27/11/2008
NEWS STORY
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In a ceremony at the Oxford Town Hall, Dialma Zinelli was awarded the prestigious World Motorsport Symposium award for Racecar Aerodynamicist of 2008, which has now been renamed the Dino Toso award in honour of the much loved Head of Aerodynamics of Renault F1, and winner of the inaugural award in 2005, who very sadly passed away earlier this year. This moment was heightened by the fact that it was awarded to Zinelli by Nathalie Toso the wife of the late Dino Toso.
Zinelli joined Dallara in after graduating from the Polytechnic of Milan in 1989 with a degree in aeronautical engineering and is now the Head of Aerodynamics in charge of a team of 45 engineers and technicians utilizing 2 on site wind tunnels, a CFD department, Rapid Prototyping and model shop. He has worked on Dallara's in house projects for Formula One, IndyCar, Gp2. F3, World Series by Renault as well as consultancy programmes for clients including Ferrari, Honda, Toyota, Audi, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and KTM.
The influence of Zinelli's work has helped Dallara to win 10 IndyCar championships in the last 12 years, including 8 Indy 500's since joining the series in 1997 and world-wide domination of the F3 market since 1993 plus numerous wins and championships in other categories.
"I am truly honoured to have received the Dino Toso award from Nathalie Toso. I try and put the maximum possible effort in my work, I don't do this for fame but I am really grateful for the prize. If I am here today it is thanks to the company I work for that is for me like a family and particularly thanks to its founder ing.Dallara who has also grown me professionally. It not only means everything to me but also to everyone at Dallara Automobili. Dino was an inspiration to us all and to have received an award in his memory is truly humbling."