26.01.2004 RISING BRAZILIAN STAR AUGUSTO FARFUS LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW ETCC SEASON WITH AUTODELTA
Alfa Romeo's new rising star Augusto Farfus started racing at the age of six on mini motorbikes back in his native Brazil, his career kicking off when he won his first title two years later in 1991. The next four years saw him graduate to karting winning titles each year before in 1999 he made the big move to Europe.
In his first year in Italy with the CRG kart team he won the Italian Winter Cup before he graduated to Formula Renault with CRAM Competizione in 2000. The next year he moved to RC Motor Sport and became European Formula Renault Champion. This led to a seat with the Draco Junior Team in European F3000 for 2002 where he took ninth place in the championship.
Last year, after driving a JMB Racing USA Ferrari 360GT in January's Daytona 24 Hours, he turned again to F3000, and won the European title.
Now Augusto Farfus Jr, who's career ambition is to reach Formula One, is making the move into Touring Cars to widen his experience, seeing the ultra competitive European series as a way forward.
“After winning in F3000, there are not many options for a young driver who wishes to compete at a professional level." he commented during his first test for Alfa Romeo at Misano earlier this month. "There is Formula 1, and then there is ETCC. Formula 1 remains my goal for the future, but for now I’m quite happy for this opportunity of entering the ETCC through the front door. With Alfa Romeo and Autodelta I am at the top; they are a winning team, and racing for them will surely be a big boost for my career.”
Farfus will be teaming up with two Touring Car superstars, Gabriele Tarquini and Fabrizio Giovanardi who were crowned ETCC champions in the last two seasons. “It is like joining Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in a Formula 1 team. From one side I am a bit in awe of them, but I know that this will give me a great chance to learn from the best men around. I will look at them, the way they work, and I will try to follow their advise to gain experience.
"This is a tough championship, and in my first season I’m aiming to grow up. I would be quite happy if will manage to obtain some podium results."
|
 |
 |
 |