Pierre Boncompagni

In 1947, Boncompagni took part in the Circuito di Pescara in a Stanguellini 1100 but retired.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Pescara-1947-08-15.html|title=Circuito di Pescara 1947 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} In 1949, he finished second in a race for cars over 2000cc in Nice and was second in class in a hillclimb at Mt. Ventoux.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Nice-1949-06-12-29373.html|title=Nice [+2.0] 1949 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://pilotos-muertos.com/2012/Pagnibon%20Pierre.html|title=No Mirando A Nuestro Daño - Todos Los Pilotos Muertos - Pierre Pagnibon|work=pilotos-muertos.com|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203005943/http://pilotos-muertos.com/2012/Pagnibon%20Pierre.html|archive-date=3 February 2020|url-status=dead|language=Spanish}} Although his biggest successes would be in sportscars, he also drove a DB in some 500cc Formula Three races: in 1950 he retired from a race at Montlhéry, and in 1951 he raced at Draguignan, finishing runner-up in the second heat.{{cite web|url=https://500race.org/records/500cc-formula-3-results-for-france-monaco/|title=500cc Formula 3 Results for France & Monaco - 500race.org|work=500race.org|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901140344/https://500race.org/records/500cc-formula-3-results-for-france-monaco/|archive-date=1 September 2021|url-status=live}}

In 1950, he purchased a Talbot-Lago T150C SS, chassis number 90120, and would drive it under the entry Ecurie Nice to considerable success over the next two years.{{cite magazine|title=1939 Talbot-Lago T150C SS Aerocoupe|magazine=Sports Car Market|pages=46–47|first=Miles|last=Collier|date=November 2008|access-date=15 September 2021|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=btZ6X8N3HIcC&pg=PA46}} He returned to the event in Nice, driving a Cisitalia to second in the 1100cc race and winning the race for cars over three litres in the Talbot-Lago.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Nice-1950-04-09-29368.html|title=Nice [1.1] 1950 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Nice-1950-04-09-29372.html|title=Nice [+3.0] 1950 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} Later that year, he finished fourth in the Coupes du Salon at Montlhéry.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Montlhery-1950-10-08-7339.html|title=Coupes du Salon 1950 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}

File:1951-09-12 Tour de France WINNER Ferrari 212 0078E Boncompagni Barraquet.jpg.]]

1951 saw Boncompagni's sportscar career gain strong momentum. The year began at the {{ill|Agadir Grand Prix|fr|Grand Prix automobile d'Agadir}}, where he won the S1.1 and S1.5 races in his Cisitalia and the S+3.0 race in his Talbot-Lago.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Agadir-1951-01-28-16903.html|title=GP Agadir [S1.1] 1951 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Agadir-1951-01-28-16904.html|title=GP Agadir [S1.5] 1951 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Agadir-1951-01-28-7235.html|title=GP Agadir [S+3.0] 1951 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} He repeated his victory at Nice in the Talbot-Lago,{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Nice-1951-04-01-7793.html|title=Nice [+3.0] 1951 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} and took a further three wins in the {{ill|Circuit d'Orléans|fr|Circuit d'Orléans}}, the Circuit de Bressuire and at Agen.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Orleans-1951-05-07-7814.html|title=Circuit d'Orleans 1951 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Bressuire-1951-06-15-6464.html|title=Circuit de Bressuire 1951 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Agen-1951-xx-xx-7813.html|title=Agen 1951 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} He also won hillclimb events at Mt. Ventoux and Draguignan.{{cite web|url=https://www.historicracing.com/driverDetail.cfm?driverID=7802|title=Pierre Boncompagni|work=historicracing.com|access-date=16 September 2021}} He came within minutes of winning the {{ill|12 Hours of Hyères|fr|12 Heures de Hyères}}, only for mechanical failure to strike within touching distance of the finish.{{cite web|url=https://supercarnostalgia.com/blog/hyeres-12-hours|title=Lost Circuits: A History of the Hyeres street track — Supercar Nostalgia|work=supercarnostalgia.com|date=22 July 2019 |access-date=16 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=1259|title=Motorsport Memorial - Pierre Pagnibon|work=motorsportmemorial.org|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018000930/http://motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=1259|archive-date=18 October 2020|url-status=live}}

