Which Italian-born driver won Le Mans in 1932, 1934, and 1949?

Luigi Chinetti won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1932, 1934, and 1949.

Born in Italy in 1901, Chinetti began as an Alfa Romeo mechanic and became a leading endurance racer. His first two victories came in Alfa Romeo 8C models, sharing the 1932 win with Raymond Sommer and the 1934 win with Philippe Étancelin.

Chinetti returned after World War II to win in 1949 with Lord Selsdon in a Ferrari 166 MM. That victory made him the second three-time Le Mans winner and gave Ferrari its first overall triumph at the race. He reportedly drove for roughly 23 hours, with Selsdon taking only a brief stint.

A common mix-up is confusing Chinetti with Tazio Nuvolari, who won Le Mans in 1933. Chinetti also became Ferrari’s longtime American importer and founded the North American Racing Team, extending his influence well beyond the circuit.