IT HASN’T ESCAPED EMANUELE PIRRO that he’s been rather popular of late. Perhaps this should come as no surprise. After all, interest in the Le Mans 24 Hours, where the charming Italian claimed five victories for Audi between 2000 and 2007, reached an all-time high in 2023, the classic race’s 100th anniversary year.
But rather than his exploits behind the wheel – which in Formula 1 peaked with fifth place for Benetton in the 1989 Australian Grand Prix – his continually pinging inbox has had everything to do with his appointment last April to head up McLaren’s driver development programme.
“A lot of time is dedicated to responding to people because once you become director of a programme like this, you find out your number of friends worldwide increased dramatically!” Pirro tells GP Racing.
Following his retirement from racing in 2008 (although he made sporadic appearances two years later for the team owned by former UK science minister Paul Drayson) Pirro worked with the FIA, serving on various commissions and becoming a well-respected driver steward in Formula 1. This period developed in him a desire to