The same year, the {{ill|Automobile Club de Nice|fr|Automobile Club de Nice}} reinstated the Tour de France Automobile, one of the world's oldest motorsport events. The road rally was to be held over six stages and {{convert|5239|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. Boncompagni hired a Ferrari 212 Export (serial number 0078E) from Luigi Chinetti and won the first edition of this revived event alongside navigator Alfred Barraquet.{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/41771-tour-de-france-automobile-1951/|title=Final results Tour de France Automobile 1951|work=ewrc-results.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Tour_de_France-1951-09-12.html|title=Tour de France 1951 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} It would rank among his most famous victories. Chinetti later exported the car to the United States in order to support his young protégé Phil Hill in club racing events.{{cite magazine|title=Looking back with Phil Hill|magazine=Motor Sport|pages=960–962|first=Alan|last=Henry|date=September 1974|access-date=15 September 2021|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-1974/42/looking-back-with-phil-hill}}

File:1952-06-14 Le Mans Ferrari 225 0152EL Cole.jpg raced by Boncompagni (not in picture) and Tom Cole (left) in the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans.]]

In 1952, Boncompagni returned to the Agadir Grand Prix and won the S+2.0 race in his Talbot-Lago.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Agadir-1952-01-27-9500.html|title=Agadir [S+2.0] 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1952.html|title=Non Championship Races 1952|work=wsrp.cz|access-date=15 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731110651/http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1952.html|archive-date=31 July 2021|url-status=live}} He then entered several races in a Ferrari 212 Export purchased from Chinetti, serial number 0141T.{{cite magazine|title=1951 Ferrari 212 Export Berlinetta|magazine=Sports Car Market|first=Michael|last=Duffey|date=February 2000|access-date=15 September 2021|url=https://www.sportscarmarket.com/profile/1951-ferrari-212-export-berlinetta}}{{cite web|url=https://www.barchetta.cc/english/all.ferraris/detail/0141t.212inter.htm|title=212 Inter s/n 0141T|work=barchetta.cc|access-date=15 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016110021/http://www.barchetta.cc/english/all.ferraris/detail/0141t.212inter.htm|archive-date=16 October 2019|url-status=live}} At Montlhéry, he placed second in the Coupes de Vitesse and won the supporting race for production cars.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Montlhery-1952-03-30-8306.html|title=Coupes de Vitesse 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Montlhery-1952-03-30-8309.html|title=Coupes de Vitesse [Production] 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} He finished first in class at the Circuit de Nîmes,{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Nimes-1952-04-06-8322.html|title=Nimes 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} won the {{ill|Course de côte du Val de Cuech|fr|Course de côte du Val de Cuech}} (a hillclimb in Salon-de-Provence), and was third in class in the hillclimb at Mt. Ventoux. He returned to Montlhéry for the Spring Cup, where he won the production race and finished second in the Formula Libre race.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Montlhery-1952-04-27-6477.html|title=Coupe de Printemps [Production] 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Montlhery-1952-04-27-11625.html|title=Coupe de Printemps [Formula Libre] 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} In his final outing in the car, he won the S3.0 race at Bordeaux.

For the remainder of the season, Boncompagni loaned a Ferrari 225 S, serial number 0152EL.{{cite web|url=https://www.barchetta.cc/english/All.Ferraris/Detail/0152el.225.htm|title=225 Sport s/n 0152EL|work=barchetta.cc|access-date=15 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205165233/http://www.barchetta.cc/english/All.Ferraris/Detail/0152el.225.htm|archive-date=5 February 2020|url-status=live}} He drove it to fifth in the Monaco Grand Prix, held that year as a sportscar race. His success that season had caught the attention of Enzo Ferrari, who offered Boncompagni an entry to the 24 Hours of Le Mans under the official Scuderia Ferrari banner. He entered his car to the race with Tom Cole as a second driver, but retired with electrical issues.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Le_Mans-1952-06-15.html|title=Le Mans 24 Hours 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} He entered the Grand Prix of Reims but retired with rear axle failure.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Reims-1952-06-29-2077.html|title=GP Reims 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} He returned to the Tour de France with navigator Adolfo Macchieraldo and finished second overall.{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/41772-tour-de-france-automobile-1952/|title=Final results Tour de France Automobile 1952|work=ewrc-results.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Tour_de_France-1952-09-16.html|title=Tour de France 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} He raced in the Autumn cup at Montlhéry but did not finish,{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Montlhery-1952-09-21-6060.html|title=Coupe d'Automne [+2.0] 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}} won his class and placed second overall at Agen,{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Agen-1952-09-28-8321.html|title=Agen 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}{{cite magazine|title=Reports of Recent Events|magazine=Motor Sport|page=488|author=|date=November 1952|access-date=15 September 2021|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-1952/8/reports-of-recent-events-november-1952}} and round out the year with a class victory in the production car race at the Coupes du Salon.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Montlhery-1952-10-05-8273.html|title=Coupes du Salon [Production] 1952 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}

