facetti was born in cormano, lombardy. for nearly 40 years, he would work in his workshop and on sunday put his race overalls and helmet and going racing. he explained his success: "we work from seven in the morning until eight at night with the sole desire to makes engines unrivaled". he learned to drive at the age of 11, with alberto ascari, a friend of his father, piero facetti, who in turn was a mechanic and a racer, who finished 4th in the 1947 mille miglia. his brothers, giuliano and rosadelle would also become racing drivers.