Renato Molinari

{{Short description|Italian powerboat racer (1946–2024)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Renato Molinari

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1946|2|27}}

| birth_place = Nesso, Italy

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2024|9||1946|2|27}}

| death_place =

| related to =

| current series = F1 Powerboat World Championship

| last series =

| first year = 1981

| current team =

| former teams =

| starts =

| wins =

| poles =

| fastest laps =

| best finish = 1st

| year = 1981

| prev series =

| prev series °years =

| titles = F1 Powerboat World Championship

| title years = 1981, 1983, 1984

}}

Renato Molinari (27 February 1946 – September 2024) was an Italian powerboat racer, and the inaugural winner of the John Player Special F1 Powerboat World Championship in 1981, and won titles again in 1983 and 1984. In addition to this success, Molinari was an 18-time World Champion (in different categories); 11-time European Champion (in different categories), 4-time winner of the Rouen 24 hours, 4-time winner of the Paris 6 hours; twice winner of the Parker Enduro and 3-time winner of the Berlin 6 hours.{{cite news|title=Renato Molinari|url=http://www.fastonwater.co.uk/renato_molinari.html|work=Fast on Water}}

Renato and his father Angelo Molinari were instrumental, in the inaugural design and building of the outboard-powered Tunnel race boats in the mid-1960s. The wooden boats from Como Italy were frontrunners to the birth and establishment of the Formula One Race Boats.

Life and career

Molinari was born on 27 February 1946.{{cite news|title= Momenti di gloria-F1 targata Como: Molinari vinse il 1° GP |url=http://www.corrieredicomo.it/f1-targata-como-molinari-vinse-il-1d-gp/|language=it|work=corrieredicomo.it}} He began his boating career in 1964, and won the Formula 1 championship in 1981, 1983 and 1984.{{cite news|title=Renato Molinari|url=http://www.fastonwater.co.uk/renato_molinari.html|work=Fast on Water}} Molinari died in September 2024, at the age of 78.{{cite news |last1=Nebbia |first1=Franca |title=Addio al campione di motonautica Renato Molinari: a Cella Monte il suo buen retiro |url=https://www.lastampa.it/alessandria/2024/09/06/news/addio_campione_motonautica_renato_molinari_cella_monte_buen_retiro-14612068/ |access-date=6 September 2024 |publisher=La Stampa |date=6 September 2024}}

References