Cristiano da Matta returns to racing
26th March 2008, 1:00 by Keith Collantine 10 Comments »
Former Formula 1 driver Cristiano da Matta has returned to racing just over a year and a half since his near-fatal accident in America.
Da Matta driver for Toyota but returned to the American Champ Car series and, in a manner eerily similar to Alessandro Zanardi, suffered very serious injuries in a freak accident shortly after making his comeback.
Da Matta was testing at the Elkhart Lake circuit in mid-2006 when his car struck a deer that had gotten onto the circuit. He was hospitalised for two months with severe head injuries.
Although his F1 career was brief (28 starts) the charming Brazilian was very well-liked. He spent a year and a half at Toyota, a team who have spent a lot of money achieving very little, and it’s fair to assume a better team might have gotten more out of him.
His last F1 Grand Prix was the German race at Hockenheimin in 2004 (pictured above and below). He scored his best career result, sixth, at the same track a year earlier, and also at Spain in 2003 and Monaco in 2004. I was at Silverstone in 2003 when he led a Grand Prix for the one and only time in his career.
He looks set to put single-seater racing behind him and has tested a GrandAm car (like a NASCAR version of a sports car) with a view to racing one at Laguna Seca in two months’ time. Good luck to him.
Ollie said on 26th March 2008, 2:01
Good on yer, Da Matta. I’m pleased he’s not given up on motor racing and intends to return. The best of luck from me as well.
Wesley said on 26th March 2008, 3:06
Good man,get back on that horse!
God’s speed Cristiano.
Daniel said on 26th March 2008, 3:12
Cristiano’s crash was the most bizarre incident I’ve ever heard of. Colliding with an animal at 100 km/h in a public road is almost certainly fatal… imagine what he felt when he saw the deer in front of him!
I remember that, at the time, at least in Brazil, it was less commented than it should, because his accident should have raised safety concerns, especially at race tracks that are built in rural areas, through small forests or so, like the old Hockenheimring was and Spa-Francorchamps still is…
It’s so good to have him back… my best wishes for him, as well!
verasaki said on 26th March 2008, 16:39
this is the best news i’ve read in a while. zanardi is the only driver i really still make a point of keeping track of, da matta will be the second.
Alianora La Canta said on 26th March 2008, 20:13
This is great to hear! Christiano da Matta re-starting his career makes me feel very happy. It says a lot about the standard of medical care da Matta received that this is possible, so thanks must go to them, as well as to Christiano himself for not letting some stray animal put him off motor racing.
Gman said on 27th March 2008, 2:35
Best wishes to this very determined racer as he seeks to resume his career!
oliver said on 27th March 2008, 8:43
It was really sad the way Toyota, without any sense of responsibility, completely destroyed his racing career.
I’m happy to see he’s recovered and wish him well.
luiz claudio said on 27th March 2008, 16:18
the best notice of the year.
good luck,christiano.
Vertigo said on 27th March 2008, 21:37
Good luck Cristiano, I never thought he’d make it back.
Flea said on 3rd May 2008, 22:02
He’s Definetelly a winner!
God Bless you Kiki!