Sergio Cresto
Encyclopedia
Sergio Cresto (January 19, 1956 – May 2, 1986) was the co-driver
of Henri Toivonen
at the Lancia
Martini
team for the 1986
World Rally Championship
season. He was also a former co-driver for fellow Lancia employee, the Italian driver Attilio Bettega
.
Sergio Cresto, was born in New York on 19 January 1956. As an Italian American
(American citizen of Italian descent
), Cresto lived in Ospedaletti, near Sanremo. He began racing in an Opel Kadett with Gerbino. In 1979, Cresto was Tonino Tognana’s co-driver in an Opel Kadett as well as in the more powerful Fiat 131 Abarth two years later. In 1981, Cresto and Tognana came in 8th in the Italian Championship. In 1982, Cresto was co-driver with another “top driver", Gianfranco Cunico, in a Fiat Ritmo 130, getting good results. The following year, Cresto again changed drivers and ended the season placing three times at the Italian national level: 6th with Cinotto after the 3rd place finishes at Targa Florio and again at Quattro Regioni in a Lancia 037) 10th with Zanussi (after finishing 2nd at the San Marino Rally in a Lancia 037). With Zanussi, Cresto came in 3rd at Halkidikis as well that year, a European Championship qualifying race. He competed again in the same race the following year with Carlo Capone in a Lancia 037 Tre Gazzelle. After a long successful season and a duel with Toivonen and his Porsche, the Italians eventually won the European Championship. After Perissinot’s accident, Cresto was Bettega’s co-driver for two races qualifying for the World Championship. In 1985, he raced again with Zanussi for Lancia.
In 1986 Cresto was Henri Toivonen's codriver in a Lancia Delta S4
. After a strong start to the season, including a win in the Rally Monte Carlo, Toivonen and Cresto were the favourites for the World Championship title. It all came to an end however at the Tour de Corse
were they both died as a result of the crash during the eighteenth stage of the rally. Their accident meant that the quick Group B
cars were banned after the 1986 season
.
Co-driver
Co-driver is the term given to the navigator of rally car in the sport of rally racing, who sits in the front passenger seat. The co-driver's job is to navigate, by reading off a set of pacenotes to the driver, often over a radio headset, due to the high level of noise in the car...
of Henri Toivonen
Henri Toivonen
Henri Pauli Toivonen was a Finnish rally driver born in Jyväskylä, the home of Rally Finland. His father, Pauli Toivonen, was the 1968 European Rally Champion for Porsche and his brother, Harri Toivonen, became a professional circuit racer.Toivonen's first World Rally Championship victory came...
at the Lancia
Lancia
Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more...
Martini
Martini Racing
Martini Racing is the name under which various motor racing teams raced when sponsored by the Martini & Rossi distillery that produces Martini vermouth. Martini's sponsorship program began in 1968...
team for the 1986
1986 World Rally Championship season
The 1986 World Rally Championship season was the 14th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile World Rally Championship . The season consisted of 13 rallies, including all twelve venues of the previous season as well as the addition of the Olympus Rally...
World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
season. He was also a former co-driver for fellow Lancia employee, the Italian driver Attilio Bettega
Attilio Bettega
Attilio Bettega was an Italian rally driver.Bettega was born in Molveno, Trentino. In 1982, he joined the Lancia squad driving the Lancia 037 after some years with Fiat. In his Lancia years he gained four podium finishes in rallies counting towards the World Rally Championship...
.
Sergio Cresto, was born in New York on 19 January 1956. As an Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
(American citizen of Italian descent
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
), Cresto lived in Ospedaletti, near Sanremo. He began racing in an Opel Kadett with Gerbino. In 1979, Cresto was Tonino Tognana’s co-driver in an Opel Kadett as well as in the more powerful Fiat 131 Abarth two years later. In 1981, Cresto and Tognana came in 8th in the Italian Championship. In 1982, Cresto was co-driver with another “top driver", Gianfranco Cunico, in a Fiat Ritmo 130, getting good results. The following year, Cresto again changed drivers and ended the season placing three times at the Italian national level: 6th with Cinotto after the 3rd place finishes at Targa Florio and again at Quattro Regioni in a Lancia 037) 10th with Zanussi (after finishing 2nd at the San Marino Rally in a Lancia 037). With Zanussi, Cresto came in 3rd at Halkidikis as well that year, a European Championship qualifying race. He competed again in the same race the following year with Carlo Capone in a Lancia 037 Tre Gazzelle. After a long successful season and a duel with Toivonen and his Porsche, the Italians eventually won the European Championship. After Perissinot’s accident, Cresto was Bettega’s co-driver for two races qualifying for the World Championship. In 1985, he raced again with Zanussi for Lancia.
In 1986 Cresto was Henri Toivonen's codriver in a Lancia Delta S4
Lancia Delta S4
The Lancia Delta S4 is a Group B rally car that competed in the World Rally Championship in 1985 and 1986, until Group B cars were banned from competition by the FIA. The car replaced and was an evolution of the Lancia 037 Monte Carlo. The S4 took full advantage of the Group B regulations, and...
. After a strong start to the season, including a win in the Rally Monte Carlo, Toivonen and Cresto were the favourites for the World Championship title. It all came to an end however at the Tour de Corse
Tour de Corse
The Tour de Corse - Rallye de France is a rally first held in 1956 on the island of Corsica. It was part of the World Rally Championship from the inaugural 1973 season to 2008. The name "Tour de Corse" refers to the fact that in the early days it was run around the island; nowadays it only features...
were they both died as a result of the crash during the eighteenth stage of the rally. Their accident meant that the quick Group B
Group B
Group B was a set of regulations introduced in 1982 for competition vehicles in sportscar racing and rallying regulated by the FIA. The Group B regulations fostered some of the quickest, most powerful and sophisticated rally cars ever built. However, a series of major accidents, some fatal, were...
cars were banned after the 1986 season
1986 World Rally Championship season
The 1986 World Rally Championship season was the 14th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile World Rally Championship . The season consisted of 13 rallies, including all twelve venues of the previous season as well as the addition of the Olympus Rally...
.