Valerio Colotti
Encyclopedia
Valerio Colotti was an Italian
automotive engineer, known for his early work with Ferrari
and Maserati
chassis and transmission systems.
He joined Ferrari
in 1948, working under Aurelio Lampredi
, followed by employment with Maserati
(1953-1957), until the company dropped factory works racing. In 1958 he started his own company, known as Tec-Mec
(Studio Tecnica Meccanica).
Tec-Mec, assisted by Giorgio Scarlatti
, attempted at the tipo F/415 Formula One
car, mostly based on the Maserati 250F
, in which Colotti had been deeply involved. There was cooperation with Behra-Porsche
(1959) and others such as
Stirling Moss
, who failed in his racing with Cooper T51
, fitted with Colottis, unfortunately rather unreliable, gearboxes.
Colottis cooperation with Alf Francis lead to the Colotti-Francis systems.
With Wolfgang von Trips he designed the Trips-Colotti-Auto Union (TCA), and later their transmissions
were used in Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
(1967).
The company is now called Colotti Trasmissioni and is run by his sons Marco and Paolo.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
automotive engineer, known for his early work with Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
and Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
chassis and transmission systems.
He joined Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
in 1948, working under Aurelio Lampredi
Aurelio Lampredi
Aurelio Lampredi was an Italian automobile and aircraft engine designer.Born in Livorno, he began his career at Piaggio, makers of the Vespa scooter, but quickly moved up to larger engines...
, followed by employment with Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
(1953-1957), until the company dropped factory works racing. In 1958 he started his own company, known as Tec-Mec
Tec-Mec
Tec-Mec was a Formula One constructor from Italy. Founded by former Maserati designer Valerio Colotti in 1958, they participated in a single Grand Prix, scoring no World Championship points....
(Studio Tecnica Meccanica).
Tec-Mec, assisted by Giorgio Scarlatti
Giorgio Scarlatti
Giorgio Scarlatti was a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 15 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 13, 1956. He scored one championship point....
, attempted at the tipo F/415 Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
car, mostly based on the Maserati 250F
Maserati 250F
The Maserati 250F was a racing car made by Maserati of Italy used in '2.5 litre' Formula One racing between January 1954 and November 1960. Twenty-six examples were made.-Mechanical details:...
, in which Colotti had been deeply involved. There was cooperation with Behra-Porsche
Behra-Porsche
Behra-Porsche was a Formula One constructor competing briefly in 1960.The company was founded by Jean Behra, an established French racer. He had been driving a Ferrari D246 in 1959 but was dismissed from the team after the French GP...
(1959) and others such as
Stirling Moss
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
, who failed in his racing with Cooper T51
Cooper T51
The Cooper T51 was a Formula One and Formula Two racing car designed and built by the Cooper Car Company for the 1959 Formula One season. The T51 earned a significant place in motor racing history when Jack Brabham drove the car to become the first driver to win the championship with a rear-engined...
, fitted with Colottis, unfortunately rather unreliable, gearboxes.
Colottis cooperation with Alf Francis lead to the Colotti-Francis systems.
With Wolfgang von Trips he designed the Trips-Colotti-Auto Union (TCA), and later their transmissions
were used in Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is an extremely rare road car built by Alfa Romeo of Italy. Only 18 are reported to have been made, plus three design studies based on the 33 Stradale the 33.2, Iguana and Carabo...
(1967).
The company is now called Colotti Trasmissioni and is run by his sons Marco and Paolo.