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F1 News - Grandprix.com > GP Encyclopedia > Drivers > Charles de Tornaco (306 words) |
 | A Belgian aristocrat from a family which included a former Belgian Prime Minister, de Tornaco started racing in 1948, at the age of 21, when he bought a pre-war MG sports car and drove it in the Spa 24 Hours with his best friend Jacques Swaters. |
| De Tornaco finished seventh at the Belgian GP, driving the Ferrari 500. |
| There was no doctor present at the circuit and de Tornaco had to be taken to hospital in a private car. |
| f1 statistics - Baron Charles de Tornaco : Autocourse Grand Prix Archive (157 words) |
| The wealthy son of twenties racer Baron de Tornaco, the young Charles, encouraged by his long-time friend Jacques Swaters, took part in the 1949 Spa 24 Hours with a BMW, and then drove a Veritas in the 1950 event, before helping found Ecurie Belgique. |
| In truth, he was not a talented driver, but his enthusiasm was such that when the team regrouped as Ecurie Francorchamps in 1952, he remained, racing their Ferrari T500, though his best result that year was a fourth place at Chimay in an HWM. |
| De Tornaco raced less regularly in 1953, but in practice for the Modena GP he rolled the team's Ferrari, fracturing his skull and breaking his neck. |
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