[1] Born in Bioglio, Vercelli, he was introduced to racing by Giovanni Bracco and accompanied him on several Mille Miglias and Targa Florios.

[1][2] In 1953 he won the Targa (single-handed) for the first time, in a Lancia D20, and also the Pescara 12hr race, driving a Ferrari 375 MM with Mike Hawthorn.

[3] The same year he also won the 1000 km Buenos Aires (with Giuseppe Farina) and the 1000Km Supercortemaggiore at Monza, again with Hawthorn.

He recuperated in a hospital in Salzburg with leg injuries so severe that doctors initially feared he may not walk again.

[5] In 1964 he won the Sebring 12hrs for Ferrari and in 1968 scored his third Targa victory (this time with Vic Elford) in a works Porsche 907.