André Couto

André Couto ( born December 14, 1976 in Lisbon ) is a Portuguese- macauischer car racer. He takes over with a racing license from Macao.

He won the 2000 Macau Grand Prix. From 2004 to 2011 he competed in the Super GT and took from 2005 to 2011 each at a WTCC event in part.

Career

Couto began his motorsport career in 1991 in karting, where he was active until 1994. In 1995 he moved to Formula racing and competed in the Formula Opel Euro Series. He won a race and finished fifth in the championship. In addition, he finished the Macau Grand Prix in sixth. In 1996, Couto in the German Formula 3 Championship for Prema Powerteam. He stood at a race on the podium and was 13th in the driving standings. In addition, he joined half a season in the Italian Formula 3 Championship. He won two races, finishing in seventh place overall. At the Macau Grand Prix he finished eighth. 1997 Couto entered for the Prema Powerteam only in the Italian Formula 3 Championship. He won two races and was runner-up behind Oliver Martini. At the Macau Grand Prix, he came in fifth place finish.

In 1998, Couto in the International Formula 3000 championship, where he took up again for the Prema Powerteam. With three fifth places as the best results he finished eleventh in the championship. His teammates Paolo Ruberti and Thomas Biagi, who denied each half a season, remained without points. The Macau Grand Prix he finished seventh. 1999 Couto denied his second season in Formula 3000 for Apomatox who entered as Gauloises junior this season. His teammate was Stéphane Sarrazin. With a third place in Barcelona, ​​he was on the podium for the first time. Further points from placings remained, however. While Sarrazin was fourth, Couto graduated from the championship in 13th place. At the Macau Grand Prix, he started for the first time no longer for the Prema Powerteam, but for the Opel Team BSR and did not finish. 2000 remained at Couto Apomatox / Gauloises junior and received with Sébastien Bourdais a new teammates. At the Nürburgring he scored another podium placing third. Like last year, he remained in the other races without points and was beaten by his teammate. Couto was 18th in the championship. This year, he succeeded in the Macau Grand Prix to decide on the sixth attempt for themselves. Couto is the first and so far only macauische racing driver, who won this race.

2001 Couto left Europe and moved to Japan. He competed in the Formula Nippon and finished eleventh in the championship. In addition, he made his first experience in GT racing in the Japanese GT Championship. There he won a race and finished the championship in 17th Couto 2002 returned to Europe. He competed in the World Series by Nissan and was charged with four podium finishes seventh. In 2003, Couto in the European Touring Car Championship ( ETCC ), finishing in 18th place in the championship.

2004 Couto returned back to the Japanese GT Championship. He won a race and was together with his teammate Jeremie Dufour runner-up. 2005 remained Couto in this championship, which was called from this season's Super GT. By 2008 he was traveling in a vehicle from Toyota. His best overall result this time was the 15th in 2007. Moreover Couto took during that period in part in the event of the World Touring Car Championship ( WTCC) in Macau. He started twice for Alfa Romeo, and once each for Seat and Honda. His best finish here was a seventh place in 2006.

From 2009 to 2011 Couto competed in a Lexus in the Super GT and took a seat / SR Leon each at the WTCC event at Macau in part.

Personal

Afonso Couto son fell ill in 2009 at the age of six years from leukemia. Therefore, some WTCC drivers competed for the action saveafonso.com, which should draw attention to the disease. He received a bone marrow donation in May, but died in November 2010 at the age of seven years from the effects of leukemia.

Career stations

  • 2001: Japanese GT Championship ( 17th place )
  • 2002: World Series by Nissan ( 7th place)
  • 2003: ETCC ( 18th place)
  • 2004: Japanese GT Championship ( 2nd place)
  • 2005: Super GT ( # 28 )
  • 2005: WTCC
  • 2006: Super GT ( place 23 )
  • 2006: WTCC ( place 23 )
  • 2007: Super GT ( 15th place)
  • 2007: WTCC
  • 2008: Super GT ( # 21 )
  • 2008: WTCC
  • 2009: Super GT ( 14th)
  • 2009: WTCC
  • 2010: Super GT ( 12th place)
  • 2010: WTCC
  • 2011: Super GT ( 14th)
  • 2011: WTCC
Portugal German Formula Three Championship Italian Formula Three Championship 1998 International Formula 3000 season 1999 International Formula 3000 season Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 2000 International Formula 3000 season 2001 Formula Nippon season Super Formula Grand tourer 2005 World Touring Car Championship season 2006 World Touring Car Championship season 2007 World Touring Car Championship season 2008 World Touring Car Championship season 2009 World Touring Car Championship season 2010 World Touring Car Championship season 2011 World Touring Car Championship season
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