Mauricio Gugelmin

Former F1 driver
Name = Mauricio Gugelmin


Nationality = flagicon|Brazil Brazilian
Years = 1988 - 1992
Team(s) = March, Leyton House, Jordan
Races = 80 (74 starts)
Championships = 0
Wins = 0
Podiums = 1
Poles = 0
Points = 10
Fastest laps = 1
First race = 1988 Brazilian Grand Prix
First win =
Last win =
Last race = 1992 Australian Grand Prix

Mauricio Gugelmin (born April 20, 1963 in Joinville) is a former racing driver from Brazil. He took part in both Formula One and the Champ Car World Series. He participated in 80 Formula One grands prix, debuting in 1988 for the March team. He achieved one top-three finish and scored a total of ten championship points in the series. He competed in the Champ Car series between 1993 and 2001, starting 147 races. He won one race, in 1997 in Vancouver, finishing fourth in the championship that year. His best result in the Indianapolis 500 was in 1995 where he started and finished in sixth position, leading 59 laps. For a period, he held the world speed record for a closed race track, set at California Speedway in 1997 at a speed of 240.942 mph (387.759 km/h). Gugelmin retired at the end of 2001 after a year that included the death of his son.

Personal and early life

Gugelmin was born in Joinville, Brazil on April 20, 1963 into a wealthy family.cite web
title = Mauricio Gugelmin
publisher = GrandPrix.com
url = http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/drv-gugmau.html
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] His father is a timber merchant and a collector of antique cars.cite web
title = Personal Details - Mauricio Gugelmin
publisher = Indy Carnival '95
url = http://www.gwb.com.au/gwb/indy/drpersmh.html
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] Gugelmin is married to Stella Maris and they have two sons, Bernardo and Gabriel. Their third son, Giuliano, who was Bernardo's twin, died from cerebral palsy in April 2001 at the age of six.cite news
title = Gugelmin withdraws following loss of son
publisher = ChampCarWorldSeries.com
url = http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=500
date = 2001-05-04
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ]

Career

Pre-Formula One

Gugelmin started racing go-karts as a child in Brazil in 1971, winning his local championship nine years in a row from 1971 to 1979. He progressed to the Brazilian national championship in 1980, which he also won. He progressed to single-seater racing cars in 1981, when he won the Brazilian Formula Fiat Championship.

In 1982 Gugelmin, like many Brazilian drivers of his generation, moved to the United Kingdom to further his racing career. He was a longtime friend of future Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna, who was already racing in the UK, and the two shared a house from 1982 to 1987.cite web
last = Saward
first = Joe
title = Interview - Mauricio Gugelmin
publisher = GrandPrix.com
date = 1989-03-01
url = http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00005.html
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] Senna, having previously been a Formula Ford driver with the Van Diemen team, used his influence within the organisation to secure Gugelmin a race seat with them for 1982. By the end of the year, Gugelmin was British Formula Ford 1600 cc champion. He followed this up by finishing as runner-up in the British Formula Ford 2000 cc series the following year. He moved to the European Formula Ford series in 1984, and won the title at his first attempt. A step up to Formula Three followed in 1985 with West Surrey Racing, winning the British championship and the prestigious Macau Grand Prix. Gugelmin then spent two years in Formula 3000, the final step before Formula One. Gugelmin took one victory in Formula 3000, at Silverstone in 1986 while driving for the Ralt factory team.

Formula One

"Related Articles: March Engineering, Leyton House Racing, Jordan Grand Prix"

Gugelmin entered Formula One, the highest category of circuit racing defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's world governing body, with the March team in 1988, as team-mate to Ivan Capelli. He had previously been in contention for a drive with Lotus in 1986 but was overlooked in favour of Johnny Dumfries. The season started badly as Gugelmin suffered five retirements from the first six races due to mechanical failure, but soon afterwards he took his first points scoring finish with fourth place at the British Grand Prix. Gugelmin scored points in one other race with fifth place at the Hungarian Grand Prix. He finished the season as the highest-scoring newcomer in the Formula One World Championship, ending the year in 13th position overall.

