Until his death in 2023, he ran, with his family, an agricultural business and vineyard. Cerulli Irelli was predominantly a sportscar racer, racing for well over a decade, often in his own AMS. His finest sportscar moment came in 1976, when he won the Vallelunga Six Hour race, but he also took a number of class wins. Promising in Italian Formula 3 in the early 1970's, Francesco continued racing until the mid 1980's, competing in the Renault 5 Cup in 1985. A book about his life came out in 2022. In September 2023, he was killed when he was hit by a van while traveling on a scooter along state road 150, very near the family wine business. Cerulli Irelli may have lost his balance due to a pothole or an unmarked bump on the road while traveling on the scooter. He fell on the asphalt, but did not have time to get up and the driver of the oncoming van could not avoid him.

Biography last updated 18 Feb 2024