Ingo Hoffman, Racing Driver
Brazilian Racer Drove in Formula 1 for Copersucar Fittipaldi
Nov 10, 2008
Rubens Barrichello surprised many at the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix by wearing the crash helmet design of another driver. The veteran Brazilian, who recently became the most experienced driver in Formula 1 history, was paying homage to his countryman Ingo Hoffman, who started just three Grands Prix.
Despite his less than brilliant Formula 1 record Hoffman was among a group of young Brazilian drivers during the 1970s with considerable talent. After his brief Grand Prix career Hoffman found great success in another form of racing.
Saloon Car Racing, Formula Super Vee and Formula 3
Unlike many of his contemporaries Hoffman did not benefit from a childhood spent racing karts. The Sao Paulo native was already 19 by the time he made his motor racing debut in national saloon cars. His talent was enough to attract some sponsorship and, by the end of 1973, he was a national champion. He repeated his title win in 1974, a year in which he also tried single-seaters for the first time. Racing a Formula Super Vee Hoffman finished third overall in the championship. The car was prepared at the same premises occupied by Wilson Fittipaldi’s Formula 1 team.
Fittipaldi saw potential in Hoffman and, through 1975, encouraged him to gain as much single-seater experience as possible. This resulted in a hectic year, racing in British Formula 3, European Formula 3 and Formula 5000. The highlight of the season was a dominant victory at Oulton Park, highly impressive for someone so inexperienced. Hoofmann was rewarded with a Formula 1 test drive for Fittipaldi and a contract to partner Emerson Fittipaldi at selected Formula 1 races in 1976.
Formula 1 with Copersucar Fittipaldi
Hoffman made a promising start to his Formula 1 career, finishing 11th at his home Grand Prix in 1976 driving an old car. He came home ahead of his illustrious double World Champion team-mate. Hoffman would only appear at three more Grand Prix weekends during 1976. He failed to qualify for any more Grands Prix, although came extremely close at both Long Beach and Paul Ricard.
After being kept on for 1977 Hoffman again started strongly, qualifying 19th in Argentina before retiring. In the next race at Interlagos he scored the best result of his career, finishing seventh. Hoffman narrowly missed out on scoring a World Championship point after suffering a slow puncture late in the race. Instead of providing impetus for the rest of the year Interlagos was the last Grand Prix in which Hoffman drove. The Fittipaldi team could not realistically finance a two-car team and, for the rest of the year, only Emerson was entered.
Stock Car Racing Success
After the disappointment of Formula 1 Hoffman continued to compete in Formula 2, scoring some reasonable results, but it was in closed-top cars that his future lay. He embarked on a remarkable career in Brazilian stock car racing which saw him become a multiple champion. Hoffman has also driven in touring cars and endurance races, in addition to becoming a successful businessman in Brazil.
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