Maria Antonietta Avanzo

Born Maria Antonietta Bellan on 5 February 1889 in Contarina, near Rovigo, she learned to drive using her father's De Dion-Bouton tricycle. In 1908, she married Eustachio Avanzo, a wealthy landowner and publisher, and they had two children: Luisa (b. 1909) and Renzo (b. 1911). The family moved to Rome shortly before World War One. Both her father and husband supported her driving ambitions, with Eustachio purchasing a 35 hp SPA sportscar for her to race in 1920.

Avanzo made her racing debut in 1920 at the Giro del Lazio, driving the SPA 35/50. Despite needing to replace a wheel during the event, she secured a class victory. Later that year, she entered the Targa Florio in a Buick but retired on the third lap due to mechanical issues.

In 1921, Avanzo won the women's cup at the Brescia "Motor Sport Week." In July of the same year, she participated in a sand race meeting on the beaches of Fanø, Denmark, driving a twelve-cylinder Packard. When the car caught fire at full speed, Avanzo drove it into the sea to extinguish the flames. Enzo Ferrari recounted that Antonio Ascari, impressed by her performance, overheard Avanzo express a desire to swap her Packard for a Fiat. Upon her return home, she found a red Fiat awaiting her, and Ascari acquired the repaired Packard. Also in 1921, Avanzo competed in an Ansaldo 4CS as Tazio Nuvolari's teammate, finishing 7th overall and 3rd in class at the Circuito di Garda.

In 1922, Avanzo and her family emigrated to Australia, where she established a farming business at Quakers Hill, New South Wales. She returned to Europe in 1926. During the 1930s, Avanzo drove Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, and Bugattis in various events, including the Rocca di Papa hill climb and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1932, she attempted to qualify a Miller for the Indianapolis 500. Her career also included a 6th place finish in the 1100cc class at the 1939 Tobruk-Tripoli, driving a Fiat.

Avanzo made multiple attempts at the Mille Miglia. Her first entry was in 1928, driving a Chrysler Tipo 72 with Manuel de Teffé, but they retired due to mechanical failure. The following year, she teamed with Carlo Bruno in an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS, again being forced to retire. In 1931, she made another attempt in a Bugatti T43 with Count Carlo Castelbarco. Her final Mille Miglia participation was in 1932. In 1940, she entered a Fiat 1100 with Angelo Della Cella but did not start the race.

Maria Antonietta Avanzo retired from racing following the start of World War Two. She passed away on 17 January 1977.

Avanzo's career inspired other Italian women to pursue motorsport, including Lia Comirato Dumas, Jole Venturi, Corinna Braccialini, Anna Maria Peduzzi, and Dorina Colonna. Her advocacy for women's right to compete in motor racing events, which were largely reserved for men, established her as an activist for women's equality and an early feminist symbol. The long-form study of her life and career is explored in Luca Malin's 2013 book, INDOMITA, la straordinaria vita di Maria Antonietta Avanzo.