Ivan Franco Capelli (Milan, 24 May 1963) is an Italian former racing driver of Formula 1.
At the beginning he was a footballer and then he understood that his destiny was not on football field but on racing track. From 1981 to 1985 Capelli was able to take advantage of this passion racing in Italian Formula 3, in Europe Formula 3 and in Formula 3000. In 1985 he finally moved to Formula 1, driving for Scuderia Arrow, but he also alternated periods in Formula 3000.
In 1987 Italian racer Ivan Capelli singed a contract with British team March Engineering to race for them at the year's Formula 1 World Championship, the season where this MOMO steering wheel in our collection was used. Despite the under par performance of the March 871 car, which was slow, unreliable and not very competitive, the Italian driver still managed, thanks mainly to his driving skills and shrewdness, to score a championship point (a 6th place).
1993 was Ivan Capelli's last year in Formula 1. This MOMO steering wheel in the Nicolis Museum collection is rather important, as it was used in his final race of the Formula 1 World Championship. As a matter of fact, after having retired from the South African Grand Prix due to car issues, and, as a result, not being able to qualify for the following Brazilian Grand Prix, the driver decided to call it a day in the top flight.
