Antônio Pizzonia Explained

Antônio Pizzonia
Nationality: Brazilian
Birth Name:Antônio Reginaldo Pizzonia Júnior
Birth Date:11 September 1980
Birth Place:Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Racing Licence: FIA Gold
Current Series:Auto GP
First Year:2012
Current Team:Zele Racing
Module:
Embed:yes
Years:
Team(S):Jaguar, Williams
Races:20
Championships:0
Wins:0
Podiums:0
Points:8
Poles:0
Fastest Laps:0
First Race:2003 Australian Grand Prix
Last Race:2005 Chinese Grand Prix

Antônio Reginaldo Pizzonia Júnior (born 11 September 1980) is a Brazilian professional racing driver who has raced in Formula One and the Champ Car World Series. Born in Manaus, he started his car racing career in the Formula Vauxhall Junior series in 1997 and then progressed through various junior formulae, winning the Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter Festival in 1997, the Formula Vauxhall Junior and Formula Renault Winter Festival in 1998, the Formula Renault 2.0 UK in 1999, and the British Formula 3 Championship in 2000.

For 2001 and 2002, he entered the Formula 3000, with his best championship finish being sixth in 2001. In 2003, he was signed by the Jaguar Formula One team, but following poor results, was released during the season. In 2004, he replaced the injured Ralf Schumacher at Williams in several events, securing his first Formula One points in the process.

In 2005, he replaced Nick Heidfeld at Williams, but was released from his contract at the end of the season. Since then, he has competed in multiple series, such as the Champ Car World Series, the Superleague Formula, Stock Car Brasil, and the FIA GT1 World Championship.

Racing career

Pre-Formula One

From 1991 to 1996 he competed in various karting series. In 1997 he moved to Britain and competed in Formula Vauxhall Junior; Pizzonia placed second, and won the Winter Festival. In 1998, in addition to taking the Championship in Formula Vauxhall Junior, he won the Formula Renault Winter Festival.

His 1999 season was even more successful, winning the Formula Renault 2.0 UK series and finishing second in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup. In 2000, Pizzonia took five wins on his way to winning the British Formula 3 Championship. For 2001, Pizzonia switched to the Formula 3000 series, winning one race and finishing sixth in the championship.

Formula One

In 2002, Pizzonia was hired as test driver for Williams, but also continued in F3000, placing 8th. After impressive testing performances, he was signed by the Jaguar team to partner Mark Webber for 2003, replacing the axed Pedro de la Rosa[1] . However, following a string of poor results, he was dropped late in the season and replaced by Minardi's Justin Wilson.In 2004 he returned to Williams as test driver. Before the German Grand Prix, it was announced that Pizzonia would take over from Marc Gené, who had been filling in for the injured Ralf Schumacher. At the German Grand Prix, he finished 7th to take his first 2 career points; he repeated the feat at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

In Belgium, he briefly led an F1 race for the first time, but failed to finish the race due to a gearbox problem, whilst running in 3rd place. He claimed a further 2 points in Italy (during which he achieved the fastest ever recorded top speed in a F1 race at the time, 369.9 km/h, until Juan Pablo Montoya eclipsed this record the following year), but with the announcement of Ralf Schumacher's return for the Chinese Grand Prix, Pizzonia's racing was over for the year.

Prior to the 2005 season, Pizzonia was in a virtual shoot-out with German Nick Heidfeld for the second race seat at Williams alongside Webber. Despite Pizzonia's experience with the team and financial support from Petrobras, Heidfeld was given the seat.

Pizzonia was still employed at Williams as a test driver, and when Heidfeld complained of headaches after being concussed in a crash during the Friday Practice Session at Monza, Pizzonia gained the chance to race. Having not entered an F1 race since the 2004 Italian Grand Prix, the Brazilian qualified 16th, coming through the field to emulate his 2004 race result — picking up 7th place and 2 points. He then raced in the Belgian Grand Prix. where he incurred a fine for taking out 2nd placed Juan Pablo Montoya just a few laps from the end. Pizzonia also took the drive in the Brazilian Grand Prix, but his race was over before the first corner after taking out his own teammate Mark Webber resulting from a collision with David Coulthard.

