Ricardo Zonta

 ( Official Website ) 

Ricardo Luiz Zonta (; born March 23, 1976) is a Brazilian professional racing driver. He currently competes full-time in the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series, driving the No. 10 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross for RCM Motorsport.

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Early career Born in Curitiba, Brazil, Zonta began Kart racing in 1987, winning his first race shortly thereafter. The following year, he was runner-up for the Curitiba Karting Championship, and in 1991, he won the title. He continued karting until 1992, finishing fourth in the São Paulo Karting Championship before progressing to single-seaters for 1993. He finished sixth in the Brazilian Formula Chevrolet Championship, and then in 1994, came fifth in the Brazilian Formula Three Championship. A year later, Zonta won both the Brazilian and South American Formula Three Championships.

Moving to Europe in 1996, Zonta competed in the International Formula 3000 Championship for Draco Racing, winning two races and finishing fourth overall. In the same year, he became the first Brazilian to compete in International Touring Cars, with Mercedes-Benz. In 1997, he won three races and the Formula 3000 championship. He also took home the "Golden Helmet" award for best international driver for his efforts. The Jordan Formula One team signed him as their official test driver following his championship, and in 1998, he was signed by Team McLaren boss Ron Dennis. Zonta tested with the McLaren Formula One team in 1998, and concurrently won the FIA GT Championship (GT1 class) and the "Golden Helmet" award in the "world prominence" category.

In October 1998, immediately after winning the FIA GT championship, Zonta signed up with the B.A.R. Formula One racing team as one of its race drivers for the 1999 season,[1][2] after rejecting offers from Jordan and Sauber.

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Formula One career In 1999, Zonta started as a Formula One racing driver alongside 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve at new team BAR. He injured his foot in an accident during practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix, and was forced to miss three races. He also had a large accident at Spa-Francorchamps, and finished the season with no championship points. Zonta remained with BAR for the 2000 season, scoring his first world championship point with a sixth place in the opening race. He had another large accident when his front suspension broke during testing at Silverstone, but continued the season, scoring points in both the Italian and United States Grands Prix, to finish 14th in the championship. Replaced by Olivier Panis for the 2001 season, Zonta became the third driver for the Jordan team, replacing the injured Heinz-Harald Frentzen for one race, and then again when Frentzen was sacked, but was overlooked to replace him for the remainder of the season.

In 2002, Zonta decided to focus on the Telefónica World Series, which he won. He was then hired as test driver for the Toyota F1 team in 2003, retaining the position in 2004. Toward the end of the season, the team sacked Cristiano da Matta from a race seat, and Zonta drove in four Grands Prix. In Belgium, he was running in fourth place three laps from the finish when his engine failed. In Suzuka the team hired Jarno Trulli and Zonta had to sit the event out, but the team allowed him to compete in his home race, the Brazilian Grand Prix, which he finished in 13th. He continued as a test driver for Toyota in 2005, alongside veteran French pilot Olivier Panis. At the US Grand Prix later that year, he stood in for the injured Ralf Schumacher and took his place on the grid, only for Toyota, like the other six Michelin-shod teams, to withdraw from the race due to safety concerns. 2006 saw Zonta continue with Toyota as the team's third and test driver. He was confirmed as test driver for the Renault Formula One team for the 2007 season on 6 September 2006. Grandprix.com article, retrieved September 6, 2006

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After Formula One In 2007, Zonta entered the Stock Car Brasil series in parallel with the work for the Renault team. Gazeta do Povo, retrieved April 3, 2007 In 2008, he contested the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Peugeot Sport, driving the No. 9 car alongside Franck Montagny and Formula One tester Christian Klien.

Zonta is also driving in the Grand Am Championship in America with Krohn Racing, while also being the team owner and driver of RZ Motorsport in Stock Car Brasil.

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Personal life Two of Zonta's relatives, Billy and Brendon, are also racing drivers. Billy used to compete in the Sprint Race series until he was forced to retire in 2016 after being diagnosed with cancer. Brendon is currently active in Sprint Race's continuation series NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, driving the No. 7 Ford Mustang in the AM class.

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Racing career

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Career summary

International Touring Car Championship	Mercedes-AMG	2	0	0	0	0	0	29th
24 Hours of Le Mans	1	0	0	0	0	N/A	NC
Formula One	Panasonic Toyota Racing	Test Driver
Formula One	ING Renault F1 Team	Test Driver
24 Hours of Le Mans	Peugeot Sport	1	0	0	0	1	N/A !style="background:#FFDF9F;"	3rd
FIA GT1 World Championship	Reiter Engineering	12	3	1	0	4	75	8th
FIA GT1 World Championship	Sumo Power GT	6	0	0	0	0	9	28th
FIA GT Series	BMW Sport Trophy Team Brasil	10	0	0	0	0	29	15th
NASCAR Brasil Series	R.Mattheis Motorsport	19	0	0	2	0	88	15th

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Complete International Formula 3000 results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

