Pietro Bordino, the first Monza winner

In 1922, the new Italian racing circuit was opened at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. Bordino and Nazzaro completed the first test laps on July 28 in a Fiat 501, with construction completed in a remarkable 100 days. In September, Bordino won the inaugural race, for sports cars, in a Fiat. He won the Italian Voiturette Grand Prix in a Fiat 502 – a new 1.5-litre design using half the engine of the 801. For the second Italian Grand Prix, at Monza a few days later, despite heavy rain 100000 spectators turned out (arriving in almost 25% of Italy’s complete automobile fleet of 41000 cars at the time). Fiat had introduced their new 804 model for the 2-litre formula, and were the strong favourites on their home track. They had dominated the recent, blue riband French Grand Prix, won by Nazzaro. In that race the suspension of Bordino’s Fiat had collapsed while he was leading, fortunately without significant injury. But an almost identical accident earlier in the race had killed Nazzaro’s nephew.

The race was diminished, as most of the other works teams had cancelled their attendance. From a promising 38 entries, only six started, including Bordino, Nazzaro and Enrico Giaccone for Fiat. Once again, Bordino took the lead from the start. By the 50th of 80 laps there were only three cars left running, and Bordino could ease off to take a comfortable victory from Nazzaro. Overnight, Bordino became a national celebrity, and his hard-driving style in the red Fiats earned him the nickname of Diavolo Rosso (Red devil).