Despite some speculation that GP2 champion Nico Rosberg would be given an opportunity in the last two races of the season, Pizzonia completed the season for Williams. He retired from the Japanese Grand Prix early after spinning off, and retired from (but was classified as a finisher in) the Chinese Grand Prix after a puncture. Having been replaced by Nico Rosberg for 2006, Pizzonia's Formula One career was over.

Post-Formula One

In 2006, he drove for Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports team in the Champ Car World Series' Long Beach Grand Prix and returned to the team towards the end of the season for races where Tõnis Kasemets did not have sponsorship to race.

In 2007, Pizzonia was racing for Fisichella Motor Sport in the GP2 series.[2] In May, he was dropped in favour of Adam Carroll after only scoring 1 point in 5 races. After that, he returned to Brazil and entered into competition in Stock Car Brasil, a Brazilian national championship, from July.[3] He has competed in the series every year since then, and has also raced in Superleague Formula (SC Corinthians) and the FIA GT1 World Championship.

In 2012, Pizzonia made a one-off guest appearance in the Auto GP World Series when the championship visited the Brazilian Curitiba circuit. Driving for the Ombra Racing team, he won both races, immediately slotting himself into ninth position in the championship.

In 2014 and 2015, Pizzonia competed in the Auto GP series, with Zele Racing.[4]

Pizzonia returned to open-wheel racing in 2023, in the BOSS GP series, with HS Engineering in a Gibson-engined Dallara T12, winning both races overall at the season-opener at Paul Ricard. He has subsequently won every race in his class. He won the Open class title at TT Circuit Assen.

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF.LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
1996Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter Series?100000NC
1997Formula Vauxhall JuniorJohn Village Automotive164??41422nd
Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter SeriesLewis Motorsport1100101st
1998Formula Vauxhall JuniorLewis Motorsport168??81861st
Formula Renault 2.0 UK Winter SeriesManor Motorsport44?341201st
1999Eurocup Formula RenaultManor Motorsport94???1962nd
Formula Renault 2.0 UK131112?114021st
2000British Formula Three ChampionshipManor Motorsport14535112001st
Masters of Formula 3100000NC
FIA European Formula 3 Cup10000020th
Formula OneMild Seven Benetton PlaylifeTest Driver
2001International Formula 3000Petrobras Junior Team121122226th
2002International Formula 3000Petrobras Junior Team120001178th
Formula OneBMW WilliamsF1 TeamTest Driver
2003Formula OneHSBC Jaguar Racing1200000NC
2004Formula OneBMW WilliamsF1 Team40000615th
2005Formula OneBMW WilliamsF1 Team50000222nd
2006Champ Car World SeriesRocketsports Racing400004318th
2007GP2 SeriesFMS International50000127th
Stock Car BrasilRS Competições80000140th
2008Superleague FormulaSC Corinthians1000112649th
Stock Car BrasilCimed Racing100000631st
Champ Car World SeriesRocketsports Racing100100NC
2009Stock Car BrasilAmir Nasr Racing600015115th
Superleague FormulaSC Corinthians1503332648th
2010Stock Car BrasilHot Car Competições1100113123rd
GT BrasilCRT Brasil1400129016th
2011Stock Car BrasilAmir Nasr Racing20010626th
Brasileiro de Marcas200001728th
GT BrasilCRT Brasil20010723rd
Superleague FormulaTeam Brazil500121028th
2012Stock Car BrasilComprafácil Nascar JF1200008315th
Campeonato Brasileiro de GTMottin Racing100000NC
American Le Mans Series - LMP2Conquest Endurance100010NC
Auto GP World SeriesOmbra Racing42002459th
2013FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2Delta-ADR211012515th
Rolex Sports Car Series - DPMichael Shank Racing5000010222nd
2014Stock Car BrasilPrati-Donaduzzi202012158.59th
Auto GP World SeriesZele Racing200112514th
Brasileiro de MarcasAmir Nasr Racing100100NC
2015Stock Car BrasilPrati-Donaduzzi2100009518th
Auto GP World SeriesZele Racing42124791st
2016FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2Manor Motorsport100001027th
Brasileiro de MarcasC2 Team100000NC
Porsche Endurance Series - Cup?100004037th
2017Stock Car BrasilPrati-Donaduzzi22000112413th
2018Stock Car BrasilPrati-Donaduzzi2200104421st
2021Porsche Endurance Series?110011167th
2023BOSS GP - Open ClassHS Engineering1414714143521st
2024BOSS GP - Open ClassHS Engineering

Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrant123456789101112DCPoints
2001Petrobras Junior TeamINT
IMO
CAT
A1R
MON
NÜR
MAG
SIL
HOC
HUN
SPA
MNZ
6th22
2002Petrobras Junior TeamINT
IMO
CAT
A1R
MON
NÜR
SIL
MAG
HOC
HUN
SPA
MNZ
8th18

Complete Formula One results

(key)

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910111213141516171819WDCPoints
2003Jaguar Racing F1 TeamJaguar R4Cosworth V10AUS
13
MAL
BRA
SMR
ESP
AUT
MON
CAN
10
EUR
FRA
GBR
GERHUNITAUSAJPN21st0
2004BMW WilliamsF1 TeamWilliams FW26BMW P84 3.0 V10AUSMALBHRSMRESPMONEURCANUSAFRAGBRGER
HUN
BEL
ITA
CHNJPNBRA15th6
2005BMW WilliamsF1 TeamWilliams FW27BMW P84/5 3.0 V10AUSMALBHRSMRESPMONEURCANUSAFRAGBRGERHUNTURITA
BEL
15
BRA
JPN
CHN
13
22nd2

Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

American open wheel Racing

(key)

IndyCar

¹ Run on same day
² Non-points-paying, exhibition race

Complete GP2 Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Superleague Formula

2008–2009

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamOperator123456PositionPoints
2008SC CorinthiansEuroInternationalDONNÜRZOLESTVALJER9th264
710101844616122
2009Alan Docking RacingMAGZOLDONESTMOZJAR8th264
49171238351091418

2009 Super Final Results

2011

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamOperator12PositionPoints
2011BrazilAlan Docking RacingHOLBEL8th102
832912X

Brazilian competitions

Stock Car Brasil

YearTeamCar12345678910111213141516171819202122RankPts.
2007RS CompetiçõesVolkswagen BoraINTCTBCGDINTLON
SCZ
CTB
BSB
ARG
TAR
RIO
INT
40th1
2008K-Med RacingPeugeot 307SAO
BSB
CTB
SCZ
CGD
SAO
RIO
LON
CTBBSB
TARSAO
31st8
2009Amir Nasr RacingPeugeot 307SAO
CTB
BSB
SCZ
SAO
SAL
RIOCGDCTBBSBTARSAO15th51
2010Bardahl Hot CarChevrolet VectraSAO
CTB
VEL
RIO
RBP
SAL
SAO
CGD
LON
SCS
BSB
CTB
23rd31
2011Amir Nasr RacingPeugeot 408CTBSAORBP
VELCGDRIO26th6
Scuderia 111SAO
SALSCSLONBSBVEL
2012Comprafacil Nascar JFPeugeot 408INT
CTB
VEL
RBP
LON
RIO
SAL
CGD
TAR
CUR
BRA
INT
15th81
2014Prati-DonaduzziPeugeot 408INT
1

