From Rural Roots to Formula 1 Glory: Celebrating Reutemann’s 60th Anniversary of First Victory
Sixty years ago, a young Carlos Alberto Reutemann secured his first victory in Argentine motorsport, a triumph that foreshadowed a decade of success culminating in a Formula 1 World Championship. This milestone, achieved on July 11, 1965, in the Improved Tourism category – now known as National Tourism – marked the beginning of a legendary career forged through dedication, natural talent, and the unwavering support of key figures like the Grossi brothers.
Reutemann’s journey began far from the glamorous circuits of Europe. He grew up on a family estancia in Manucho, a town 43 kilometers north of Santa Fe, where the demands of rural life instilled in him a unique work ethic and mechanical aptitude. By the age of eight, he was already operating tractors and even his father Enrique’s 1929 Ford. His daily commute to school – a 10-kilometer horseback ride – further demonstrated his commitment and resilience. This upbringing earned him the nickname “Lolechone,” stemming from his explanation to friends that he couldn’t play because he needed to check on the piglets.
Even as a child, Reutemann’s passion for motorsport burned brightly. He devoured publications from Europe featuring drivers like Mike Hawthorn, Peter Collins, and Stirling Moss, and, of course, the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio. This early exposure fueled his ambition, and he began honing his skills with his brother Enrique, practicing on makeshift circuits near the Salado River. “The mud gave Carlos a lot of sensitivity to the wheel,” Enrique recalled in a recent interview with Infobae.
After completing his secondary studies, Reutemann briefly returned to work on the family estancia before fully committing to racing. In 1964, the Grossi brothers – Carlos and Américo – along with the Alvear Automobile firm, provided a crucial opportunity, acquiring a Fiat 1500 for competition in Improved Tourism. The car, prepared in a Rafaela workshop, became available the following year when the original driver, Heriberto Beans, retired. Reutemann, a constant presence at the races, relentlessly pursued Félix Crocce, the Grossi’s manager, for a chance to drive.
Crocce eventually relented, and Reutemann immediately impressed. “After a week I gave him my car and told him to take me to the South Park,” Crocce recalled to CORSA magazine. “I prompted him to walk quickly and when he did really impressed me. He folded by the correct radios, braking on top, used the box well and had excellent reflexes.” While Carlos Grossi initially favored another driver, Luis Keller, Américo championed Reutemann, ultimately deciding the matter with a head-to-head test on a challenging course in Córdoba. “Reutemann had been going down thoroughly and just as the ‘s’ came and left,” Américo explained. “That decided our choice.”
Reutemann’s early career wasn’t without its challenges. He even found himself in a precarious situation with the police while driving the Fiat 1500, lacking the necessary paperwork. “I put first and left,” he recounted on a television program. “I had no alternative, knowing that I was going to have a problem with the police.”
His debut race in Córdoba on May 30th ended in mechanical failure, but Reutemann already demonstrated a meticulous approach, studying the circuit on foot for hours beforehand. “When he debuted in Carlos Paz, he left on Tuesday prior to the circuit to travel it on foot and on Saturday he recited the 600 memory curves,” Américo recalled. “My brother told me that ‘We were facing a diploma pilot at the University’.”
The breakthrough came on July 11, 1965, at the Onofre Marimón circuit in Villa Carlos Paz. Driving the same Fiat 1500, Reutemann secured his first victory in Improved Tourism. “The race was called the return to the sugar bread,” he later said. “That race I won very well.” At just 23 years old, Reutemann had announced his arrival as a force to be reckoned with.
Under the continued guidance of the Grossi brothers, Reutemann’s success continued. He joined the Fiat dealer commission team, achieving back-to-back class D victories in 1966 and 1967, surpassing established drivers like Alberto Rodríguez Larreta and Francisco Alberto “Paco” Mayorga. He amassed 14 victories, including notable wins in the Northwest and two series in the Mountain Grand Prix in 1968.
The Grossi brothers also facilitated Reutemann’s entry into monopostos, securing him a De Tomaso-Fiat for Formula 1 Argentina. He also competed in Road Tourism with the iconic Ford Falcon Angostado in 1968, and in prototype sport with a Huayra-Ford in 1969. Reutemann’s dedication to his craft was unwavering. “I do not have fun in the races,” he once confessed to Corsa. “For me to run it is not fun if not something serious. To have fun, play. Running is something else.”
This professionalism and consistent success led to his inclusion in the Argentine Club Automobile (ACA) team, where he won the National Formula 2 championship in 1970, earning him a promotion to European Formula 2. His debut in Europe on April 12, 1970, on his 28th birthday, surprised many of the established drivers.
After finishing as runner-up in Formula 2 in 1971, Reutemann finally reached Formula 1, debuting in Argentina on January 23, 1972, with a stunning pole position. Over the next decade, he became one of the sport’s leading drivers, achieving a World Championship in 1981, 12 Grand Prix victories (with two additional non-championship wins), 146 career starts, 45 podium finishes, 6 pole positions, and 6 fastest laps. He drove for Brabham, Ferrari, Lotus, and Williams – all top teams of the era.
However, Reutemann never forgot his roots. His early triumphs in Argentina, nurtured by the Grossi brothers, laid the foundation for his global success. Sixty years ago, a young man from Santa Fe took his first step towards becoming a motorsport icon, a story that continues to inspire generations of racing enthusiasts.
