Career

Rubens Barrichello has his name marked in the history of Brazilian motor racing. His track record shows numberless kart wins, the achievement of the Formula Opel Euroseries and the Formula 3 the British Formula, Three Championship, several records broken and long remarkable presence in Formula 1 and he already raised the cup for the first time in his second season riding #111 car in Stock Car.

History

Rubens Barrichello was born in São Paulo, on May 23, 1972. Son of Idely Barrichello and Rubens Barrichello Senior, he felt the acceleration thrill for the first time at 6 when his grandfather on the mother side gave him a kart. He began his history in motor racing in 1981: in a period of eight years in kart, he drew everyone’s attention by winning five Brazilian and São Paulo championships; the 1986 South American Championship, in Colombia; and the ninth position in the 1987 World Championship, in France, when Ayrton Senna helped him run. His first experience in a car championship was in Ford Formula, in 1989. In his first challenge, the racer showed his business card by finishing the race in the first position. At the end of the season he was third in the championship.

A new challenge comes up in 1991 with the races remarkably conducted: he was invited to be part of West Surrey Racing team in the British Formula Three. Once again, he surprised everyone and was the champion. The youngest pilot to secure the title of the category, beaten only by Nelsinho, in 2004, a big opponent, who was the champion of the second season and Rubens of the first. After two triumphant seasons, the racer gave his last step before reaching his main goal. In 1992, he was invited to run in the European Formula 3000 Championship with IL Barone Rampante team. The year was tough. The car was not very competitive and, in mid-season, it was necessary to change even the motor supplier. Even though, he managed to finish the championship in third place and then, in addition to the fine performance of prior years, he was officially invited to dispute the longed-for Formula 1. On Mar 14, 1993, Rubens Barrichello ran for the first time one Formula 1 Grand Prix. His first race was in Kyalami, South Africa, representing the Irish Jordan team. After some GP’s, he achieved his first scores. On Oct 4, in Japan, he finished fifth. The following goal was to achieve the first podium. And it didn’t take him long to get it. In 1994, at the Pacific GP, in Aida, the second season, Rubens finished third. In the same year, Rubens Barrichello faced the hardest moment of his life. He was badly injured at the San Marino Grand Prix, in Italy, in the beginning of the first qualifying, on Friday. On May 1, 1994, Sunday, Brazil lost Ayrton Senna, the biggest driver of its history, in a tragic accident, deeply shocking Rubens’ life.

Despite the trauma, the driver had a good performance in the season: he got his first Pole Position at the Belgium GP and finished the championship sixth, with 19 points. In 1995, he got his best position till then, second at the Canada GP. 1997 was a special year. Besides being the new member of the Stewart team, Rubens Barrichello married Silvana Giaffone Barrichello, on Feb 24. His heyday at the motor-racing team was in 1999, with three podiums at the San Marino, France and Europe GP’s. In 2000, Rubens Barrichello gave a giant step in his career: he joined Ferrari to be the companion of the German Michael Schumacher, who had been champion twice with Benetton. His first win in Formula 1 was on Jul 31, 2000 at the Germany GP. After starting on the 18th position due to electrical problems during qualifying, the driver ran flawlessly and finished in first. On Sep 23, 2001, Eduardo, son of Rubens Barrichello, was born. Four years later, in 2005, the racer had his second son, Fernando. In 2006, after five years, two vice-championships, nine wins, numberless Pole Positions and five titles of constructors, he left Ferrari and joined Honda.

In 2009, Honda went through a strong crisis in Formula 1 and was acquired by Ross Brawn, which assured the stay of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button in the season. With a Mercedes motor, the Brawn team surprised everyone and was deemed the biggest candidate for the title. The driver fought for the title until the end and finished in third. In 2010, Rubens Barrichello made another dream come true: drive a Williams, team that he had loved since he was a child. The year of 2012 opened new paths for the driver. Nineteen 19 later, he said goodbye to Formula 1 and joined KV Racing Technology to run in Formula Indy. He disputed 14 GPs and, in the 500 miles of Indianapolis, he finished in 11th, being the best beginner of the race history. In the same year, Rubens was invited by Medley/Full Time team and confirmed his presence in Stock Car. The driver of #111 car made his debut at the Curitiba circuit. His first win in the category was in 2014, in the famous Million Race, and also in 2014 he was the champion of Stock Car. On Apr 14, 2015, SBT TV announced he would present the show “Acelerados”, a show already produced on YouTube, with the journalists Gerson Campos and Cássio Cortes. In the following seasons, Rubens kept his great results at Stock Car: in 2015, he finished fourth; 2016, third and 2017, fifth. The driver won again the Million Race in Goiânia, in 2018, and finished the year fourth.