Motorsport reference, Wilsinho Fittipaldi dies at age 80 – News of Brazil
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Brazilian motorsport icon, Wilson Fittipaldi Júnior passed away this Friday (23), in São Paulo. The former Formula 1 driver was hospitalized on December 25, 2023 after choking on a piece of meat and having a cardiac arrest, while celebrating his 80th birthday with his family.
Wilsinho, as he was known, was admitted to the Sainte Marie Hospital, accredited by the Prevent Senior network, in the south of São Paulo. Initially taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he was intubated and sedated, the former pilot was transferred to his room in mid-January.
Born in São Paulo, Wilsinho was the son of Wilson Fittipaldi, the Baron, founder of the Brazilian Automobile Confederation (CBA) and pioneer in narrations of the sport. The former driver began racing in the 1960s, reaching Formula 1 in 1972. He spent three seasons in the main category of motor sport, with 35 races competed and a fifth place in the 1973 German Grand Prix, for the British team. Brabham.
It was in his last race in the category, however, that Wilsinho made history. In 1975, he lined up on the grid aboard Copersucar-Fittipaldi, the first Brazilian Formula 1 team, founded alongside his younger brother, Emerson Fittipaldi, two-time world champion. In the following season, the former driver became head of the team, which remained in the world championship until 1982.
Wilsinho is survived by his wife Rita and his son Christian Fittipaldi, who raced in Formula 1 between 1992 and 1994. He was also the great-uncle of Pietro Fittipaldi, reserve driver for the North American Haas team in the main motorsport category.
“Uncle Wilsinho rest in peace. Thank you very much for everything you did for our family and for Brazilian motorsport. Now you are with Bizo and Biza”declared Pietro.
In a post on social media, CBA praised the former driver as a “heritage of Brazilian motorsport”. According to the confederation’s note, Wilsinho “brought together talent, vision of the future and boldness to take Brazil’s name to a level never imagined”, highlighting the creation of the Copersucar-Fittipaldi team as a project that “was ahead of its time”.
Stock Car, the country’s main automobile competition (and in which Wilsinho participated in three seasons, being runner-up in 1991) also spoke out. In a statement, the executive director of Vicar, organizer of the category, Fernando Julianelli, highlighted the “restless soul” of the former driver.
“With his creative energy, boldness and encyclopedic knowledge of the sport, Wilsinho didn’t just build cars: his initiatives inspired thousands of new fans, helping to make our country one of the world’s sport centers”described Julianelli.
Source: Agência Brasil
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