"Geki" was the racing

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

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 (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship ...

Italian Grands Prix from 1964–66, failing to qualify for the 1964 race, driving a

Brabham Brabham () is the common name for Motor Racing Developments Ltd., a British racing car manufacturer and Formula One racing team. Founded in 1960 by Australian driver Jack Brabham and British-Australian designer Ron Tauranac, the team won fo ...

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, IndyCar, and sports car racing. Mo ...

. He scored no championship points. Alfa Romeo TZ 2 (Foto Spu 23

However, he was a four-time Italian

Formula Three Formula Three, also called Formula 3, abbreviated as 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 dr ...

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. It is an important agricultural, commercial, and industrial ''comune'' and city. Caserta is located on the edge of the Campanian plain at the foot of the Camp ...

in 1967. After an accident involving

Beat Fehr Claude Beat Fehr (21 June 1943 – 18 June 1967) was a racing driver from Switzerland, born in Zurich. He started racing in 1963, and raced several marques, including Alfa Romeo, Cooper, and De Tomaso, before buying a Brabham from fellow drive ...

, 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 French industrial conglomerate. During its years of operation, it was engaged in a wide range of business activities, primarily focused around automobiles, bicycles, aeronautics and wea ...

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

(

key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (ma ...

)

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 {{Italy-autoracing-bio-stub