Raul Boesel

Raul de Mesquita Boesel (4 December 1957 - Present): Brazilian racing driver who achieved his greatest success in sports car racing and IndyCar, winning the 1987 World Sports Prototype Championship and multiple prestigious endurance races. Born in Curitiba, Brazil, Boesel began his career in Brazilian Formula Ford before moving to Europe in the late 1970s. He progressed through Formula Three and Formula Two, showing consistent speed and racecraft. His Formula One career consisted of 30 race entries between 1982 and 1983, primarily with the March team, though he struggled with uncompetitive machinery and failed to score any championship points.

His best F1 finish was seventh place at the 1983 South African Grand Prix. After leaving Formula One, Boesel found his true calling in sports car racing, joining the Jaguar team in 1987 and winning the World Sports Prototype Championship with co-driver Jan Lammers. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1987 and 1991, and finished second at Le Mans in 1987. Moving to IndyCar racing in 1989, Boesel became a consistent front-runner, winning four races and finishing second in the 1993 championship.

He was severely injured in a crash at Michigan International Speedway in 1996 but made a remarkable recovery. After retirement, Boesel remained involved in motorsport as a team owner and manager in Brazilian racing series. He is remembered as one of Brazil's most versatile and successful racing drivers, achieving major victories across multiple disciplines. Known for: Winning the 1987 World Sports Prototype Championship, twice winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, running competitively in IndyCar for eight seasons, and representing the generation of Brazilian drivers who excelled in international motorsport beyond Formula One.