Ferdinando Minoia was born in Milan on June 2, 1884. Known by his friends as Nando, his first major race was the 1907 Targa Florio. Thjat yerar he won the Coppa Florio held near Brescia in Italy in an Isotta-Fraschini. In 1923 he drove the legendary Benz Tropfenwagen at Monza. It stood little chance against the cars of FIAT, who had recently discovered the benefits of supercharging. still Minoia managed to finish fourth. Over the years he had driven Isotta Fraschini, Storero, Fiat, De Dietrich, Benz, O.M., Steyr, Bugatti and Alfa Romeo cars. Minoia won the 1927 Mille Miglia in an O.M. sports car. In 1931 he was contracted to drive for Scuderia Ferrari and SA Alfa Romeo. The Italian was very experienced and still fast despite his age and won the first European Drivers Championship when the A.I.A.C.R. introduced a European Championship for drivers. In early 1932, Nando Minoia was appointed Cavaliere of the Italian Crown. He died on 28. June 1940 in his hometown Milan, aged 56.