André Couto
| André Couto | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nationality |  Macanese |
| Born | 14 December 1976 Lisbon, Portugal |
| 2013 Super GT | |
| Debut season | 2001 |
| Current team | Lexus Team WedsSport Bandoh |
| Former teams | SARD |
| Starts | 57 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Poles | 1 |
| Best finish | 9th in 2001 and 2012 |
| Previous series | |
| 1995 1996 1996–1997 1998–2000 2001 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005-2011 |
Formula Opel Euroseries German F3 Italian F3 International F3000 Formula Nippon JGTC (GT500) World Series by Nissan European Touring Car Championship JGTC (GT500) World Touring Car Championship |
| Championship titles | |
| 1995 2000 2005 |
EFDA Nations Cup Macau F3 Grand Prix 1000km of Suzuka |
André Couto (born December 14, 1976 in Lisbon) is a Macanese[1] motor racing driver who is best known for winning his home F3 Grand Prix in 2000.
Contents |
Career [edit]
Early years [edit]
André Couto was born in Lisbon but moved to Macau with his family when he was four. He started his career in Karting in Macau influenced by the popular Macau Grand Prix and friends who competed in the local Karting championship. He rapidly enjoyed success and started competing and winning in international level. He moved to racing cars in 1995 where he competed in European Formula Opel Lotus (Winning a round in the Estoril Circuit). 1995 was also the debut year in the Formula Three event of the Macau Grand Prix where he briefly led after a duel with race winner Ralf Schumacher.
Formula Three [edit]
Couto competed in German Formula Three in 1996 before moving to the Italian series in 1997, where he finished the season as runner-up in the championship.
2000 Macau Grand Prix [edit]
He competed in the F3 Macau Grand Prix six times, eventually winning it in 2000, after India's Narain Karthikeyan, 24, and Japan's Takuma Sato, 23, crashed out of contention in leg one. Couto, driving for Opel Team BSR and starting second on the grid for the decider, took the lead immediately and fought off the intentions of Paolo Montin, 24, and Japan's Ryo Fukuda, 21. When Robert Lechner crashed with two laps to go, the safety car was called out and the drivers drove in formation behind it to the chequered flag. It marked the first time a Macanese driver has won the Formula 3 race title.[2]
Couto's win was a surreal experience for many but for Couto's father, Carlos, it was the proudest moment of his life. "This was the one race Andre always wanted to win," he said. "He was born in Lisbon but we moved back to Macau when he was four. My wife Isabel and I have now lived in Macau for many years. Isabel was born here and all her family is from here. This will always be Andre's home. He speaks fluent Cantonese like most Portuguese people living here. He is a Macau citizen; it is what he wanted. We've lived here happily for many years. Today is a special day for everyone in Macau."[1]
Formula 3000 [edit]
Couto graduated to Formula 3000 in 1998 and stayed there for 1999 and 2000. Although he scored points on several occasions, he never achieved any great success. His best result was third place at the Nürburgring in 2000.
An assortment of drives [edit]
After leaving F3000 and winning the Macau Grand Prix Formula Three event in 2000, Couto competed in the Formula Nippon Championship in 2001 and competed in some races of the All-Japan GT Championship. For 2002 he moved to the World Series by Nissan, and finished seventh in the championship.
Touring car racing and sports car racing [edit]
Since 2003, Couto has competed frequently in the Guia Race of Macau as part of the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) and later the World Touring Car Championship. He has competed at the race on different cars and teams: Alfa Romeo 156 and Honda Accord (for N.Technology), and SEAT León (for SEAT Sport and Sunred),
Since 2005, Couto has competed in the Super GT Championship in the GT500-class Lexus SC430, initially for SARD and in 2011 for Kraft.
Personal life [edit]
Couto had a son, Afonso, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in November 2009. Several of his fellow WTCC drivers have carried stickers on their cars in the 2010 WTCC season to promote a website which is trying to find a suitable bone marrow donor.,[3] the GT Association and all teams of Super GT also launches a campaign towards bone marrow donation. A suitable bone marrow for Afonso was found in 9th, May, 2010 in Germany and his operation was successfully completed in 20th, May, 2010.[4] Afonso died on November 3, 2010 from leukaemia treatment complications. He had been in the hospital for two weeks.
Racing record [edit]
Complete World Touring Car Championship results [edit]
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
References [edit]
- André Couto career statistics at driverdb.com, retrieved 11 November 2006.
- ^ a b 'This was the one race he wanted' John Carney. The Standard. 20 November 2000.
- ^ Historic triumph turns Couto into unlikely local hero John Carney. The Standard. 20 November 2000.
- ^ English, Steven (2010-03-08). "WTCC drivers help Couto's son". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2010-03-08.
- ^ Japanese (2010-05-22). "Couto's son, Afonso's bone marrow transplant successfully completed.". as-web.jp. Austosport web. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
External links [edit]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: André Couto |
- Official website (under construction)
- Fan Site (Japanese) (Archived 2009-10-25)
- Save Afonso (Couto's son)
- [1] (News of Afonso's death)
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Darren Manning |
Macau Grand Prix Winner 2000 |
Succeeded by Takuma Sato |
