André Couto

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

André Couto
Formula Nippon
International F3000
Italian F3
German F3
Formula Opel Euroseries
Championship titles
2015
2005
2000
1995		Super GT Series - GT300
1000km of Suzuka
Macau F3 Grand Prix
EFDA Nations Cup

André Couto (Chinese: 高度; born 14 December 1976) is a Macanese[1] motor racing driver who is best known for winning his home F3 Grand Prix in 2000 and Japan's Super GT GT300 Championship in 2015.

Career

Early years

André Couto was born in Lisbon but moved to Macau with his family when he was four. He started his career in Karting in Macau influenced by the popular Macau Grand Prix and friends who competed in the local Karting championship. He rapidly enjoyed success and started competing and winning in international level. He moved to racing cars in 1995 where he competed in European

Estoril Circuit). 1995 was also the debut year in the Formula Three event of the Macau Grand Prix where he briefly led after a duel with race winner Ralf Schumacher
.

Formula Three

Couto competed in German Formula Three in 1996 before moving to the Italian series in 1997, where he finished the season as runner-up in the championship.

2000 Macau Grand Prix

He competed in the F3

Ryo Fukuda, 21. When Robert Lechner crashed with two laps to go, the safety car was called out and the drivers drove in formation behind it to the chequered flag. It marked the first time a Macanese driver has won the Formula 3 race title.[2]

Couto's win was a surreal experience for many but for Couto's father, Carlos, it was the proudest moment of his life. "This was the one race Andre always wanted to win," he said. "He was born in Lisbon but we moved back to Macau when he was four. My wife Isabel and I have now lived in Macau for many years. Isabel was born here and all her family is from here. This will always be Andre's home. He speaks fluent Cantonese like most Portuguese people living here. He is a Macau citizen; it is what he wanted. We've lived here happily for many years. Today is a special day for everyone in Macau."[1]

Formula 3000

Couto graduated to

2000. Although he scored points on several occasions, he never achieved any great success. His best result was third place at the Nürburgring
in 2000.

An assortment of drives

Couto driving the Honda Accord in the WTCC in Macau.

After leaving F3000 and winning the

World Series by Nissan
, and finished seventh in the championship.

Touring car racing and sports car racing

Since 2003, Couto has competed frequently in the

SEAT Sport and Sunred
),

Since 2005, Couto has competed in the

Lexus SC430, initially for SARD and in 2011 for Kraft. In November 2015, racing alongside his teammate Katsumasa Chiyo, André Couto was crowned the GT 300 champion with one round to go into the Super GT championship. He dedicated the victory to a “special one”, his late son Afonso, who succumbed to leukemia in 2010.[3] Couto's GT300 title victory in 2015 made him the first foreign driver to win the GT300 drivers championship title and the only one to do so until João Paulo de Oliveira achieved a similar feat in 2020. Since Chiyo missed two rounds due to other obligations, Couto is also the first driver to win a Super GT driver's title on their own since both Ryo Michigami and Hideo Fukuyama in 2000.[4]

On 8 July 2017, André Couto was seriously hurt after crashing his Nissan GT-R GT3 in the

Canossa Hospital in Hong Kong for an operation. Couto's father, Carlos, said that his son was not in a life-threatening situation.[5]

Personal life

Couto had a son, Afonso, who was diagnosed with

2010 WTCC season to promote a website which is trying to find a suitable bone marrow donor.[6] The GT Association and all teams of Super GT also launched a campaign towards bone marrow donation. A suitable bone marrow for Afonso was found on 9 May 2010 in Germany and his operation was successfully completed on 20 May 2010.[7]
Afonso died on 3 November 2010 from
leukaemia
treatment complications. He had been in the hospital for two weeks.

Racing record

Complete International Formula 3000 results

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

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Pts
1998
Prema Powerteam
Lola T96/50
Zytek-Judd
 OSC
Ret
IMO

5
CAT

14 		SIL
Ret 		MON
Ret 		PAU
6
A1R

Ret 		HOC
Ret 		HUN
5 		SPA
14 		PER
9 		NÜR
5 		11th 7
1999
 Gauloises Junior
Lola T99/50
Zytek
IMO

Ret 		MON
Ret
CAT

3 		MAG
Ret 		SIL
DNQ
A1R

7 		HOC
Ret 		HUN
Ret 		SPA
7 		NÜR
DNS 		13th 4
2000
 Gauloises Formula
Lola T99/50
Zytek
IMO

Ret 		SIL
14
CAT

10 		NÜR
3 		MON
Ret 		MAG
21
A1R

Ret 		HOC
17 		HUN
Ret 		SPA
11 		18th 4

Complete Formula Nippon results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Pts
2001
 Team Morinaga NOVA
G-Force GF03C
 Mugen
SUZ

