The historic pilot Juan María Traverso, multiple national motorsports champion, died at the age of 73. He battled a long illness.
“The ACTC expresses deep regret for the death of Juan María Traverso, the idol who transcended motorsports. We will always…we will always remember “Flaco” from Ramallo. May he rest in peace,” the entity lamented.
Traverso marked an era in Argentine motorsport, in which he won 16 titles, and was an emblematic figure for his maneuvers that made people talk and for his temperament on and off the tracks.
The career of Juan María Traverso
The native of Ramallo, who became a giant at the local level but came to fight internationally (he competed in European Formula 2 in 1979), He was TC champion in 1977, 1978, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999.
In his last seasons he made the jump from Chevrolet to Ford, which generated a revolution in the national sport.
In addition to his conquests in the oldest category on the planet and the most popular in the country, Flaco achieved success in the TC2000 and in the Top Race: in the first, seven coronations (1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1995), and in the other, three (1998, 1999 and 2003). His retirement from the activity occurred in 2005, at the age of 54.
One of his most notable moments was in a TC 2000 race, on April 3, 1988 at the Jaracarepaguá racetrack in Rio de Janeiro, he won with his legendary Renault Fuego coupe burning in flames, which he drove for two and a half laps. until you see the checkered flag. Or the day he ran with one less wheel for a good part of the circuit and still came second.
“That time it caught fire on the side where all the lubricant is. It lost a hose and fell on the exhausts. Smoke started to come out and I knew it was oil. I knew that at some point it would catch fire because the exhausts were red and because of the I was looking at the holes in the floor. I spoke on the radio and told them, ‘I have an oil leak that is falling on the exhausts. I’m going to continue until I fix it,'” said “Flaco” about that episode that marked him in the race. history.
Juan María Traverso’s fights with other pilots
Also his fights with other pilots. He threatened Gabriel Ponce de León in front of the cameras to “screw him up” for what happened during the race. Also with Marcos Di Palma.
Another memorable moment was when, starting from the back of the grid, he surpassed all his rivals to win in the last corner after a touch with “Pato” Silva. Crying, Silva complained about the maneuver and said that his anger was mainly because he planned to dedicate the victory to his father’s birthday. “Let him buy her a jacket,” Traverso responded when asked about the statement.
The life of Juan María Traverso
Juan María Traverso, known in the world of motorsports as “Flaco”, was born on December 28, 1950 in Ramallo, province of Buenos Aires, and since his debut in 1971 in Turismo Carretera, he stood out in the Argentine motorsports scene, competing in the most prestigious categories in the country until his retirement in 2005.
Throughout his career, Traverso won a total of 16 championships and seven runners-up finishes, earning him a prominent place in the history of Argentine motor sports. He particularly stood out in Tourism Competition 2000, a category in which he achieved seven crowns.
Additionally, in Road Tourism he won six championships and in Top Race he won three. His ability was not limited only to these categories, as he also competed in Class 3 of the National Tourism, the Argentine Pilots Club and the Codasur Formula 2.
“Flaco” was widely recognized for his skill behind the wheel and his ability to dominate different types of vehicles and competitions.
In 2000, his exceptional career was honored with the Platinum Konex Award, distinguishing him as the best driver of the decade in Argentina.
Traverso won his first race on October 29, 1972: The Supernafta YPF prize contested in the semi-permanent race of 25 de Mayo. On his triumphant return to Ramallo he was greeted by a crowd and the celebrations lasted three days.
In 1973 he joined the official Ford team, occupying the place that had been left vacant by the death of Nasif Estéfano and having Héctor Luis Gradassi as a partner and, in 1977, he achieved his first Road Tourism championship, winning seven races and repeating the victory. the following year, winning eight competitions.
After his time in Europe, in 1980, Traverso began in the Tourism Competition 2000 with a Ford Taunus and, in 1986, his first championship would arrive with a Renault Coupé Fuego, the same one with which on April 3, 1988 he won a race with the car on fire.
This Saturday, he died in his hometown of Ramallo, leaving an indelible mark on motorsports.
His death had a profound impact on Argentine sport, with fans and colleagues remembering his legacy and the countless exploits that established him as a motorsports legend.
Despite time, the figure of Traverso continues to be an inspiration for new generations of drivers, keeping his memory alive in the hearts of fans and motorsport enthusiasts.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
