| Cristiano da Matta | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Da Matta at the2006 Grand Prix of Long Beach | |||||||
| Nationality |  Brazilian | ||||||
| Born | (1973-09-19)19 September 1973 (age 52) Belo Horizonte,Minas Gerais,Brazil | ||||||
| Achievements | 2002CART FedEx Championship Series Champion | ||||||
| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 101 races run over 6 years | |||||||
| Years active | 1999–2002, 2005–2006 | ||||||
| Team(s) | Arciero-Wells PPI Motorsports Newman-Haas PKV Racing Dale Coyne Racing RuSPORT | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st -2002 | ||||||
| First race | 1999Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami (Homestead) | ||||||
| Last race | 2006Grand Prix of San Jose (Streets of San Jose) | ||||||
| First win | 2000Target Grand Prix of Chicago (Cicero, IL) | ||||||
| Last win | 2005Grand Prix of Portland (Portland Raceway) | ||||||
| |||||||
| Formula One World Championship career | |||||||
| Active years | 2003–2004 | ||||||
| Teams | Toyota | ||||||
| Entries | 28 | ||||||
| Championships | 0 | ||||||
| Wins | 0 | ||||||
| Podiums | 0 | ||||||
| Careerpoints | 13 | ||||||
| Pole positions | 0 | ||||||
| Fastest laps | 0 | ||||||
| First entry | 2003 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||
| Last entry | 2004 German Grand Prix | ||||||
Cristiano Monteiro da Matta (born 19 September 1973) is a Brazilian former professionalracing driver. He won theCART Championship in 2002, and drove inFormula One with theToyota team from 2003 to 2004.
Da Matta's father was Toninho da Matta, a 14-time Brazilian touring car champion. Born inBelo Horizonte, Cristiano da Matta begankarting at the age of 16, adopting ahelmet design nearly identical to his famous father's helmet. He quickly rose to the top by winning numerous karting championships before winning the 1993 Brazilian Formula Ford championship. In 1994, he continued his successful ways, winning the Brazilian Formula 3 championship against the likes ofHélio Castroneves andRicardo Zonta. In1995, da Matta participated in theBritish Formula 3 series, winning one race and placing eighth in the standings. He then placed eighth in thefollowing year'sFormula 3000 championship, with a best finish of fourth atPau.
1997 saw da Matta move to theUnited States for theIndy Lights racing series, in which he wonRookie of the Year honors. The next year (1998), he won the championship by winning seven races and securing four pole positions. In 1999, da Matta raced in theCART series for Team Arciero Wells, which were running Toyota engines; da Matta drove a Toyota-powered car from then until 2004. His first win came in 2000, and despite some sponsor opposition he joined the front-runningNewman/Haas Racing team for 2001. He won the CART drivers' championship in 2002 under Toyota power with theNewman/Haas Racing team, dominating the year with seven race wins and seven poles.
Da Matta completed a move to Formula One in2003, with theToyotaFormula One team. He scored 10 championship points that year, four more than seasoned veteran and teammateOlivier Panis, and soon made a name for himself in Formula One when he spent much of the first half of the2003 Brazilian Grand Prix hounding reigning World ChampionMichael Schumacher in the monsoon-hit race before ultimately finishing tenth. He led the2003 British Grand Prix for seventeen laps after the race was disrupted by a protester who invaded the track and triggered the deployment of the Safety Car. This caused most of the front-running cars to make unscheduled pit stops leaving da Matta in the lead, ultimately finishing seventh for one of four points-scoring finishes in his debut season. His fortunes took a downturn in2004, however. Having scored only three championship points, da Matta lost his race seat to Ricardo Zonta after theGerman Grand Prix in Hockenheim. This was not only due to performance issues, but also due to da Matta openly making statements about how uncompetitive the Toyota was.
In 2005, da Matta moved back to theChamp Car World Series, to race for thePKV Racing team. That season he won the race atPortland, and finished 11th overall in the standings. For the 2006 Champ Car season, he switched to theDale Coyne Racing to drive the No.19FordLola, until 9 June 2006, when he switched teams again, to take overA. J. Allmendinger's seat atRuSPORT.[1] Second place at San Jose left him 6th overall in the series.
