Pedro Chaves
Pedro Pinto Ferreira Matos Chaves ( born February 27, 1965 in Porto ) is a Portuguese racing driver and two-time national rally champion.
Career
Chaves ' career in motorsport began in 1980 in karting at the national level. In 1986 he moved to the Portuguese Formula Ford and shortly after that win the championship in Portugal and the Iberian Formula Ford. After Chaves in 1988 was third in the British Formula Ford, he in 1989 moved directly into the Formula 3000, the former base of the formula 1, where, however, he could not convince - he qualified in only six out of ten races - and drove in the following year in British Formula 3000 for Nigel Mansell Team Mansell Madgwick Motorsports; he won the championship at first with five victories this season. Also in this year launched Chaves again in the International Formula 3000, but this time only three races in which he successfully fought three championship points with fourth place at Brands Hatch. He also took part in the Formula 3 race in Macau, but this without success.
1991 Chaves committed for the Italian Coloni team in Formula 1 Due to the inferior vehicle and lack of experience, however, never succeeded him to ride in the pre-qualification under the first four of seven pilots, and thus to be able to move into the qualifying round. For the last three races of the season he left the team - partly because he could not pay the tickets to the overseas races - and was replaced by the Japanese Naoki Hattori, who brought sponsorship money into the underfunded team.
After an unsuccessful return to Formula 3000 in 1992, Chaves joined the following year in the United States to the Indy Lights, the Junior series the CART Championship. He achieved several podiums and finished fourth in the overall standings. In 1994 and 1995 he managed to fifth place overall.
In 1996 he raced in the Spanish Touring Car Championship, graduating as second overall. 1997 started Chaves in the FIA GT Championship first for Roock Racing in a Porsche 911 GT1. After two races, he moved to the GT2 car of the Porsche 911 and was at the end of 13th in the GT2.
1998 Chavez rose in Portugal in the national rallying and in 1999 and 2000 national champion.
Chaves In 2002, back in the GT racing and start first in the Spanish GT Championship for Graham Nash Motorsport. By the end he could along with Miguel Ramos won several four championship races, and four further finish on the podium. The success enabled Chaves in 2002, his first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he and Ramos at the European tuner of RML Saleen S7R received a cockpit and was able to record a finish. In 2003 he moved with Gaham Nash Motorsport again in the FIA GT Championship. Up to a fifth place finish at the Circuit de Nevers Magny -Cours, he was able to achieve any significant success.
Private
Chaves ' father was his time Vice President of the Automobile Club of Portugal, which he clearly facilitated the entry into motorsports. He is married to Helen, from her marriage had two children.