The beaming countenance and charming manner of Alessandro Nannini were among the more pleasing aspects of life in the Formula 1 paddock in the late eighties. Certainly it was Grand Prix racing's loss when his career was so devastatingly wrecked by a helicopter accident in which his right arm was severed. Surgeons were able to re-attach the limb but controlling an F1 car was now beyond him and the popular Italian's misfortune seemed all the more cruel since his Grand Prix prospects had been at their zenith.
Sandro began his racing activities off road with a Lancia Stratos, before turning to circuit racing in 1981 in Formula Italia. He then took a big jump into Formula 2 with Minardi in 1982, replacing the team's previous star, Michele Alboreto, who had moved into F1 with Tyrrell. Nannini soon proved himself a worthy successor and by the end of the season he had taken a second place at Misano. In 1983 Minardi produced a promising but initially unworkable new car, and Nanni
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