1989 was barren for the March team, and Gugelmin took their only points scoring finish of the year at the Brazilian Grand Prix. He finished in third position; an excellent result given that March were financially troubled. [cite web
title = Constructors: March Engineering
publisher = GrandPrix.com
url = http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/con-march.html
accessdate = 2007-01-06] At the French Grand Prix, Gugelmin was involved in a large accident at the start of the race which resulted in a spectacular barrel roll. A photograph of the accident was later selected for a London Exhibition as one of Formula One's most striking photographs. [cite news
title = F1's memorable moments
publisher = BBC
date = 2002-07-02
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/photo_galleries/2082573.stm
accessdate = 2006-11-25]

In 1990 the March team was sold, and became known as Leyton House. Gugelmin was once again partnered by Capelli, but the team's CG901 chassis proved troublesomecite news
title = Leyton House surprises F1 at Paul Ricard
publisher = GrandPrix.com
date = 1990-07-01
url = http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00039.html
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] and between them they failed to qualify six times, including at the Mexican Grand Prix. However, at the next race, the French Grand Prix, modifications had been made to the car which improved the performance. Running the whole race without changing their tyres, Capelli and Gugelmin ran first and second during the race.cite book
editor = Bruce Jones
title = The Complete Encyclopedia of Formula One
publisher = Carlton Books
year = 1998
pages = 109
id = ISBN 1-85868-515-X] Gugelmin retired mid-race with engine problems and Capelli was passed by Alain Prost for the lead late in the race. Gugelmin also scored a point for finishing sixth in Belgium.

1991 saw internal turmoil at the team with several key staff leaving.cite web
title = Constructors: Leyton House Racing
publisher = GrandPrix.com
url = http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/con-leyto.html
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] The car lacked pace and both Gugelmin and Capelli struggled; the team scored just one point all season. Gugelmin's best result amounted to three seventh place finishes, although he retired from eight of the season's sixteen races. In September, the team's principal, Akira Akagi, was arrested on suspicion of fraud. Money was tight and Gugelmin made the decision to leave the team at the end of the year. A switch to the Jordan team for 1992 did not improve Gugelmin's fortunes. The team struggled with financial difficulties [cite web
title = Constructors: Jordan Grand Prix
publisher = GrandPrix.com
url = http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/con-jorda.html
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] and scored only one point all year. The team's Yamaha engine suffered from a lack of power, and the car was unreliable. Gugelmin failed to finish eleven out of the sixteen races, and scored no points.

Champ Car

"Related Articles: Chip Ganassi Racing, PacWest Racing"

Gugelmin signed with Dick Simon Racing to take part in the North American Champ Car racing series for the last three races of 1993. Although races at Mid Ohio and Nazareth resulted in non-finishes, Gugelmin finished 13th at Laguna Seca although this was not high enough to receive any points. Despite this, Gugelmin demonstrated promise.cite web
title = Gugelmin, Mauricio
publisher = Autocourse Grand Prix Archive
url = http://www.autocoursegpa.com/driver~driver_id~11789.htm
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] In 1994, Gugelmin signed with Chip Ganassi Racing to partner Michael Andretti who returned to the series after a season in Formula One. Andretti was more successful than Gugelmin, and took two wins, including Reynard's first win in Champ Car at Surfers Paradise. Gugelmin was hindered by a lack of cooperation between his and Andretti's crews, and his first full-time year in the Champ Car World Series resulted in seven points finishes and 16th in the points standings.

1995 started promisingly as Gugelmin finished as runner-up to Jacques Villeneuve in the opening round at Miami. He had a strong race at the Indianapolis 500, finishing in sixth place after leading the most laps of all the drivers. Eight additional points finishes, including a third place at the final round at Laguna Seca, meant he finished tenth in the final points standings, nine places ahead of experienced team mate and former series champion Danny Sullivan. [cite news
title = Final 1995 standings pending Penske appeal
publisher = Motorsport.com
url = http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=3561&FS=CHAMPCAR
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ]