1996 ! nowrap

Draco Racing

NÜR

PAU

PER

Hockenheimring

SIL

SPA

MAG

EST

Mugello Circuit

Hockenheimring ! 4th ! 27

1997 ! nowrap

Super Nova Racing

PAU

HEL

NÜR

PER

Hockenheimring

A1R

SPA

Mugello Circuit

JER

1st

39

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Complete International Touring Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

1996 ! nowrap

Mercedes-AMG ! nowrap

Mercedes C-Class V6

1/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Hockenheimring">Hockenheimring

2/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Hockenheimring">Hockenheimring

NÜR 2

EST 2

1/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Helsinki Thunder">Helsinki Thunder

2/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Helsinki Thunder">Helsinki Thunder

1/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Norisring">Norisring

2/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Norisring">Norisring

DIE 2

SIL 2

NÜR 1 Ret

NÜR 2 13

MAG 2

1/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Mugello Circuit">Mugello Circuit

2/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Mugello Circuit">Mugello Circuit

1/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Hockenheimring">Hockenheimring

2/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Hockenheimring">Hockenheimring

INT 2

1/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Suzuka Circuit">Suzuka Circuit

2/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: Suzuka Circuit">Suzuka Circuit !style="background:

29th !style="background:

0

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Complete FIA GT Championship results

1998 ! nowrap

Mercedes-AMG ! GT1 ! nowrap

Mercedes-Benz CLK LM ! nowrap

Mercedes-Benz M119 6.0L V8

OSC

SIL

HOC

DIJ

HUN

SUZ

DON

A1R

HMS

LAG

1st

77

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24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Complete Formula One results (key)

! nowrap British American Racing ! nowrap

BAR 01 ! nowrap

Supertec V10

AUS

BRA

SMR

MON

ESP

CAN

FRA

GBR

AUT 15

GER

HUN

BEL

ITA

EUR

MAL

JPN

! 22nd ! 0

! nowrap Lucky Strike Reynard BAR Honda ! nowrap

BAR 002 ! nowrap

Honda V10

AUS

BRA

SMR

GBR

ESP

EUR

MON

CAN

FRA

AUT

GER

HUN

BEL

ITA

USA

JPN

MAL

! 14th ! 3

! nowrap B&H Jordan Honda ! nowrap

Jordan EJ11 ! nowrap

Honda V10

AUS

MAL

BRA

SMR

ESP

AUT

MON

CAN

EUR

FRA

GBR

GER

HUN

BEL

ITA

USA

JPN

! 19th ! 0

!rowspan="2" nowrap Panasonic Toyota Racing ! nowrap

Toyota TF104 !rowspan="2" nowrap

Toyota V10

AUS

MAL

BHR

SMR

ESP

MON

EUR

CAN

USA

FRA

GBR

GER

!rowspan="2" 22nd !rowspan="2"

0

! nowrap Panasonic Toyota Racing ! nowrap

Toyota TF105 ! nowrap

Toyota V10

AUS

MAL

BHR

SMR

ESP

MON

EUR

CAN

USA

FRA

GBR

GER

HUN

TUR

ITA

BEL

BRA

JPN

CHN ! NC ! 0

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

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Complete World Series by Nissan results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

2002 ! nowrap

Gabord Competición

VAL1 1

VAL1 2

JAR 1

JAR 2

ALB 1

ALB 2

MNZ 1

MNZ 2

MAG 1

MAG 2

CAT 1

CAT 2

VAL2 1

VAL2 2

CUR 1

CUR 2

INT 1

INT 2 !style="background:#fbffbf;"

1st !style="background:#fbffbf;"

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Complete Stock Car Pro Series results

