Ivan Franco Capelli

Ivan Franco Capelli, born on May 24, 1963, is a retired Italian racing driver and current broadcaster. Capelli's motorsport journey began in karting at the age of 15, quickly progressing to Formula Three. His early career was marked by significant success, capturing the Italian Formula Three Championship in 1983 and the European Formula Three title in 1984. He further solidified his reputation by winning a race in the European Formula 3000 Championship in 1985.

Capelli entered Formula One in 1985, making his debut with Tyrrell at the European Grand Prix. He then drove for AGS before securing a full-time position with March in 1987. Over his Formula One career, Capelli participated in 98 Grands Prix, achieving three podium finishes. He is particularly remembered for his time with Leyton House, where he secured a second-place finish at the 1990 French Grand Prix, notably ahead of Ayrton Senna. He later drove for Ferrari and Jordan before retiring from Formula One in 1993.

Beyond Formula One, Capelli continued his racing career in touring cars until 2017, achieving victories in the Italian GT Championship and the Trofeo Maserati. Since 1998, he has also been a commentator and pundit for Rai 1, remaining an active figure in the motorsport community.