Wilson Fittipaldi

Wilson had to content himself with life as a racing driver for ever in the shadow of his brilliant younger brother, but that should not disguise the fact that he was a more than useful performer in his own right.

He made a brief and dispiriting trip to Europe in 1966 before returning home to Brazil, where he raced saloons, sports cars and Formula Fords, as well as acting as engineer for Emerson's Super Vee efforts. Wilson was back in Europe in 1970 to race in F3, and a good showing was enough to see him joining his brother in Formula 2 in 1971, driving first a Lotus 69, then a March. Given his lack of experience, he fared well, taking fourth on his debut at Hockenheim, second at Vallelunga and third again at Hockenheim at season's end. A deal was struck with Bernie Ecclestone to race a Brabham in Formula 1 in 1972, as effectively the third driver to Reutemann and Hill, but he did not enjoy the best of luck after a sixth place on his debut in the non-championship Brazilian GP. Things were better the following year, and his drive at Monaco was particularly impressive, Wilson holding third place in the BT42 when the fuel system failed. But at least he scored some points in Argentina and Germany, and took an aggregate win in Formula 2 at Misano.

Wilson was now set on developing a Grand Prix car of his own and much of 1974 was spent setting up the Copersucar-Fittipaldi team which made its debut in 1975. The car was not a success, and Wilson was a perpetual back-marker. At the end of the year came the shock announcement that Emerson would drive for the team in 1976, so the elder Fittipaldi happily retired to fill a management position in a project which was doomed to eventual failure.

Over the past decade Wilson has been much in evidence at the circuits, helping guide the racing career of his son Christian, but he has still found time to race himself occasionally. In 1995 he won the 24th Brazilian 1000-mile race in a Porsche 993 turbo.