On 3 August 2006, da Matta's car was involved in a collision with a deer that ran in front of him as he headed towards turn 6 during Champ Car open testing atRoad America. He hit the deer with his right front tire, the deer then flew back and hit da Matta in the cockpit.[2] It is believed when the deer hit da Matta in the cockpit, he was knocked unconscious. He remained unconscious with his foot still on the throttle when the safety crew arrived and extricated da Matta from the car.[3] Da Matta was then airlifted to Theda Clark Medical Center inNeenah, Wisconsin, where he underwent surgery to remove asubdural hematoma.[4] Following the surgery, da Matta was placed in aninduced coma, to allow for the swelling to subside.[5] As of 7 August, da Matta was making "slow but steady progress", while the doctors were working on reducing da Matta's level of sedation.[6] This slow recovery was confirmed on 9 August, as it was reported that da Matta was able to move "all of his extremities spontaneously as well as in response to physical stimulation".[7] On 20 August, da Matta was transferred out of intensive care.[8] On 30 August, da Matta was confirmed to have made steady progress, conversing in English and Portuguese, and walking short distances.[9] On 21 September 2006, da Matta was allowed to leave the hospital after having recovered better than expected.[10]
When the Champ Car World Series returned to race in the Grand Prix of Road America on 24 September, da Matta gave the traditional command - "start your engines". Throughout the next couple of years, he engaged in a training and therapy regime while deciding his racing future.[11]
On 20 March 2008, da Matta climbed back into a race car for the first time since his accident, completing a two-day test in aRileyDaytona Prototype prepared by reigningRolex Sports Car Series championsGAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing. He found speed right away, and team owner Bob Stallings said "the comeback has begun."[12] da Matta said, "After the test, I realized I still know how to do this", "The biggest thing I felt was just a sense of relief. For me, it was a big, big relief, bigger than big".[13] da Matta paired with formerChamp Car champion,Jimmy Vasser, to enter the Rolex Series racing atMazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2008.[14] after a solid race, the pair were classified in 32nd position.
In December 2009, da Matta tested aFórmula Truck vehicle owned byIveco,[15] and in January 2010 confirmed that he would run the 2010 Fórmula Truck season for the team.[16]
In 2011 da Matta signed forRocketsports Racing to race in theAmerican Le Mans Series. He scored six points at the Grand Prix of Long Beach.[17]
Da Matta and his 1999 car appear in the movieDriven, starringSylvester Stallone.
Da Matta is a playable character in the video gamesFormula One 2003 andFormula One 04.
In 2017, a documentary was released about his and his father's lives in motorsport, entitled "Família Gasolina" (Gasoline Family). It is available for free on YouTube.
Da Matta is no longer racing and is involved in the financial and logistical side of the family Da Matta Design clothing business.[18]
