Zonta Ricardo(Brazil, 23/03/1976)

Ricardo Zonta, born on 23 March 1976 in Curitiba (Brazil), is a former Brazilian racing driver who competed in Formula 1 in the late 1990s and early 2000s, before building a long career as a test driver and key development figure within major manufacturers’ racing programmes.

After beginning his career in karting in Brazil, Zonta moved to European single-seaters in the early 1990s, quickly making an impression. In 1997 he secured one of the most prestigious junior titles by winning the International Formula 3000 Championship with the Super Nova team, asserting himself convincingly and attracting direct interest from Formula 1 teams. Prior to that, he had already demonstrated his talent in South American Formula 3 and British Formula 3.

His Formula 1 debut came in 1999 with BAR, a team entering the championship for the first time. The season proved extremely difficult from a technical standpoint, as the car failed to deliver competitive results, and Zonta was forced to miss several races due to injuries sustained in accidents during the year. Despite this, he remained within the BAR programme for 2000, albeit in a reduced role.

In 2000 and 2001 he primarily served as test driver for BAR, making occasional race appearances. It was in 2001 that he achieved his best Formula 1 result, finishing sixth at the Canadian Grand Prix and scoring his only championship points. At the end of that season, he permanently stepped away from a full-time race role in Formula 1.

Alongside his Formula 1 involvement, Ricardo Zonta developed a highly successful endurance racing career. With Peugeot, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999, sharing the Peugeot 905 with Yannick Dalmas and Joachim Winkelhock, a victory that reinforced his reputation as an extremely reliable and technically precise driver.

After leaving the F1 grid, Zonta remained closely associated with Toyota, becoming one of the most heavily used test drivers of the Japanese manufacturer’s Formula 1 project between 2003 and 2009. His contribution to the development of the Cologne-based cars was widely recognised as fundamental, particularly during private testing and simulation phases.

At the same time, he continued competing in other series, including Stock Car Brasil, where he achieved race wins and strong results, becoming a respected figure within the championship. He also took part in endurance races and manufacturer-backed programmes, maintaining an active presence in Brazilian motorsport.

In his private life he has maintained a low profile. Ricardo Zonta is remembered as one of the last prominent Brazilian drivers to emerge from the European junior formula system of the 1990s, the protagonist of a less high-profile Formula 1 career but an exceptionally solid and long-lasting technical and professional journey, marked by a significant contribution to the development of winning cars away from the spotlight.

GP Results

GP/Points Graph

Year	Team	Chassis	Points
2004	Toyota	TF104	0
2001	Jordan	EJ11	0
2000	BAR	002	3
1999	BAR	01	0

* World Championships with at least 1 point won (since 2001)

Year	Team	Teammate	Win
Total			0 VS 0

Grand Prix	Team	Chassis	Pos.
Belgian GP 2004	Panasonic Toyota Racing	TF104	10
Canadian GP 2001	Jordan Grand Prix Honda	EJ11	7
Japanese GP 2000	Lucky Strike BAR F1 Team	002	9
United States GP 2000	Lucky Strike BAR F1 Team	002	6
Italian GP 2000	Lucky Strike BAR F1 Team	002	6
Canadian GP 2000	Lucky Strike BAR F1 Team	002	8
Spanish GP 2000	Lucky Strike BAR F1 Team	002	8
Brazilian GP 2000	Lucky Strike BAR F1 Team	002	9
Australian GP 2000	Lucky Strike BAR F1 Team	002	6
European GP 1999	British American Racing	01	8
French GP 1999	British American Racing	01	9
Australian GP 1999	British American Racing	01	9

* Grand prix finishes in the top 10 (since 2001)

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