People

Franco Antoniazzi

Having studied marine engine design and automobile engineering, Antoniazzi joined the development department of the Ferrari F1 team in 1978, learning the trade from chief engineer Mauro Forghieri. He stayed until 1983 when he was offered the job as technical manager of the racing department of the Gilera motorcycle company. A year later he was lured to Alfa Romeo to work on the Formula 1 engine program after Giovanni Tonti replaced Carlo Chiti as head of engine design. Alfa Romeo decided to withdraw from F1 at the end of 1985 although the engine continued to be developed in 1986.As a return to F1 became increasingly unlikely, Antoniazzi moved to the Aprilia motorcycle team to run the racing department but in 1990 was approached by Forghieri and asked to work with him on the Lamborghini Engineering Formula 1 program. This continued until the end of the 1993 season when talks with McLaren faltered and it was decided to close the operation down. When Lamborghini Engineering closed down Antoniazzi joined Forghieri at Oral Engineering.