Wilson Fittipaldi

Wilson Fittipaldi Júnior (25 December 1943 - 16 June 2024) was a Brazilian racing driver and automotive entrepreneur who competed in Formula One from 1972 to 1975. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Wilson was the older brother of two-time Formula One World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi. He made 35 Formula One World Championship starts, driving for Brabham and later his own Fittipaldi team, scoring 3 championship points during his career with a best finish of sixth place. While his own driving achievements in Formula One were modest compared to his famous younger brother, Wilson's most significant contribution to motorsport came as a team owner and constructor.

Together with Emerson, he founded the Fittipaldi Automotive team (also known as Copersucar after its main sponsor), which competed in Formula One from 1975 to 1982. As constructor and team principal, Wilson oversaw the design and construction of the team's cars and managed operations while occasionally driving for the team himself in 1975. The Fittipaldi team achieved moderate success, with Emerson winning two races (Brazil 1975 and Brazil 1976) and the team scoring numerous podium finishes. However, the team struggled financially and technically against better-funded competitors and eventually withdrew from Formula One in 1982.

Beyond Formula One, Wilson was involved in various automotive and motorsport ventures in Brazil, including racing team management and automotive businesses. He remained active in Brazilian motorsport circles throughout his life and was a respected elder statesman of the sport in South America. The Fittipaldi brothers represented Brazilian motorsport ambition during the 1970s, with Wilson's entrepreneurial vision complementing Emerson's driving talent. After retiring from active involvement in racing, Wilson continued business activities in Brazil and maintained connections to motorsport.

He passed away in June 2024 at the age of 80, remembered as an important figure in Brazilian motorsport history and for his role in creating one of Brazil's only Formula One constructor teams.