Ret 		MOT
Ret 		MIN
Ret 		FUJ
12 		11th 5
Reynard 99L
SUZ

Ret
SUG

Ret 		FUJ
5 		MIN
Ret 		MOT
4
SUZ

14

Complete JGTC/Super GT results

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

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Pts
2001
 Team Take One McLaren F1 GTR GT500 TAI
8 		FUJ
Ret
SUG

12 		FUJ
16 		MOT
6
SUZ

10 		MIN
1 		9th 38
2004
 Toyota Team SARD Toyota Supra GT500 TAI
3
SUG

Ret 		SEP
1 		TOK
7 		MOT
6 		AUT
2
SUZ

8 		2nd 61
2005
 Toyota Team SARD Toyota Supra GT500 OKA
8 		FUJ
Ret 		SEP
9
SUG

2 		MOT
14 		FUJ
12 		AUT
11
SUZ

11 		16th 21
2006
 Toyota Team SARD Toyota Supra GT500
SUZ

11 		OKA
13 		FUJ
11 		SEP
13
SUG

Ret
SUZ

11 		MOT
9 		AUT
10 		FUJ
10 		23rd 13
2007
 Toyota Team SARD
Lexus SC430
 GT500
SUZ

Ret 		OKA
12 		FUJ
8 		SEP
13
SUG

6
SUZ

11 		MOT
10 		AUT
3 		FUJ
13 		15th 21
2008
 Toyota Team SARD
Lexus SC430
 GT500
SUZ

12 		OKA
14 		FUJ
13 		SEP
12
SUG

6
SUZ

15 		MOT
13 		AUT
13 		FUJ
5 		21st 11
2009
 Lexus Team SARD
Lexus SC430
 GT500 OKA
15
SUZ

10 		FUJ
10 		SEP
13
SUG

2
SUZ

7 		FUJ
11 		AUT
12 		MOT
5 		14th 27
2010
 Lexus Team SARD
Lexus SC430
 GT500
SUZ

5 		OKA
10 		FUJ
Ret 		SEP
10
SUG

10
SUZ

8 		FUJ
C 		MOT 13th 12
2011
 Lexus Team Kraft
Lexus SC430
 GT500 OKA
14 		FUJ
11 		SEP
10
SUG

Ret
SUZ

7 		FUJ
9 		AUT
9 		MOT
14 		15th 7
2012
 Lexus Team WedsSport BANDOH
Lexus SC430
 GT500 OKA
12 		FUJ
13 		SEP
9
SUG

Ret
SUZ

6 		FUJ
3 		AUT
3 		MOT
5 		9th 36
2013
 Lexus Team WedsSport BANDOH
Lexus SC430
 GT500 OKA
14 		FUJ
11 		SEP
15
SUG

9
SUZ

6 		FUJ
Ret 		AUT
13 		MOT
10 		14th 9
2014
 Pacific Racing Team Porsche 911 GT3 GT300 OKA FUJ AUT
19
SUG

17 		FUJ
15
SUZ

7
BUR
 MOT 30th 5
2015
 Gainer
Nissan GTR
 GT300 OKA
7 		FUJ
1
CHA

2 		FUJ
6
SUZ

1
SUG

6 		AUT
2 		MOT
6 		1st 94
2016
 Gainer
Nissan GT-R GT3
 GT300 OKA
8 		FUJ
5
SUG

11 		FUJ
9
SUZ

3
CHA

4 		MOT
5 		MOT
15 		8th 38
2017 D'station Racing Porsche 911 GT3 GT300 OKA FUJ AUT
7
SUG
 FUJ
SUZ
CHA
 MOT 22nd 4
2019 JLOC Lamborghini Huracán GT3 GT300 OKA
16 		FUJ
11
SUZ

17
CHA

7 		FUJ
1 		AUT
Ret
SUG

26 		MOT
23 		8th 29
2020 JLOC Lamborghini Huracán GT3 GT300 OKA
 FUJ
 AUT
SUG

 MOT
SUZ
CHA

 SEP
 * *

Complete European Touring Car Championship results

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Pts
2003
 PRO Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R VAL
1
Ret 		VAL
2
DNS 		MAG
1
15 		MAG
2
Ret 		PER
1
Ret 		PER
2
Ret
BRN
1

15
BRN
2

15 		DON
1
12 		DON
2
6 		SPA
1
18† 		SPA
2
15
AND
1

12
AND
2

14 		OSC
1
16 		OSC
2
15†
EST
1

20
EST
2

Ret
MNZ
1

Ret
MNZ
2

DNS 		18th 3

Complete World Touring Car Championship results

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DC Points
2005
 Alfa Romeo Racing Team Alfa Romeo 156 ITA
1 		ITA
2 		FRA
1 		FRA
2 		GBR
1 		GBR
2 		SMR
1 		SMR
2 		MEX
1 		MEX
2 		BEL
1 		BEL
2 		GER
1 		GER
2 		TUR
1 		TUR
2 		ESP
1 		ESP
2 		MAC
1
Ret 		MAC
2
DNS 		NC 0
2006
SEAT Sport
 SEAT León
ITA
1
ITA
2
FRA
1
FRA
2
 GBR
1 		GBR
2
GER
1
GER
2
 BRA
1 		BRA
2 		MEX
1 		MEX
2
CZE
1
CZE
2
 TUR
1 		TUR
2
ESP
1
ESP
2
MAC
1

