Stock Car Brasil

Stock Car Brasil (officially Copa NEXTEL Stock Car {NEXTEL Cup Stock Car}), also known as Campeonato Brasileiro de Stock Car is a stock car auto racing series held in Brazil. The cars are similar to the ones in NASCAR, although there are no oval tracks. The competing marques are Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and Peugeot among others.

History

The first race was held on April 22 1979 at the Autódromo de Tarumã in Rio Grande do Sul.

Chevrolet was the only manufacturer in competition until 2005, when Mitsubishi entered with the Lancer. In 2006 Volkswagen came with the Bora and 2007, the fourth competitor, Peugeot with the 307. However, all cars use common chassis and engines, both supplied by ZF Racing. The tire supplier was only Pirelli consistently from 1979 until 2007. Goodyear has now replaced Pirelli for the 2008 season.

Besides the main Stock Car V8 series, the event also has two junior leagues, the Vicar Cup (since 1993), formerly Stock Car Light, and Stock Junior (since 2006) series. As for the spec of the Stock Car Light, the engine is suppressed compared with the V8 series though other spec is basically the same as the V8 series and the external is only Chevrolet. Stock Junior uses small race cars that combine a Yamaha motorcycle engine with the ZF Racing chassis.

Fatal accidents

There have been four fatal accidents:

* In 1985, Zeca Gregoricinski, a driver, was killed at Interlagos. He was burnt to death.cite news|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/Motor/0,,MUL210737-3338,00.html |title=Morte de Rafael é a quarta na Stock Car |date=2007-12-09 |publisher=Globo Esporte |accessdate=2007-12-11 |language=Portugues]
* In June 2001, Laércio Justino, a driver, was killed at Nelson Piquet Circuit of Brasília after lost control of the car and crashed at the pit lane entrance.
* In September 2003, Raphael Lima Pereira, a photographer of age 19, knocked against the car of Gualter Salles at Campo Grande circuit and died. He was besides the safety area at the accident.
* On 9 December, 2007, Rafael Sperafico, of the Sperafico racing family, was killed in the final race of the Stock Car Light 2007 season at Interlagos. His cousins Rodrigo and Ricardo Sperafico race in the top-level series. It was the first fatal accident in Stock Car Light series. [cite news|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/esporte/ult92u353190.shtml |title=Acidente mata Rafael Sperafico durante prova em Interlagos |date=2007-12-09 |publisher=Folha de São Paulo |accessdate=2007-12-11 |language=Portugues] [cite news|url=http://esporte.uol.com.br/velocidade/ultimas/2007/12/09/ult4366u352.jhtm |title=Piloto da Stock Car Light morre em acidente em São Paulo |date=2007-12-09 |publisher=UOL Esporte |accessdate=2007-12-11 |language=Portugues] [cite news|url=http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/071210094820.shtml |title=Rafael Sperafico loses his life |date=2007-12-10 |publisher=F1-Live.com |accessdate=2007-12-11 ]

Previous Champions

Notable drivers

* Affonso Giaffone Filho (1979 - 1980s) - The winner of the first race in 1979, and the champion of the 1981 season. The father of Affonso Giaffone, a former IndyCar Series driver.
* Ingo Hoffmann (1979 - ) - 12 times champion (1980, 1985, 1989-1994, 1996-1998 and 2002) and most winner of the series.
* Cacá Bueno (2002 - ) - Champion: 2006 and 2007, Runner-up: 2003, 2004 and 2005. He is one of the sons of the sports commentator Galvão Bueno.

Former Formula One drivers

Currently in the series

* Ingo Hoffmann (since the first race of the category in 1979)
* Tarso Marques (2005 - )
* Luciano Burti (2005 - )
* Ricardo Zonta (2007 - )
* Antônio Pizzonia (2007 - )

Formerly in the series

* Raul Boesel (1979, 2003 - 2005)
* Alex Ribeiro (1980s)
* Wilson Fittipaldi (1980s - early 1990s)
* Chico Serra (1980s - 2007)
* Christian Fittipaldi (2005 - 2007)
* Enrique Bernoldi (2007)

References

External links

* [http://www.stockcar.com.br/ Stock Car Brasil official website] in Portuguese