October 25, 2024: He made his driving debut on a motocross bike, only moving to four wheels many years later. He has ties to Ferrari, with his long term as president of the Roma Centro Ferrari Club. He has a passion for vintage cars, and has a few road-going vehicles, above all Lancias, and he is competing in the 2024 season of the Alfa Revival Cup with the number 44 1974 GTV 2000 together with the Capannone Garage Team, often sharing the wheel with Gianluca Bardelli. He manages Capannone Garage together with Marco Milla. Let’s get to know him a little better.
When did you decide to start motor racing? What car did you begin with?
“In reality, my adventures in motorsports began in the Seventies, with bikes, in the Italian Motocross Championship, and then in regularity races. In that period, the Italian off-road motorbike sector was blooming, and there were lots of worthy manufacturers, such as Fantic, Aspes, SWM and Ancillotti, to name but a few. This was followed by a pause for me, and then I started up again in the Kart Club Championship.
My first experience with cars came in the Nineties. The Ferrari F355 Challenge brought me to the Gran Criterium Ferrari, a regularity championship for Ferrari cars. After a few seasons, I spent 4 years taking part in track-based speed races in the Ferrari Club Italia Trophy.
This long period with Ferrari was followed, in 2013, with my signing up for the “5 Hundred Supercup”, a fun single-brand competition dedicated to the current Fiat 500 (2007-2024). The cars were all prepared in the same manner, with racetrack trim, and powered with a 1.4, sixteen-valve engine with specific exhaust, intake and control unit, delivering up to 120 hp. With this pocket rocket I took part for two times at the 24 hours of Adria.
In 2014 I raced in the M3 Revival Cup with an E36 three-litre inline-6 engine, coming first in the N 3.0 class.
From 2016 to 2019 I raced with a 1.3 Peugeot 106 Rallye, a little car that was extremely satisfying to drive. I won first place overall, first place in the N CIVT 1.3 class, and came first in the Gentlemen category in 2015, for the Blue France Race Cup championship. Between 2016 and 2018 I won the Italiano Super Cup trophy, also coming first in the N CIVT 1.3 class (2016-17) and in the Turismo 6 class (2018).
In 2020, I began to race with Alfa Romeo, and I took part in a few Alfa Revival Cup competitions, as well as in the Italian Vintage Car Championship with Marco Milla’s Giulietta. I fell in love with the world of Alfas, buying the GT Veloce 2000 and signing up for the Italian Vintage Car Championship. Finally, in 2024, I have finally reached the Alfa Revival Cup.”
How did your passion for cars begin?
“Motoring is a hobby for me, because I have been in advertising for more than forty years. My father got me started. He had some magnificent cars, above all Lancias, but also BMWs, Opels and Mercedes-Benzes.
My first car was a Fiat 127, which was soon replaced with an Innocenti Mini 1001 (also known as the “Mini Morris” and, in that period, extremely trendy). As time went on, I bought a Rover P6 2000 TC, then a Nuova Giulietta (1977), and two SAAB 9000s, one coupé and the other cabrio. My love affair with Ferrari began in the Nineties, first with the F355 Berlinetta and then with the F430 Scuderia transformed into a GT, which is still my favourite. Right now, I have a 550 Maranello.
The highlight was when my passion was rewarded with the honours, and duties, of President of the Roma Centro Ferrari Club, and of event coordinator for the Lazio Ferrari club, posts I held until 2019.
For many years, I was part of the Roma Ferrari Club, which was founded by the singer Little Tony, and which later became Roma Appia Antica, leading it through the process to become a Scuderia Ferrari Club. Then, together with other Ferrari-owning friends, we acquired the Scuderia Ferrari Club of Frascati, whose spokesperson was Prisca Taruffi, daughter of the great racing driver Piero; we developed the club, which later became “Roma Centro”.
What does it mean to race, for you? Describe the sensation?
“Racing brings out a strong competitive spirit in me. As Marco Milla says: “When Fausto gets behind the wheel, he is not the same old Fausto.” I lower the visor, I concentrate; it is just me, alone, facing the challenge. I need to prove to myself that I can still do it; it is like a test, and this leads me to be critical. I strive for the best possible performance, I draw on the experience and the advice of all the other drivers, I seek out racetrack secrets, always learning something new. I have always applied this motto in life: “Always stay close to those who know and have more than you.”
What is your favourite moment in a race?
“The duel; that is when you really compete. I also like encountering other cars like mine in the same class.”
What is the best race that you have taken part in?
“The Imola circuit, Super Cup championship with the Peugeot 106 Rallye 1.3; an incredible comeback that led me to be the overall winner that year. The 106 is extremely fast for its capacity. It’s a car to be driven calmly; it is light, front-wheel drive, a rigid body, with enough power to deliver excellent performance in terms of speed.”
When did you decide to race with vintage Alfas?
“I began four years ago, with Marco Milla’s Giulietta, because I have always admired Alfa Romeos.”
Why did you choose the Alfa Revival Cup?
“Because it has a friendly atmosphere, and I feel at ease there, also because the client is given so much attention.”
What are your goals?
“I hope to win the H1 T 2000 class.”
Capannone Garage is not just the name of the team, right?
“Mechanics have always been my passion, and ever since I began with motorbikes, I have enjoyed working on motors. The Capannone Garage project began, with Marco Milla, in the vicinity of Vallelunga, where we rented a building to park my vintage cars in, including two Lancia Fulvia coupés. We then moved to a larger space, an ex-hangar, again in Campagnano. Then came the current building, which used to belong to a collector; we purchased a third, and I told Marco to make use of this huge space. Then fate stepped in. I went to an event in Frankfurt named “Piste e piloti” with the Alfa 33 Trofeo, and it was there that I understood that the combination of storage and light maintenance services was a viable business. Marco was enthusiastic to hear my proposal, and we founded the business, which is targeted at vintage car owners who need a safe and trustworthy space to park their vehicles, and also want them to be kept in perfect condition, ready to use.”
