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After performing his military service in Argentina, he opened his own garage and started to race in local events. Fangio won his first race when he was 18 years old and in 1940. He achieved
notoriety by winning the "Gran Premio del Norte," a grueling enduring race of almost 10,000 kilometers from Buenos Aires to Lima, Peru. In those yesteryears, no mechanics were allowed to work on the race cars and any
repairs had to be done by its drivers. After the second World War II, the Argentinean governement took notice of the very talented Juan-Manuel and sponsored him to continue his career in Europe.
From 1949, Fangio, achieved regular success, which prompted Alfa Romeo the next year to let him race under its flag. Within 18 months, he won his first title - "1951 World
Champion." Unfortunately, in 1952 he suffered a broken neck in an accident at Monza, which led him to miss the rest of the racing season. In spite of his injury, he came back to the racing circuit in 1953,
driving a Maserati at the Paris race. During that event, Fangio made a rare mistake and his car went into a slide, hitting a dirt bank and he was thrown from his car. The next year, undeterred by his Paris
accident, he finished the season in second place.
In 1953 he drove for Mercedes and won his "second Word Championship." He remained with the German automaker during twelve Grand Prix, achieving eight first places and securing his "third World
Championship" in 1955. The next year, switching to Ferrari, he snapped another title, making it his "fourth World Championship." When his friend, Benoît Musy died in 1956 during a race in Monthléry, he sent a wreath of flowers to honor his fallen fellow racer.
In 1957, at Nurbürgring Germany, driving a Maserati 250F, he finished in first place. This race is considered by many to be his finest and earning him the title of "El Maestro" = the
master!. That same year he was immortalized in racing history by achieving an unprecedented "FIFTH Word Championship.
While still driving for Maserati in 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio decided to retire from professional
racing and return to his native Argentina. He remained active in the automotive industry in Argentina. He died in Buenos Aires in 1995 and is interred at Ciudad de Balcarce Cemetery (Argentina).
Although Michael Schumacher has accomplished "Seven World Titles," many still consider Juan Manuel Fangio to be the "greatest race car driver of all times." His masterful
driving combined with the racing risks from the 1950's earned him that notoriety.
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