28 May 2001: Irish motoring journalists and people in the Irish motor industry were horrified this weekend to hear that a former CEO of Fiat Auto Ireland, Christian Peruzzi, had been killed on Friday during practice at Nurburgring for the 24-hour race.

Driving his diesel-powered Alfa Romeo 147, the experienced part-time racing driver barrel-rolled his car at an estimated 120mph. Doctors who went to the scene were unable to help the 38-year-old Peruzzi, who died on his birthday.

Christian Peruzzi made many friends in ireland during his stint at Fiat Auto Ireland between 1997-1999. Since leaving, first to head up the Fiat/Alfa operation in Austria and currently chairman of imports for the Fiat Auto brands in Germany, he had many times returned to Ireland, the most recent visit being only last week.

He joined Alfa Romeo after graduating as an economist in 1988. He was one of the people behind Alfa Romeo’s works-involvement in the DTM in the mid-90s and was also a strong supporter of the new Alfa 147 Diesel one-make series, due to make its debut in Germany at the end of this season. BB