Piero Dusio

Dusio was born at Scurzolengo, province of Asti. His active soccer career (three games for Juventus 1921–22)[2] ended in a knee injury, after which he started a textile business (oil cloth), which evolved into sporting goods as well as becoming supplier of military uniforms. He led the Juventus Organizzazione Sportiva Anonima (O.S.A.) 1941 to 1943, which became part of the Cisitalia firm in 1944, and even was president of Juventus from 1942 to 1948.

The Cisitalia D46 was named after Piero Dusio (the Dusio 46). The racecar driver is Ilario Bandini.

He raced in the Mille Miglia (1929–38), was sixth in 1936 Italian Grand Prix, winning a class victory (50th overall) in Mille Miglia in a Siata 500cc (1937), and formed the Scuderia Torino (1939).[3][4] He commissioned Dante Giacosa of Fiat to develop a racing car (1944), and formed the "Consorzio Industriale Sportiva Italia" (1944). The firm became Cisitalia and involved Carlo Abarth, Rudolf Hruska and Ferry Porsche. Three D46's topped the local Coppa Brezzi (held with the 1946 Turin Grand Prix), Dusio taking 1st.[5]

Dusio continued financing racing car projects, but the expenses in engineering the complex 202MM[6] almost ruined Cisitalia (1947), as well as involved the Juventus corporation. Consequently, Dusio moved to Argentina and established Autoar (Automotores Argentinos) S.A.I.C. (22 March 1949),[7] financially supported by Juan Peron.[8] His son, Carlo Dusio continued to run a refinanced Cisitalia company in Turin (1948–1964).[9] Aldo Brovarone expatriated to Argentina to join the company.

Dusio tried but failed to qualify for one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix (Italy 1952) with a Cisitalia D46, but he failed to set a time in practice due to engine problems. He raced in the Buenos Aires Grand Prix in 1954, and also started Cisitalia Argentina Industrial y Comercial SA, planning cars such as the Cisitalia 750 (1960).

He died at Buenos Aires in 1975.