Fittipaldi and Serra

Fittipaldi Automotive, often called Copersucar after its first major sponsor, was a Formula One racing team and constructor from 1975 to 1982. The team was formed during 1974 by Brazilian racing driver Wilson Fittipaldi and his younger brother, double F1 World Champion Emerson, who joined the team in 1976 after, to the surprise of many, leaving McLaren, but was unable to replicate his successes achieved with Lotus and McLaren.

Picture above: Chico Serra, a 1981 and 1982 Fittipaldi Automotive driver, here with Emerson Fittipaldi, at an F1 test in Donington. In the backround, Ricardo Divila, the chief designer.

Emerson Fittipaldi decided to retire from racing at the end of 1980 and moved into management of the team and young Brazilian Chico Serra replaced him for 1981. A British Formula 3 champion, Serra came into Formula 1 with a lot of promise, and managed to finish seventh on his debut for the team in Argentina. But the team lacked funds, and he struggled all year to qualify for the races. Nevertheless, in 1982, Chico Serra succeeded to finished an excellent sixth at the Belgian Grand Prix held at Zolder (picture below).