.

Complete Formula One results

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References

External links

* Italian racing drivers Italian Formula One drivers Racing drivers who died while racing 1937 births 1967 deaths Sport deaths in Italy Rob Walker Racing Team Formula One drivers Team Lotus Formula One drivers World Sportscar Championship drivers Pseudonyms Racing drivers from Milan {{Italy-autoracing-bio-stub