Toto Wolff
Torger Christian "Toto" Wolff[1] (born January 12, 1972 in Vienna, Austria) is an Austrian investor and racing driver.
Motorsport
Toto Wolff started his motorsports-career 1992 in Australian Formula Ford Championship. He was driving in Austrian and German Formula Ford during 1993 and 1994. 1994 he won the 24 Hours Nürburgring in his category. In 2002 Wolff finished sixth place at the FIA NGT world championship and won one race. In 2003 he won a race of the FIA GT/GT1 series in Italy. 2004 Toto Wolff was racing together with Karl Wendlinger at the FIA GT[2] Championship series. Toto Wolff became Vice-Champion at the Austrian Rally Championship in 2006 and Winner of the 24-hours-race in Dubai.[3] Wolff also served as an Instructor at the Walter Lechner Racing School.
Investor
Wolff founded investment company Marchfifteen in 1998 and Marchsixteen Investments in 2004. The initial investments focused on internet and technology companies. Since 2003 Wolff has been concentrating on strategic investments in medium-sized industrial and listed companies. Investments include amongst other the German HWA AG, in which Wolff bought a 49% stake in 2006 and listed the company on the stock exchange in 2007.[4]. The company runs the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters race programm for Mercedes Benz, develops F3 engines and the Gullwing Mercedes Benz SLS GT3 racingcar. Wolff serves as deputy chairman of the board to Mr. Hans-Werner Aufrecht, founder of AMG. Other Investments include BRR Rallye Racing, one of the largest rallye parts dealers in Europe and winner of the 2008 PWRC Rallye World Championship with then RedBull Junior Andreas Aigner and in 2011 winner of the SWRC World Rallye Championship with driver Juho Hänninen[5]. Wolff is co-owner of a sportmanagement company with Mika Häkkinen and was involved in the management of upcoming racing drivers such as Bruno Spengler, Alexandre Premat and Valtteri Bottas.
Formula One
On Friday November 20, 2009, it was announced that Wolff had bought a share of the Williams Formula One Team and joined the board of directors of the team.[6] He reportedly owns 16% of the shares and listed the company as the first F1 Team on the Frankfurt Stock exchange[7] . After an eight year winless streak Wolff led Williams to a Grandprix victory in Barcelona in 2012.[8] As per 2012 he is named Executive Director of WilliamsF1.[9]
On Monday January 21, 2013, it was announced that Wolff had parted ways with WilliamsF1 to become an executive director of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team. In addition to joining the team, he will also acquire a "significant minority interest" in the team. Wolff is expected to take over the coordination of all Mercedes-Benz motorsport activities, a responsibility previously held by Norbert Haug. As part of the role, Wolff will remain a Williams shareholder, but will not have a role at the team. [10]
Personal life
Wolff lives with his wife, the Scottish racer Susie Wolff (née Stoddart) in Ermatingen at Lake Constance in Switzerland.[11]
References
- ^ Enzinger, Gerald (10 November 2010). "Der Toto-Gewinner". Wiener Post (in German). Styria Media Group. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ fiagt.com: Driver Biography: Toto Wolff
- ^ 24-series.com: Duller Motorsport wins first 24 hourrace of the Middle-East ,
- ^ Boerseexpress.com: [1]
- ^ brr.at:[2]
- ^ Autosport.com: Williams sells stake in team
- ^ Autobild.de: [3]
- ^ F1network.com: [http://www.f1network.net/boards/read/s107.htm?110,13377659.
- ^ "Williams shareholder Toto Wolff becomes executive director". Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Wolff joins Mercedes and invests in F1 team". ESPNF1. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ^ "Susie Stoddart and Toto Wolff married". Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. ITR e.V. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.