13
MAC
2

7 		23rd 2
2007
 Alfa Romeo Racing Team Alfa Romeo 156 BRA
1 		BRA
2
NED
1
NED
2
ESP
1
ESP
2
FRA
1
FRA
2
CZE
1
CZE
2
POR
1
POR
2
 SWE
1 		SWE
2
GER
1
GER
2
 GBR
1 		GBR
2
ITA
1
ITA
2
MAC
1

DNS
MAC
2

DNS 		NC 0
2008
 N.Technology Honda Accord Euro R BRA
1 		BRA
2 		MEX
1 		MEX
2
ESP
1
ESP
2
FRA
1
FRA
2
CZE
1
CZE
2
POR
1
POR
2
 GBR
1 		GBR
2
GER
1
GER
2
 EUR
1 		EUR
2
ITA
1
ITA
2
JPN
1
JPN
2
MAC
1

13
MAC
2

Ret 		NC 0
2009
SUNRED Engineering
 SEAT León 2.0 TFSI BRA
1 		BRA
2 		MEX
1 		MEX
2 		MAR
1 		MAR
2 		FRA
1 		FRA
2 		ESP
1 		ESP
2 		CZE
1 		CZE
2 		POR
1 		POR
2 		GBR
1 		GBR
2 		GER
1 		GER
2 		ITA
1 		ITA
2 		JPN
1 		JPN
2 		MAC
1
25 		MAC
2
18 		NC 0
2010
SR-Sport
 SEAT León TDI BRA
1 		BRA
2 		MAR
1 		MAR
2 		ITA
1 		ITA
2 		BEL
1 		BEL
2 		POR
1 		POR
2 		GBR
1 		GBR
2 		CZE
1 		CZE
2 		GER
1 		GER
2 		ESP
1 		ESP
2 		JPN
1 		JPN
2 		MAC
1
Ret 		MAC
2
DNS 		NC 0
2011
SUNRED Engineering
SUNRED SR León 1.6T
 BRA
1 		BRA
2 		BEL
1 		BEL
2 		ITA
1 		ITA
2 		HUN
1 		HUN
2 		CZE
1 		CZE
2 		POR
1 		POR
2 		GBR
1 		GBR
2 		GER
1 		GER
2 		ESP
1 		ESP
2 		JPN
1 		JPN
2 		CHN
1 		CHN
2 		MAC
1
Ret 		MAC
2
Ret 		NC 0
2012
Tuenti Racing Team
 SUNRED SR León 1.6T ITA
1 		ITA
2 		ESP
1 		ESP
2 		MAR
1 		MAR
2 		SVK
1 		SVK
2 		HUN
1 		HUN
2 		AUT
1 		AUT
2 		POR
1 		POR
2 		BRA
1 		BRA
2 		USA
1 		USA
2 		JPN
1 		JPN
2 		CHN
1 		CHN
2 		MAC
1
15 		MAC
2
11 		NC 0

Complete World Touring Car Cup results

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 DC Points
2018 MacPro Racing Team Honda Civic Type R TCR MAR
1 		MAR
2 		MAR
3 		HUN
1 		HUN
2 		HUN
3
GER
1
GER
2
GER
3
NED
1
NED
2
NED
3
POR
1
POR
2
POR
3
SVK
1
SVK
2
SVK
3
CHN
1
CHN
2
CHN
3
 WUH
1 		WUH
2 		WUH
3
JPN
1
JPN
2
JPN
3
MAC
1

21
MAC
2

20
MAC
3

18 		43rd 0

References

  • André Couto career statistics at driverdb.com, retrieved 11 November 2006.
  1. ^ a b 'This was the one race he wanted' Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine John Carney. The Standard. 20 November 2000.
  2. ^ Historic triumph turns Couto into unlikely local hero John Carney. The Standard. 20 November 2000.
  3. ^ "ANDRÉ COUTO CROWNED GT 300 CHAMPION IN JAPAN". Macau Daily Times. 2 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Super GT's Uncrowned Champions". Super GT World. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Former Macau Grand Prix champion Andre Couto airlifted to Hong Kong hospital after being seriously injured in Zhuhai crash". South China Morning Post. 10 July 2017.
  6. Haymarket Publications
    . Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  7. ^ Japanese (22 May 2010). "Couto's son, Afonso's bone marrow transplant successfully completed". as-web.jp. Austosport web. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to André Couto.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Macau Grand Prix
Winner
2000 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Nobuteru Taniguchi
Tatsuya Kataoka
2015
 Succeeded by
Takeshi Tsuchiya
Takamitsu Matsui
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