Rafael Sperafico

Rafael Sperafico (22 April 1981 – 9 December 2007) was a Brazilian racing driver. He was the cousin of fellow racing drivers Ricardo and Rodrigo, and also related to Alexandre.[1] He was born in Toledo, Paraná.

Rafael Sperafico

Career

Barber Dodge

Sperafico competed in the United States-based Barber Dodge Pro Series from 2000 to 2002, finishing as championship runner-up in his final year.

Euro F3000

Sperafico moved to Europe for 2003 to compete in the Euro Formula 3000 series, where he finished 15th in the championship with two points. He thus followed in the footsteps of his relatives Ricardo, Rodrigo and Alexandre, who had all previously competed in the FIA International version of the series.

Renault Clio Cup

In 2006, Sperafico took part in the Renault Super Clio Cup Brazil, finishing fourth in the championship.

Death

On 9 December 2007, Sperafico was driving in a Stock Car Light race at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, supporting the season finale of the main Stock Car Brasil championship in which his older cousins Ricardo and Rodrigo were both competing. On lap six of the race, Sperafico lost control of his car on the fast left-hand corner immediately before the start-finish straight (Subida dos Boxes) and speared into the retaining wall on the right-hand side of the circuit at high speed. The force of the impact saw the damaged car rebound onto the racing line, where it was t-boned by Renato Russo, triggering a pile-up involving several other drivers. The race was stopped and the circuit's medical personnel arrived on the scene quickly. Sperafico died at the scene from massive head injuries. Russo also suffered severe head injuries and was taken to hospital, where he was in a serious but stable condition. Several other drivers were treated for minor injuries.[2] Russo (https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renato_Russo_)(piloto) was released from hospital on 17 December.[3]

On the same day, Sperafico's cousin, Rodrigo, became runner-up of the 2007 Stock Car Brasil Championship.[2] Gustavo Sondermann, Rafael Sperafico's team-mate at the time, was killed a few years later in an almost identical crash at the same corner.[4]

Complete motorsports results

American Open-Wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest race lap)

Barber Dodge Pro Series
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2000 SEB MIA NAZ LRP DET CLE MDO ROA VAN LS RAT HMS
5		 23rd 5
2001 SEB
6		 PIR
3		 LRP1
4		 LRP2
7		 DET
14		 CLE
16		 TOR
18		 CHI
10		 MDO
12		 ROA
12		 VAN
8		 LS
3		 7th 84
2002 SEB
22		 LRP
3		 LAG
1		 POR
5		 TOR
11		 CLE
5		 VAN
2		 MDO
2		 ROA
8		 MTL
3		 2nd 119

Complete Euro Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Points
2003 ADM Motorsport NÜR1
9		 MAG
12		 PER
Ret		 MON
Ret		 SPA
Ret		 DON
9		 BRN
5		 JER CAG 15th 2

References
  1. "Rafael Sperafico killed at Interlagos". grandprix.com. 2007-12-10. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
  2. "Rafael Sperafico dies in Brazilian race". motorsport.com. 2007-12-09. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
  3. "Renato Russo is released from hospital". stockcar2007.com.br. 2007-12-17. Archived from the original on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  4. Honorio, Rafael (2011-04-03). "Após acidente, Gustavo Sondermann tem morte cerebral confirmada". globoesporte.globo.com (in Portuguese). Organizações Globo. Retrieved 2011-04-04.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.