Fittipaldi Automotive

Fittipaldi
Full nameFittipaldi Automotive
BaseSão Paulo, Brazil (1975–1977) and Reading, Berkshire, UK (1977–1982)[1]
Founder(s)Wilson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi
Noted staffRichard Divila
Jo Ramírez
Adrian Newey
Harvey Postlethwaite
Noted driversBrazil Wilson Fittipaldi
Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi
Finland Keke Rosberg
Brazil Chico Serra
Formula One World Championship career
First entry1975 Argentine Grand Prix
Races entered120 (103 starts)
EnginesFord
Constructors'
Championships
0
Drivers'
Championships
0
Race victories0
Podiums3
Points44
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
Final entry1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix

Fittipaldi Automotive, sometimes called Copersucar after its first major sponsor, was a Formula One racing team and constructor that competed from 1975 to 1982. It was the only Formula One team to have been based in Brazil. The team was formed during 1974 by racing driver Wilson Fittipaldi and his younger brother, double world champion Emerson, with money from the Brazilian sugar and alcohol cooperative Copersucar. The team raced under a Brazilian licence.[2] Emerson Fittipaldi became a driver for the team in 1976 after leaving McLaren, but was unable to replicate his earlier success with the family-owned team. Future world champion Keke Rosberg took his first podium finish in Formula One with the team.

The team was originally based in the Fittipaldis' hometown of São Paulo, almost 6,000 miles (10,000 km) away from the centre of the world motor racing industry in the UK, before moving to Reading, UK during 1977. It participated in 119 Grands Prix between 1975 and 1982, entering a total of 156 cars.[citation needed] It achieved three podiums and scored 44 championship points.

  1. ^ "Case History". Corktree.tripod.com. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  2. ^ "1975 Austrian Grand Prix Entry list".