26.01.2004 RISING BRAZILIAN STAR AUGUSTO FARFUS LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW ETCC SEASON WITH AUTODELTA

Augusto Farfus already has experienced Italian race machinery when he joined JMB Racing USA to take part in last year's opening GrandAm race, the Daytona 24 Hours at the wheel of one of their Ferrari 360 GT's.

Joined in the no20 entry by ChampCar star Max Papis and experienced sportscar racers Emmauel Collard and Andrea Garbagnati, they brought the Ferrari home in 14th place after completing 621 laps in the twenty four hour period.

In preparation for the legendary event, the Brazilian youngster acquainted himself with the JMB Racing Ferrari 360GT when he tested for the team in Barcelona, November 2002, where he gave the following interview:

Augusto Farfus Jr subscribes to the car lover’s maxim that, ‘Every little boy is born with the desire to one day drive a Ferrari’.

Last November, the nineteen year-old Brazilian racing driver got his wish in style, when he tested the JMB Ferrari Modena 360 GT on the Barcelona track. “It felt fantastic. There I was, driving a Ferrari for the very first time and on top of it, a racecar’, he enthuses, with a big grin from ear to ear, while starting his high protein multi egg breakfast omelette. We are in Gstaadt, where the previous night Augusto attended Bonham’s vintage Ferrari sale followed by a grand dinner at the Palace. “Amazing though,” he continues, “ how different it is to be at the wheel of a one-seater race car and a race car built for the road. The 3000 is much harder to drive and requires more physical training.” He certainly is more used to the latter; oddly you can drive on a racetrack at top speed at sixteen, but you have to be 18 to drive with speed limits on the road.

Augusto gallantly offers me a piece of the gigantic omelette, I’ve been eyeing since I sat down. He is polite and good-natured; one senses that he comes from a solid background. He has the warmth, charm and directness that comes so easy to Brazilians and in many ways makes one think of a ‘baby’ Senna.

Augusto was born in Curitiba, Brazil in 1983, where his family owns a chain of restaurants. Hard work seems to be the Farfus ethos, ‘ My parents work all the time as there is always one of our eight restaurants that’s open every day.’ His own career has involved enormous sacrifice. Like Ayrton Senna and Rubens Barichello did before him, Farfus moved away from his beloved Brazil and close-knit family [he has an older sister] to go it alone, in order to pursue his passion. Racing came naturally to him. From age six, when Farfus climbed onto a mini motorbike for the first time, there was no turning back. He became known as the magical motorbike boy, winning the Parana` Championship of mini motorcycle speed as well as the mini motorbikes standard and free force categories in 1991. Soon he graduated to go-carts, dazzling all with his sheer talent, speed and dedication. Ferrari Formula One driver and fellow national, Rubens Barichello first met Farfus at the Kartodromo in San Paulo. “ He stood out for his speed on the track and his fighting spirit.,” he recalls.

Four years ago Farfus moved to Italy to race for the CRG go-cart team. During his second year he raced for CRAM competition in the Italian and European Championship for Formula Renault. In 2001 with RC Motor Sport, he was the European Champion of Formula Renault and in 2002, the first driver in the Draco Junior team in European Formula 3000, earning himself ninth place. Fellow Brazilian Felipe Massa, now driving in Formula One for Sauber, took the same route as Farfus: from go-kart, to Formula Renault, to Formula 3000 to Formula One.

Today Augusto lives and breathes his dream in Viareggio a seaside town in Northern Tuscany. His dedication is religious. For now there is no girlfriend, few friends and the little spare time he has is spent on the computer. “My day starts at the gym where I spend about six hours. The life of a racecar driver is different today from what it used to be. You have to have the preparation of an athlete, competition is very fierce.” He is known to be at the Draco garage as often as possible, to keep up with the technical side of the car.

Farfus is one of the few sportsmen to have had a sponsor, long before turning professional. Brazil’s ‘Credicard’ has supported him since he was ten years old. “I could have never come this far without them’, he says. “They are almost like family to me.” What are the qualities necessary to make it as a race driver? Augusto blurts out ‘Humility’. [pause] ‘Because’, that’s important for whatever you do in life. Of course there is also talent, dedication and concentration, physical preparation. It’s become such a tough world that you have to look after the finest detail. To be a professional racing driver, you have to be professional in everything.” He concludes.

On race days he is up before 8am. He will have a good breakfast, and then at some point a dose of mineral salts (a lot of weight is lost during a race) lunch consisting of carbohydrates is consumed roughly three hours before start time. “The beauty of motor sport is that you can’t really have a fixed programme, so many different factors come into play, you just have to have an oasis of tranquillity within. The world around you can collapse, but you must always be calm inside.”

Senna is his hero, it’s hardly surprising, considering that the legendary Brazilian champion touched the lives of so many people all over the world, let alone a fellow Brazilian driver, but the truth is they share a lot. Like Ayrton, Augusto believes firmly in God, in fact this belief frees him from the slavery of superstitions that are known to besiege many sportsmen and indeed many Brazilians. He is not dissimilar physically to Ayrton and like him, is so dedicated to his sport that he is quite a loner. “My mother says I will probably never get married,” he chuckles, “At the moment this is my life and I enjoy my solitude.” Like Senna, Farfus left home early (at sixteen) though Italy is probably less tough on a Brazilian than grey, cold England must have been for Ayrton in the early Eighties.

Augusto’s family has always been incredibly supportive and his father never misses a race. “Last year he came to all ten of them. No matter where it’s taking place, he always shows up.” There is no doubt that this kind of fully-fledged support must be instrumental in his success.

Next year Farfus will divide himself between two championships; The European Formula 3000 with Draco-his current team and The American Le Mans Series with JMB Racing USA Team Ferrari, who after winning several European Championship titles, will debut in the US this year. “The connection with the JMB USA Team Ferrari was made through my manager last summer and then I tested in November in Barcelona. I am totally delighted to be driving a Ferrari next year. It will be a great experience and it will give me a chance to get to know new tracks.”

Any preference as far as tracks go? “ Spa, Silverstone… it’s a very personal thing and doesn’t really depend on winning or losing. It’s to do with chemistry, the same as with people.”

Driving a fast car on a circuit is a powerful drug. Is there any way he can put that experience into words, I ask. He smiles. “Ayrton Senna used to say that only his helmet understood how it made him feel. I agree with that. It’s the most amazing sensation, you’re flooded with powerful emotions, a bit like scoring a goal.”

Brazilian drivers seem to have an edge on everyone else-and it’s not only the talent its also the charisma. Emerson Fittipaldi, Ayrton Senna, Rubens Barichello….. what makes them so special? Barichello explains to ‘World in Red ‘ in his own words, “It’s the capacity to make sacrifices like leaving your family to go to Europe alone when you are sixteen or seventeen, like I did. To be able to do this you need passion and love for the sport.” Adriano Morini, owner of the Draco Racing Team, who has discovered and brought many Brazilian drivers over to Italy adds, “They are ready to leave everything at the drop of a hat. I don’t know many Italian drivers who would be ready to do that. That’s what I would say singles them out.” Will Farfus be the next big thing? Only time will tell. For now he has to complete his boyhood wish and race a JMB Ferrari on the track. He plans to be in Formula One by 2004/05 and then of course, the coronation of his Ferrari dream, to one day drive for the Scuderia.