On the eve of the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona, the event lost one of its most popular stars: Gianpiero Moretti, Mr. MOMO.
Gianpiero Moretti, the man who helped define the term "gentleman racer," passed away Saturday after a long illness at his home in Milan, Italy.
Moretti founded the Italian equipment company MOMO (for Moretti-Monza) in the 1960s. The Italian contested his first Daytona 24 in 1970, when his underfunded Ferrari team finished 32nd.
Moretti fielded red Momo-sponsored Porsche 935s and 962s in the IMSA Camel series. But winning the Daytona 24 remained his ultimate goal and he then entered a Ferrari 333SP.
For the 1998 Daytona 24, Moretti recruited Didier Theys, Mauro Baldi and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk. And after years of frustration, Gianpiero Moretti finally won his Rolex watch on his 15th try in what remains as one of the most popular victories in the history of the Rolex 24.
In two weeks, the NGT Motorsport Porsche GT3 will be painted in the classic MOMO red and yellow in the upcoming Rolex 24 - ensuring that one of the most popular drivers in the history of the event will be there in spirit.
Gianpiero Moretti, the man who helped define the term "gentleman racer," passed away Saturday after a long illness at his home in Milan, Italy.
Moretti founded the Italian equipment company MOMO (for Moretti-Monza) in the 1960s. The Italian contested his first Daytona 24 in 1970, when his underfunded Ferrari team finished 32nd.
Moretti fielded red Momo-sponsored Porsche 935s and 962s in the IMSA Camel series. But winning the Daytona 24 remained his ultimate goal and he then entered a Ferrari 333SP.
For the 1998 Daytona 24, Moretti recruited Didier Theys, Mauro Baldi and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk. And after years of frustration, Gianpiero Moretti finally won his Rolex watch on his 15th try in what remains as one of the most popular victories in the history of the Rolex 24.
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| MOMO Porsche 962 |
In two weeks, the NGT Motorsport Porsche GT3 will be painted in the classic MOMO red and yellow in the upcoming Rolex 24 - ensuring that one of the most popular drivers in the history of the event will be there in spirit.