SCZ
1

SCZ
2

BRA
1

BRA
2

GOI
1

GOI
2

GOI
1

CAS
1

CAS
2

CUR
1

CUR
2

VEL
1

VEL
2

SCZ
1

SCZ
2

TAR
1

TAR
2

SAL
1

SAL
2

CUR
1

9th158.5
2015Prati-DonaduzziPeugeot 408GOI
1

RBP
1

RBP
2

VEL
1

VEL
2

CUR
1

CUR
2

SCZ
1

SCZ
2

CUR
1

CUR
2

GOI
1

CAS
1

CAS
2

MOU
1

MOU
2

CUR
1

CUR
2

TAR
1

TAR
2

INT
1

18th97
2016Voxx RacingPeugeot 408CUR
1

VEL
1
VEL
2
GOI
1
GOI
2
SCZ
1
SCZ
2
TAR
1
TAR
2
CAS
1
CAS
2
INT
1
LON
1
LON
2
CUR
1
CUR
2
GOI
1
GOI
2
CDC
1
CDC
2
INT
1
NC†0†
2017Prati-DonaduzziChevrolet CruzeGOI
1

GOI
2

VEL
1

VEL
2

SCZ
1

SCZ
2

CAS
1

CAS
2

CUR
1

CRI
1

CRI
2

VCA
1

VCA
2

LON
1

LON
2

ARG
1

ARG
2

TAR
1

TAR
2

GOI
1

GOI
2

INT
1

16th126
2018Prati-DonaduzziChevrolet CruzeINT
1

CUR
1

CUR
2

VEL
1

VEL
2

LON
1

LON
2

SCZ
1

SCZ
2

GOI
1

MOU
1

MOU
2

CAS
1

CAS
2

VCA
1

VCA
2

TAR
1

TAR
2

GOI
1

GOI
2

INT
1

21st44
Ineligible for championship points.

Complete Auto GP results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrant12345678910111213141516PosPoints
2012Ombra RacingMNZ
1
MNZ
2
VAL
1
VAL
2
MAR
1
MAR
2
HUN
1
HUN
2
ALG
1
ALG
2
CUR
1

CUR
2

9th45
Zele RacingSON
1
SON
2
2014Zele RacingMAR
1
MAR
2
LEC
1
LEC
2
HUN
1
HUN
2
MNZ
1
MNZ
2
IMO
1
IMO
2
RBR
1
RBR
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
EST
1

EST
2

14th25
2015Zele RacingHUN
1

HUN
2

SIL
1

SIL
2

1st‡79‡
Position when season was cancelled.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

YearEntrantClassCarEngine123456789RankPoints
2013Delta-ADRLMP2Oreca 03Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8SIL
SPA
LMSSÃOCOAFUJSHABHR15th26
2016ManorLMP2Oreca 05Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8SILSPALMSNÜR
MEXCOAFUJSHABHR27th 10

Complete BOSS GP Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/de-la-rosa-pizzonia-switch-decided-last-week-5061438/5061438/
  2. Web site: F1 in the news . 2006-12-15 . 2020-11-11.
  3. News: Entrevista: Pizzonia fala de sua vinda para a Stock Car . 2007-08-06 . pt . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929032946/http://www.stockcar2007.com.br/site_2007/2007/07/26/copa-nextel-pizzonia-fala-de-sua-vinda-para-a-stock-car/ . 2007-09-29 . Interview: Pizzonia talks about his coming to Stock Car.
  4. Web site: Pizzonia (Zele Racing), Von Grünigen (Paolo Coloni Racing) join 2015 Auto GP ranks. 22 April 2015. Auto GP. Auto GP Organisation. 22 April 2015. 7 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170407053749/http://www.autogp.net/newssingola2_en.asp?c=227. dead.
  5. Web site: Antônio Pizzonia – 2006 Champ Car World Series Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
  6. Web site: Antonio Pizzonia – 2008 IndyCar Series Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 1, 2023.