Lucas di Grassi: South America’s great hope

Lucas di Grassi came from Formula 1 to Audi in 2012 and has really come to appreciate the challenge of LMP racing. The Brazilian has been one of Audi’s regular drivers in the WEC since 2014.

His trophy collection has grown significantly since Audi signed Lucas di Grassi. He has mounted the sportscar podium seven times so far, including four second-places. Obviously, the racing driver from São Paulo aims to win again soon. His team is sure that it is only a question of time. “At Audi I have the perfect foundations to be successful,” says the 30-year old Brazilian. “I feel at home in the Audi Sport team and with Loïc Duval and Oliver Jarvis have two strong and experienced team mates.”

Lucas di Grassi is also an asset for Audi away from the race tracks. Be it in interviews or socializing with his many fans: the Audi driver is a most welcome interviewee. In addition to his native language Portuguese, he also speaks English, Italian and Spanish and has basic knowledge of French. In his Brazilian homeland, the racing driver studied at the IBMEC Business University and is member of MENSA the association for highly intelligent people.

Lucas di Grassi, who married his partner Anna at the end of 2013, lives in Monaco. The conditions in the region are perfect to practice his stamina sports. Triathlon is one of his preferred disciplines. He decides spontaneously whether to compete or not. When di Grassi was travelling to the FIA WEC race in Bahrain in November 2014, he noticed that a triathlon was scheduled in neighboring Dubai; he quickly decided to stop over, organized a bicycle and plunged into the desert competition. When he was in Aspen, Colorado, in the USA, for winter sports, his passion for motorsport dragged him quite literally across slippery terrain: he charged around an icy course on a kart equipped with spiked tires. However, his great sporting goal is to become the first Brazilian to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the FIA Formula E, he is fighting for the title in the 2014/2015 season.

Profile

Date of birth: August 11, 1984
Place of birth: São Paulo (BR)
Place of residence: Monaco (MC)
Marital status: married
Height/weight: 1.79 m/75 kg
Motorsport since: 1997 (Audi driver since 2012)
Le Mans starts: 2

Sporting career

1997-2001 Kart, Pan American Kart Champion (2000)
2002 2nd in Brazilian Formula Renault Championship
2003 2nd in South American Formula 3 Championship
2004 British Formula 3 Championship, 3rd in Macau GP, Formula 3 Masters
2005 1st in Macau GP, 3rd in Formula 3 Euro Series, 3rd in Formula 3 Masters, Formula 1 test
2006 GP2 Series, Formula 1 test
2007 2nd in GP2 Series, Formula 1 test driver
2008 3rd in GP2 Series, Formula 1 reserve driver
2009 3rd in GP2 Series, Formula 1 reserve driver
2010 Formula 1 driver
2011 Formula 1 tire test driver, ILMC tests
2012 Formula 1 tire test driver, Nürburgring 24 Hours, 3rd in São Paulo 6 Hours (Audi R18 ultra)
2013 2nd in Sebring 12 Hours, 3rd in Spa 6 Hours, 3rd in Le Mans 24 Hours (each time in Audi R18 e-tron quattro)
2014 2nd in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 4th in FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), FIA Formula E
2015 FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 4th in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 3rd in FIA Formula E

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