Alfonso de Portago Biography, Wiki, Height, Weight, Cause of Death Racing Career

Alfonso de Portago Biography: Alfonso de Portago was a Spanish aristocrat, racing and bobsleigh driver, jockey, and pilot.

Alfonso de Portago Biography

Alfonso de Portago Biography: Portago was born in London on 11 October 1928 and educated in Biarritz, France. He learned four languages and spoke English with a unique British accent. Portago was the heir to one of Spain’s most prestigious titles and wealth. Among his ancestors was explorer lvar Nez Cabeza de Vaca. His father was Antonio Cabeza de Vaca, 10th Marquess of Portago, who died at a young age during a polo match. Vicente Cabeza de Vaca, 9th Marquess of Portago and mayor of Madrid, was his paternal grandpa. His mother was an Irish nurse named Olga Leighton.

She also had a daughter named Sol, after Soledad, who married and became recognized in racing circles as the Marchioness of Moratalla. She passed away in 2017. Frank Mackey, Olga’s first husband, was more than 40 years her senior. He committed suicide while terminally ill, leaving Olga a vast fortune he amassed as the founder of Household Finance Corp. Vicente Sartorius, 4th Marquess of Mario, and José Luis de Vilallonga, 9th Marquess of Castellbell, were both first cousins of Portago.

Alfonso de Portago Wiki

Alfonso de Portago Cause of Death

In 1953, he joined the Scuderia Ferrari team. He competed in the Carrera Panamericana, 1000 km Buenos Aires, and various Grand Prix, including a win and second place in the 1956 Tour de France Automobile and 1956 British Grand Prix. His bright career was cut short in May 1957 when his famed Ferrari 335 S crashed outside the village of Guidizzolo during the Mille Miglia when a tire broke while driving along a dead straight road at 150mph, killing both himself and his navigator as well as nine viewers.

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Alfonso de Portago Career

After meeting the Ferrari importer in the United States, Luigi Chinetti, who requested him to be his co-driver in the Carrera Panamericana, Portago began racing sports cars in 1953. Later, he raced alone in a Ferrari Sport model at the 1954 Buenos Aires 1000 kilometers. Six significant races were won by Portago, including the Tour de France, the Grand Prix of Oporto, and the Nassau Governor’s Cup (twice). At 240 km/h in Nassau during the winter of 1956, Portago lagged behind the car in front of him by centimeters. Portago used his skill to avoid crashing into a crowd after the driver in front of him applied the brakes, causing both vehicles to skid 180 meters.

Portago was known as a two-car man among sports car fans because he was responsible for many burned-out brakes, clutches, transmissions, and wrecked vehicles. He often required multiple cars to complete a contest. He competed in five World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, making his debut on July 1, 1956. His finest result was a second-place finish at the 1956 British Grand Prix (as a co-driver with Peter Collins), and he earned four points in the championship. In 1953, he participated in the Carrera Panamericana alongside Chinetti. During the 1955 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Portago fell from his Ferrari after losing control on an oil slick while racing at 140 km/h. He was hospitalized due to a fractured leg.