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | West Surrey Racing | Mugen | A | SIL 2 | SIL 4 | THR Ret | THR Ret | DON Ret | SIL DSQ | SIL Ret | DON 11 | DON 16 | OUL 1 | BRH 3 | BRH 6 | SNE 20 | PEM Ret | PEM 5 | SIL 9 | SIL 6 | THR Ret | 8th | 81 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Pacific Racing | NÜR 9 | PAU 4 | PER 5 | HOC Ret | SIL Ret | SPA 10 | MAG 5 | EST 7 | MUG Ret | HOC Ret | 9th | 7 |
(key)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Brian Stewart Racing | MIA 21 | LBH 2 | NAZ 1 | SAV 21 | STL 2 | MIL 4 | DET 26 | POR 5 | TOR 18 | TRO 4 | VAN 1 | LS 1 | FON 4 | 3rd | 141 | [21] | |
| 1998 | Tasman Motorsports | MIA 2 | LBH 1 | NAZ 1 | STL 3 | MIL 10 | DET 2 | POR 20 | CLE 22 | TOR 15 | MIS 2 | TRO 1 | VAN 1 | LS 22 | FON 11 | 1st | 154 | [22] |
(key)
| Year | Team | No. | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Arciero-Wells Racing | 25 | Reynard 99i | Toyota RV8D | MIA 14 | MOT 25 | LBH 20 | NAZ 4 | RIO 21 | GAT 17 | MIL 11 | POR 11 | CLE 20 | ROA 21 | TOR 24 | MIC 17 | DET 19 | MDO 9 | CHI 14 | VAN 5 | LS 22 | HOU 11 | SRF 13 | FON 23 | 18th | 32 | [23] | |
| 2000 | PPI Motorsports | 97 | Reynard 2Ki | Toyota RV8E | MIA 12 | LBH 25 | RIO 4 | MOT 4 | NAZ 13 | MIL 14 | DET 23 | POR 5 | CLE 3 | TOR 4* | MIC 17 | CHI 1 | MDO 17 | ROA 13 | VAN 7 | LS 15 | GAT 4 | HOU 14 | SRF 4 | FON 25 | 10th | 112 | [24] | |
| 2001 | Newman/Haas Racing | 6 | Lola B01/00 | Toyota RV8F | MTY 1* | LBH 2 | TEX C | NAZ 10 | MOT 25 | MIL 25 | DET 7 | POR 10 | CLE 7 | TOR 15 | MIC 4 | CHI 19 | MDO 10 | ROA 6 | VAN 20 | LAU 26 | ROC 3 | HOU 6 | LS 20 | SRF 1 | FON 1 | 5th | 140 | [25] |
| 2002 | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola B02/00 | Toyota RV8F | MTY 1* | LBH 8 | MOT 13 | MIL 11 | LS 1* | POR 1* | CHI 1* | TOR 1* | CLE 16 | VAN 12 | MDO 13 | ROA 1 | MTL 2 | DEN 3 | ROC 2 | MIA 1* | SRF 8* | FON 11 | MXC 2 | 1st | 237 | [26] | |||
| 2005 | PKV Racing | 21 | Lola B02/00 | Ford XFE | LBH 10 | MTY 6 | MIL 11 | POR 1* | CLE 16 | TOR 17 | EDM 17 | SJO 10 | DEN 18 | MTL 6 | LAS 12 | SRF 19 | MXC 14 | 11th | 139 | [27] | ||||||||
| 2006 | Dale Coyne Racing | 19 | Lola B02/00 | Ford XFE | LBH 5 | HOU 9 | MTY 9 | MIL 13 | 13th | 134 | [28] | |||||||||||||||||
| RuSPORT | 10 | POR 5 | CLE 14 | TOR 5 | EDM 18 | SJO 2 | DEN | MTL | ROA | SRF | MXC | |||||||||||||||||
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position; races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | WDC | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Panasonic Toyota Racing | ToyotaTF103 | Toyota RVX-03 3.0V10 | AUS Ret | MAL 11 | BRA 10 | SMR 12 | ESP 6 | AUT 10 | MON 9 | CAN 11† | EUR Ret | FRA 11 | GBR 7 | GER 6 | HUN 11 | ITA Ret | USA 9 | JPN 7 | 13th | 10 | ||
| 2004 | Panasonic Toyota Racing | ToyotaTF104 | Toyota RVX-04 3.0V10 | AUS 12 | MAL 9 | BHR 10 | SMR Ret | ESP 13 | MON 6 | EUR Ret | CAN DSQ | USA Ret | FRA 14 | GBR 13 | GER Ret | HUN | BEL | ITA | CHN | JPN | BRA | 17th | 3 |
† Did not finish the race, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.
| Year | Entrant | Truck | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Scuderia Iveco | Iveco | GUA 16 | RIO 13 | CAR Ret | CAM Ret | INT 13 | LON 13 | JOG 8 | VEL Ret | CUR Ret | BRA 15 | 23rd | 13 |
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | JaguarRSR | GT | Jaguar XKR GT2 | Jaguar 5.0 L V8 | SEB Ret | LBH 6 | LIM Ret | MOS | MID | AME | BAL | MON | PET | 26th | 6 | [30] |
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