Throughout his career, and in addition to his very many triumphs on two wheels, Giacomo Agostini also made time for a brief but very intense adventure in the world of car racing, in the latter stages of his career. 

The test with the Prancing Horse

Agostini’s short-term relationship with cars lasted from 1978 to 1980 and came immediately after his retirement from motorcycle racing, but in truth it had begun long before… during the winter between 1966 and 1967 Ago took part in a test at the wheel of the Ferrari Dino 206 S Berlinetta, at the request of none other than Enzo Ferrari.

Ago carried out the test alongside two more promising Italians, namely Ignazio Giunti and Andrea De Adamich. According to sources at the time, Giacomo was very fast, so much so that the Drake wanted to sign him up. On one condition though - he’d have to leave the bikes behind. Agostini was not convinced, and decided to continue with his motorcycle career. 

F2 and Formula Aurora

Agostini tried again in 1978, taking on the F2 class, a gateway to F1. The results were less than brilliant, and so it was that he moved to Formula Aurora AFX for the following two seasons. A category that was a sort of British F1 and in which the 15-time world champion got on a lot better, even reaching the podium on seven occasions.

In the end, the legend never arrived in the top class of Formula 1 but he nevertheless had the opportunity to line up against the likes of Niki Lauda and Gilles Villeneuve in races outside of the world championship.

We talk about this, and much more besides, in “Giacomo Agostini, un mito lungo 80 anni”, written by the Motosprint team and on sale from Tuesday 14 June. Don’t miss it.

Translated by Heather Watson

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