Toni Branca

15/9/1916 - 10/5/1985

Record updated 10-Mar-08

Swiss amateur Formula One driver who's motor racing was apparently financed by an admiring Belgian countess.

Toni Branca
Anton "Toni" Branca was a Swiss amateur Formula One driver. According to the legend, his motor racing was financed by an admiring Belgian countess.

He made his Formula 1 debut in 1950 at Bremgarten in the Swiss Grand Prix. Driving a Scuderia Achille Varzi Maserati 4CL he qualified 17th and finished the race in 11th. He came 10th in the Belgian Grand Prix and also raced in Formula 2 where his best effort was a front row start in the GP of Nations, Geneva, in a race which he led briefly.

At the Schauinsland hillclimb in 1950 he came second behind Rudi Fischer and ahead of Paul Pietsch who finished third.

He finished 4th in the F2 race in Aix the Bains with a Simca Gordini and he came fifth in the 1951 Pescara Grand Prix. After an unispiring and short career, he disappeared from racing at the end of the 1951 season.



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