Onofre Marimon: Argentina cried for him

F1 Retro – August 2004

Over 20 years have passed since F1 had an Argentinian driver, and the world championship last graced Buenos Aires a quarter of a century ago. However, in the mid-1950s, the South American nation was on top of the F1 world.

Multiple champion Fangio was already a living legend, complemented by the rapid José Froilán González and youthful Roberto Mieres. Despite this, it was another young driver the former was mentoring with hopes to take on his mantle: Onofre Marimón, above, born 100 years ago this December.

Tony Watson’s 2004 archive piece describes the son of a racing undertaker, Domingo Marimón, who won the 1948 South American Grand Prix, befriending Fangio along the way.

Taking over the competitive concern from his father, Marimón Jr came third on just his second world championship start, at Belgium in ’53. Fangio said the hotshot was “like a son to me”, and the kid impressed with considerable Formula 1 pace – but tragedy soon struck.

Ignoring El Maestro’s advice to wait so they could run together in practice at the Nürburgring in 1954, Marimón went off at Wehrseifen and was killed.

“Like the rest of the Argentinian drivers, we were at the limit, trying to get near the lap times of Fangio,” said Mieres.

To read the full story visit motorsportmagazine.com/archive