2007 ! L&M Racing ! Peugeot 307

INT

CTB

CGD

INT

LON

SCZ

CTB

BSB

ARG

TAR

RIO

INT

! 29th ! 13

2008 ! L&M Racing ! Peugeot 307

INT

BSB

CTB

SCZ

CGD

INT

RIO

LON

CTB

BSB

TAR

INT

! 24th ! 23

2009 ! RZ Motorsport ! Peugeot 307

CTB

BSB

SCZ

INT

SAL

RIO

CGD

CTB

BSB

TAR

INT

! 16th ! 48

2010 ! RZ Motorsport ! nowrap

Chevrolet Vectra

INT

CTB

VEL

RIO

RBP

SAL

INT

CGD

LON

SCZ

BSB

CTB

! 20th ! 36

2011 ! RZ Motorsport ! Chevrolet Vectra

CTB

INT

RBP

VEL

CGD

RIO

INT

SAL

SCZ

LON

BSB

VEL

! 15th ! 51

2012 ! RZ Motorsport ! Chevrolet Sonic

INT

CTB

VEL

RBP

LON

RIO

SAL

CGD

TAR

CUR

BRA

INT

! 13th ! 89

2013 ! RZ Motorsport ! Chevrolet Sonic

INT

CUR

TAR

SAL

BRA

CAS

RBP

CAS

VEL

CUR

BRA

INT

! 7th ! 144

2014 ! RZ Motorsport ! Chevrolet Sonic

INT 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

! 14th ! 108

2015 ! Shell Racing ! Chevrolet Sonic

GOI 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

! 13th ! 147

2016 ! Shell Racing ! Chevrolet Cruze

CUR 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

CRI 2

INT 1

!16th ! 130

2017 ! TMG Racing ! Chevrolet Cruze

GOI 1

GOI 2

VEL 1

VEL 2

SCZ 1

SCZ 2

CAS 1

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

! 11th ! 174

2018 ! TMG Racing ! Chevrolet Cruze

INT 1

CUR 1

CUR 2

VEL 1

VEL 2

LON 1

LON 2

SCZ 1

SCZ 2

GOI 1

MOU 1

CAS 1

CAS 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

TAR 1

TAR 2

GOI 2

INT 1

! 8th ! 184

2019 ! nowrap

TMG Racing ! nowrap

Chevrolet Cruze

VEL 1

GOI 1

GOI 2

LON 1

LON 2

SCZ 1

SCZ 2

MOU 1

MOU 2

INT 1

VEL 1

VEL 2

CAS 1

CAS 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

GOI 1

GOI 2

INT 1

! 14th ! 155

2020 ! RCM Motorsport ! Toyota Corolla

GOI 1

GOI 2

INT 1

INT 2

LON 1

LON 2

CAS 1

CAS 2

CAS 3

VCA 1

VCA 2

CUR 1

CUR 2

CUR 3

GOI 1

GOI 2

GOI 3

INT 1

!style="background:#DFDFDF;" 2nd !style="background:#DFDFDF;"

278

2021 ! RCM Motorsport ! Toyota Corolla

GOI 1

GOI 2

INT 1

INT 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

CAS 1

CAS 2

CUR 1

CUR 2

CUR 1

CUR 2

GOI 1

GOI 2

GOI 1

GOI 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

SCZ 1

SCZ 2

INT 1

INT 2

! 4th ! 307

2022 ! RCM Motorsport ! Toyota Corolla

INT 1

GOI 1

GOI 2

RIO 1

RIO 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

VEL 1

VEL 2

VEL 2

INT 1

INT 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

SCZ 1

SCZ 2

GOI 1

GOI 2

GOI 1

GOI 2

INT 1

INT 2

! 5th ! 262

2023 ! RCM Motorsport ! Toyota Corolla

GOI 1

GOI 2

INT 1

INT 2

TAR 1

TAR 2

CAS 1

CAS 2

INT 1

INT 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

GOI 1

GOI 2

VEL 1

VEL 2

BUE 1

BUE 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

CAS 1

CAS 2

INT 1

INT 2

!style="background:#FFDF9F;" 3rd !style="background:#FFDF9F;"

280

2024 ! nowrap

RCM Motorsport ! nowrap

Toyota Corolla

GOI 1

GOI 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

INT 1

INT 2

CAS 1

CAS 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

VCA 3

GOI 1

GOI 2

Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte

VEL 1

VEL 2

BUE 1

BUE 2

URU 1

URU 2

GOI 1

GOI 2

INT 1

INT 2 ! 4th ! 864

2025 ! RCM Motorsport ! Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

INT 1

CAS 1

CAS 2

VEL 1

VEL 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

CRS 1

CRS 2

CAS 1

CAS 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

VCA 1

VCA 2

MOU 1

MOU 2

CUI 1

CUI 2

BRA 2

INT 1

INT 2

! 23rd ! 428

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

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Complete GT1 World Championship results

2010 ! nowrap

Reiter ! Lamborghini

ABU QR 10

ABU CR 5

SIL QR

SIL CR

BRN QR

BRN CR

PRI QR 13

PRI CR 10

SPA QR 2

SPA CR 1

NÜR QR 4

NÜR CR 14

ALG QR

ALG CR

NAV QR 1

NAV CR 1

INT QR Ret

INT CR Ret

SAN QR

SAN CR ! 8th ! 75

2011 ! nowrap

Sumo Power GT ! Nissan Motors

ABU QR 4

ABU CR Ret

ZOL QR 12

ZOL CR Ret

ALG QR 8

ALG CR 7

SAC QR

SAC CR

SIL QR

SIL CR

NAV QR

NAV CR

PRI QR

PRI CR

ORD QR

ORD CR

BEI QR

BEI CR

SAN QR

SAN CR ! 28th ! 9

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Complete FIA GT Series results

2013 ! nowrap

BMW Sport Trophy Team Brasil ! nowrap

BMW Z4 GT3 ! Pro

NOG QR 6

NOG CR 9

ZOL QR 11

ZOL CR 8

ZAN QR 9

ZAN CR 5

SVK QR 7

SVK CR 4

NAV QR

NAV CR

BAK QR 14

BAK CR Ret ! 15th ! 29

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External links

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