DOB: 12 Dec 1946
Nationality: Brazilian
GP Starts: 144
GP Wins: 14
Pole Positions: 6
Points Scored: 281
Emerson Fittipaldi began his professional racing career in 1967 when he scooped a string of awards in Brazil in a car that he built with his older brother Wilson Jr.
Son of the great Brazilian motorsport journalist Wilson Fittipaldi, Emerson made his move across the Atlantic to the UK in 1969 and began racing for the Lotus team.
Already gaining respect from those in the industry for his smooth and controlled driving style, he went on to become the youngest world champion in history when in 1972 when he scooped the title for Lotus aged just 25. (A title he held on to until 2005 when Fernando Alonso became world champion at 24.)
After a turbulent season in 1973, he completed the world championship in second place, Emerson then joined the Mclaren team, a partnership that would see him win his second world title in 1974.
Following an unsuccessful world championship season in 1975, a frustrated Emerson took on a number of other projects including setting up the Copursucar racing team.
He officially retired from Formula One in 1980 and returned to his native Brazil hailed as a hugely talented driver with a unique, tactical driving style.
Emerson did not stay away from competitive motor racing for long, making a legendary comeback in 1984 when he returned to race in the Indycar Series in the United States.
It was while driving Indycars that his later career achievements occurred. He became World Champion of the Indycar series and winner of the world famous Indianapolis 500 race in 1989.
Due to a neck injury sustained in a crash at start of the Michigan 500 in 1996, Emerson was forced to retire from competitive driving, until now, when he returns in the Grand Prix Masters Series aged 59.
Taking second place behind Nigel Mansell in the Inaugural race at Kyalami in November 2005, ‘Emmo’ as he is called by his fans, has proved he still has a lot to offer the sport – something we are sure to see more of during 2006.
Career History:
1967: Brazilian Vee Champion
1969: Joined Formula Ford series in Britain
1970: Formula Two
1970: F1 Debut in Great Britain with Lotus, wins US GP, 10th in the Drivers Championship
1971: Lotus, 6th in the Drivers Championship
1972: Lotus, Formula 1 World Champion
1973: Lotus, runner-up in Drivers Championship
1974: McLaren Ford, Formula 1 World Champion
1975: McLaren Ford, runner up in the Drivers Championship
1976: Formed Copersucar racing team
1980: Retires from Formula One, moves to manage Fittipaldi Automotive
1982: Fittipaldi Automotive ends and Emerson returns to Brazil
1984: Returned to racing CART, finished 32nd at Indy
1989: Champion of Indycar World Series Championship & Indianapolis 500 Champion
1993: Indianapolis 500 Champion
1996: Retires after suffering neck injuries in a crash at the start of the US 500 in Michigan