For 1996, Gugelmin was partnered at PacWest by the British driver, Mark Blundell. He established a reputation for being quick at superspeedway tracks after taking a second and a third place at the two events at Michigan International Speedway. [cite web | title = Mauricio Gugelmin Bio | publisher = CART Racing Update | url = http://www.cartracingupdate.com/BIOS/gugelbio.htm | accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] On top of this he took four other points finishes, finishing mid-table in 14th place. [cite news | title = Final results (after Laguna Seca)| publisher = Motorsport.com| url = http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=6675&FS=CHAMPCAR| accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] For 1997, the PacWest team switched to using Firestone tyres and Mercedes-Benz engines. [cite web
title = PWR Championship Racing
publisher = CART Racing Update
url = http://www.cartracingupdate.com/Teams/pacwestteam1.htm
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] The package was competitive throughout the year and Gugelmin and Blundell finished fourth and sixth in the championship respectively. [cite news
title = 1997 Final Driver Standings
publisher = Motorsport.com
url = http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=12003&FS=CHAMPCAR
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] Gugelmin's notable races of the year include the Detroit Indy Grand Prix, where Gugelmin was leading the race on the last lap when he ran out of fuel, and the Molson Indy Vancouver, where Gugelmin won his first Champ Car race. One of the most popular men in the championship, virtually the entire pit-lane was full of happiness for him. [cite book
editor = Jeremy Shaw
title = Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 1997-98
publisher = Hazleton Publishing Ltd.
year = 1997
pages = 26
id = ISBN 1-874557-62-4] In qualifying for the final race of the season at the California Speedway, Gugelmin set a world record for the fastest ever lap of a closed race track at 240.942 mph. This record stood until the year 2000 when Gil de Ferran surpassed it with a lap of 241.428 mph, also at California Speedway. Gugelmin went on to finish the race in fourth place.

1998 proved not to be as successful. Setbacks plagued the team and they struggled to get to grips with the new chassis.cite news
last = Rathburn
first = Scott
title = Gettin' Back On That Horsepower
publisher = CNC Machining Magazine
url = http://www.cncmagazine.com/archive01/v3i08/v3i08h.htm
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] Gugelmin showed determination, and scored nine points-scoring finishes. A highlight was Gugelmin leading 40 laps during the final event at California Speedway, en route to fifth place. Gugelmin was unable to reproduce his race-winning form, and finished no higher than 15th position in the final standings over the next three years. In 2000, Gugelmin was named as the chairman of the Championship Drivers Association, [cite news
title = Mauricio Gugelmin Named Chairman of CDA
publisher = Motorsport.com
url = http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=37904&FS=CHAMPCAR
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] the organisation set up to represent the interests of the drivers in the Champ Car World Series.

2001 proved to be a difficult year for Gugelmin. During the practice session for the race at Texas Motor Speedway, he crashed after he lost control in the second turn and hit the wall with a force of 66.2 g, before a second impact with the wall which exerted a force of 113.1 g. [cite news
title = Gugelmin questionable for Texas race
publisher = ChampCarWorldSeries.com
url = http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=439
date = 2001-04-28
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] The event was eventually called off after drivers complained of dizziness, nausea and blurred vision, which were caused by the high g-forces experienced when driving at speed on the track. [cite news
title = Race called off after safety fears
publisher = BBC
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/1304190.stm
date = 2001-04-30
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] During the week before the race at Nazareth Speedway, Gugelmin's son, Giuliano, died from respiratory complications. Giuliano was quadriplegic and a lifelong sufferer from cerebral palsy owing to complications at birth. The PacWest team announced that Gugelmin would not be taking part in the race. Gugelmin's team mate at PacWest, Scott Dixon, won the race beating Kenny Bräck into second place. At the end of 2001, Gugelmin decided to retire from the sport, stating "I definitely want to spend more time with my family. After those two big accidents, and [Alex Zanardi|Alex [Zanardi] 's deal in Germany, I said, 'That's it. Forget it.' " [cite news
title = 'Big Mo' retires
publisher = ChampCarWorldSeries.com
url = http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=2702
date = 2002-02-04
accessdate = 2006-11-25 ] Zanardi lost both legs in a crash during a Champ Car race at the Lausitzring in Germany in September 2001.

Motorsports career results

Formula One

()

American Open-Wheel

() (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Champ Car

Footnotes

References

All Formula One race and championship results are taken from:
* "Official Formula 1 Website. Archive: Results for 1988 – 1992 seasons" [http://www.formula1.com/archive/driver/detail/1988/52/72.html www.formula1.com] Retrieved 26 August 2006All Pre-Formula One race and championship results are taken from:
* "Maurício Gugelmin - Official Site" [http://www2.uol.com.br/gugelmin/] . Retrieved 26 August 2006"

External links

* [http://www.gugelmin.com/english/ Mauricio Gugelmin's Official Website]

Persondata
NAME=Gugelmin, Mauricio
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Gugelmin, Mo
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Racing driver
DATE OF BIRTH=April 20, 1963
PLACE OF BIRTH=Joinville, Brazil
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=