Fritz d'Orey

Frederico José Carlos Themudo 'Fritz' d'Orey (25 March 1938 - 31 August 2020): Brazilian racing driver of German and Portuguese descent from São Paulo. Participated in three Formula One World Championship Grands Prix in 1959, debuting on 5 July 1959, without scoring championship points. After traveling to Argentina in 1959 to race, came to the attention of the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio, who hired him as part of his team of drivers to compete in Europe, a significant honor demonstrating Fangio's confidence in the young Brazilian's abilities. At the 1959 French Grand Prix at Reims, drove an aging Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati 250F (chassis 2522), qualifying 18th and finishing the race in 10th place, ten laps down on winner Tony Brooks, completing his first World Championship race.

Competed at the 1959 British Grand Prix at Aintree, qualifying 20th but retiring due to an accident, ending his race prematurely. At the 1959 United States Grand Prix at Sebring, Florida, drove a Tec-Mec Maserati, qualifying 17th out of 19 entries and retiring after seven laps with an oil leak. Became the first Brazilian driver to compete in the famous 12 Hours of Sebring in 1960, pioneering Brazilian participation in American endurance racing. His racing career ended tragically during practice for the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans when he crashed his Ferrari 250GT SWB (chassis 14) into a tree at approximately 270 km/h (168 mph).

The violent impact split the car in two, and d'Orey suffered severe head injuries in the catastrophic accident. Hospitalized for eight months following the Le Mans crash, enduring a long and painful recovery. At just 22 years old, decided it was time to quit racing permanently, the life-threatening injuries convincing him that continuing would be too dangerous. Returned to Brazil where he lived for the next six decades, maintaining connections to motorsport as an observer rather than participant.

Passed away on 31 August 2020 at age 82. Though his Formula One and racing career was brief and ended in tragedy, d'Orey was a pioneering Brazilian driver who competed internationally during the late 1950s when South American drivers were rare in European motorsport, paving the way for future Brazilian Formula One champions.