Image:1953-03-29 Nimes Ferrari 340 0236MM Boncompagni.jpg In 1953, Boncompagni purchased a Ferrari 340 MM, serial number 0236MM.{{cite web|url=https://www.barchetta.cc/english/All.Ferraris/Detail/0236MM.340MM.htm|title=340 MM PF Berlinetta 0236MM|work=barchetta.cc|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024155754/http://www.barchetta.cc/english/All.Ferraris/Detail/0236MM.340MM.htm|archive-date=24 October 2019|url-status=live}} He took it to the Agadir Grand Prix where he finished second in the S+2.0 race,{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Agadir-1953-02-15-9151.html|title=GP Agadir [S+2.0] 1953 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=16 September 2021}} and to the Circuit de Nîmes where he finished second in the S+1.5 race.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Nimes-1953-03-29-9146.html|title=Nîmes [S+1.5] 1953 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=16 September 2021}} In this car, Boncompagni won the Rallye Soleil-Cannes, an eight-day road rally across France.{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/56035-rallye-soleil-cannes-1953/|title=Final results Rallye Soleil-Cannes 1953|work=ewrc-results.com|access-date=16 September 2021}}{{cite magazine|title=Le rallye Soleil Cannes|magazine=Le Monde|date=2 April 1953|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1953/04/02/le-rallye-soleil-cannes_1974108_1819218.html|language=French}} He drove it to second in the Coupes de Vitesse,{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Montlhery-1953-04-12-6086.html|title=Coupes de Vitesse 1953 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=16 September 2021}} and won the 3 Hours of Algeria under the Ecurie Côte d'Azur banner.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Staoueli-1953-05-24-6486.html|title=3 h Algeria 1953 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=16 September 2021}}

Boncompagni purchased a 340 MM Touring Spyder, serial number 0268AM, and drove it to victory in the Spring Cup at Montlhéry.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/laps/Montlhery-1953-05-31-9178.html|title=Coupe de Printemps [S+2.0] 1953 - All Session Laps - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=16 September 2021}}

Boncompagni took his 340 MM Touring Spyder to the {{ill|12 Hours of Hyères|fr|12 Heures de Hyères}} on 7 June 1953. The race began at 6 a.m. and was held in pouring rain. Boncompagni was leading and had just set the fastest lap, which would stand until the end of the race. On the 34th lap, shortly before 8 a.m., he lost control of his car at a high-speed bend near the hippodrome on the easternmost part of the street circuit. The car hit a telegraph pole and overturned, fatally injuring him. A one-minute silence was held after the race's conclusion in remembrance of Boncompagni and of Jean Heurtaux, the winner of the 1952 edition who had been killed four weeks earlier in a hillclimb near Saint-Étienne. A monument was installed near the scene of his accident, situated on the D197 at the northwest corner of the Hippodrome du Var.{{cite magazine|title=In Memoriam|magazine=Motor Sport|page=81|author=|date=February 1956|access-date=15 September 2021|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-1956/27/in-memoriam-4}}

Prior to his fatal accident, Boncompagni had been entered for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Talbot-Lago T26 GS.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Le_Mans-1953-06-14.html|title=Le Mans 24 Hours 1953 - Photo Gallery - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}

Boncompagni raced under the nom de course "Pagnibon", a slight modification of his surname. It has been suggested that the surname Boncompagni was notorious in France after he had acted as a collaborationist during the Second World War, which led him to avoid using it for his racing exploits.{{cite web|url=https://forums.autosport.com/topic/74408-pagnibon-and-obscure-sportscar-races/|title=Pagnibon' and obscure sportscar races (Post #8)|work=forums.autosport.com|access-date=16 September 2021}} His family hailed from Italy and his wife was from Turin. He operated a mechanics business in Alpes-Maritimes with help from Alfred Barraquet, his navigator in the 1951 Tour de France.

• {{Commons category-inline|Pierre Boncompagni|Pierre Boncompagni}}
• [https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/-%22Pagnibon%22-F.html "Pagnibon"] at racingsportscars.com.
• [https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/152170-pierre-boncompagni/ Pierre "Pagnibon" Boncompagni] at ewrc-results.com.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Boncompagni, Pierre}}

Category:1913 births

Category:1953 deaths

Category:French racing drivers

Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers

Category:Racing drivers who died while racing

Category:Racing drivers from Nice