João Barbosa

For Portuguese military officer, see João Tamagnini Barbosa.
João Barbosa

Barbosa at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans driver parade
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Participating years 20042009, 2011, 2015-
Teams Rollcentre Racing, Pescarolo Sport
Best finish 4th (2007)
2011 Rolex Sports Car

João Barbosa (born March 11, 1975 in Porto, Portugal) is a Portuguese auto racing driver. He currently competes in the United SportsCar Championship for Action Express Racing alongside Christian Fittipaldi, with which he claimed both the drivers' and team championships while Chevrolet won the manufacturer's championship in 2014 United SportsCar Championship season.

He was runner-up in the GTS class of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series in 2003 and fifth in the DP class in 2008, accumulating a total of seven overall victories. Barbosa won the 2010 and 2014, and was third in 2009 and 2011 and fourth in 2007 and 2013. Also resulted fourth in the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans and 2012 12 Hours of Sebring.

Career

Early years

He began racing in karts and was the Portuguese kart racing champion for the 1988 and 1989 seasons. In 1994 he won the Portuguese Formula Ford championship; in 1995 he won the Italian Formula Alfa Boxster championship. In 1995 he won the Italian Formula Europa Boxer title, and in 1996 was runner up in the Italian Formula 3. Barbosa moved to the United States in 1997, where he was seventh in the 1997 Formula Atlantic.

Mosler (1999–2003)

In 1999 he contested two rounds in the United States Road Racing Championship with a Mosler Intruder official achieving victory at Lime Rock Park, and the Homestead's race of FIA GT Championship. In 2000 he participated in the first two races of the American Le Mans Series with a Colucci's Porsche 911. In 2001 he returned to run with Mosler three races of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, achieving a third place in the GT class at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen.

Barbosa continued as Mosler's driver in 2002 Grand-Am series season. He earn a win and three second places in ten races, and finished fourth in the drivers' championship in the GT class. In 2003 he ran eight rounds with a GTS class' Molser, and two in a Ford Mustang in the same class. He earned three wins, and seven podiums, resulting runner-up championship. That same year, he completed in the 1000 km Spa and the 24 Hours of Spa with Mosler, achieving a class victory in the first of them.

Rollcentre and Brumos (2004–2009)

Barbosa completed eight of twelve Rolex Sports Car Series rounds with a Maserati 2004 in the GT class. Scored two third places and was placed 16th in the championship. Moreover, drives a Dallara SP1 of Rollcentre Racing in the LMP1 class: came fifth in the 12 Hours of Sebring, retired in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and earned a fifth place and a sixth in the four races of the Le Mans Series. Finally, disputed the Hockenheim race of the FIA GT Championship and Petit Le Mans ALMS in a Saleen S7.

In 2005, the Portuguese continued driving a Rollcentre Dallara in the LMP1 class. He abandoned at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and achieved two third places and a fifth in the five races of the Le Mans Series. Meanwhile, he completed three rounds of the Grand-Am series with a Maserati, placing fifth in Mont-Tremblant race with Jeff Segal. Barbosa completed four rounds of the Le Mans Series 2006 with Rollcentre, now driving a Radical SR9 LMP2, obtaining a third class in the 1000 km Nürburgring as best result. Meanwhile, he finished fifth in his class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, although dozens of laps down. In the 1000 km of Spa he drove a Perrier's Porsch 911, being sixth in the GT2 class. Also, raced the FIA GT Championship Hungaroring race in a Saleen S7. He also ran two rounds of the Grand-Am series, now in the Daytona Prototype class. Barbosa continued with Rollcentre in the 2007 season. At the wheel of a Pescarolo 01 LMP1 class, resulted third place overall in the 1000 km of Silverstone and fourth at the 1000 km of Valencia with Stuart Hall, which was placed eighth in the drivers' championship and fourth in the team. In turn, was fourth in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, counting as third driver a Martin Short. That same year, he came in fourth the 24 Hours of Daytona Grand-Am series and arrived late in the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, in both cases with the Brumos Riley-Porsche.

The Portuguese returned to contest the 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series season, competing with Brumos Racing. Accompanied by JC France, he was fourth in five opportunities with a Riley-Porsche. Thus, he placed fifth in the drivers' championship in Daytona Prototype class, behind Scott Pruett / Memo Rojas and Jon Fogarty / Alex Gurney. In Europe, he continued as Rollcentre driver with whom he raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and four races of the Le Mans Series with a Pescarolo 01. In 2009, Barbosa continued in the Rolex Sports Car Series with JC France for Brumos Racing. They won in Homestead, were third in the 24 Hours of Daytona and fifth at Mid-Ohio, and being 16th in the drivers' championship. In Europe, he completed three endurance races with a Pescarolo 01 official with Bruce Jouanny, earning a sixth overall place in the 1000 km de Catalunya and an eighth in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, counting as third driver Christophe Tinseau.

Action Express (2010–present)

Action Express Racing hired Barbosa to contest the 2010 Rolex Sports Car Series season with a Riley-Porsche DP chassis with Terry Borcheller. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona, counting as additional drivers Ryan Dalziel and Mike Rockenfeller. He was fourth at Lime Rock and tenth in five races and finishing 20th in the final placement. On the other hand, he completed two endurances races of the American LeMans Series with Extreme Speed Ferrari F430, being sixth in the GT2 class at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Barbosa returned to have as co-driver of JC France in the Action Express in the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2011. He won at Virginia, with Terry Borcheller as third driver, and was third in the 24 Hours of Daytona, with Christian Fittipaldi and Max Papis as additional drivers. With five top 5s in 12 races, he placed ninth in the drivers' championship in the DP class.

Moreover, the Portuguese also competed in five races of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with Level 5 with Scott Tucker and Christophe Bouchut. He managed sixth place overall and first in the LMP2 class at Petit Le Mans, and was third in the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 6 Hours of Imola. In 2012, Action Express started to use the new Chevrolet Corvette DP in the Grand-Am series. Barbosa scored two wins in Detroit and the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, and had six top 5s with Darren Law, culminating ninth in the drivers' championship. Meanwhile, he raced in the 12 Hours of Sebring ALMS with Level 5. He resulted fourth place overall and first in the ALMS P2-class, although behind a World Endurance Championship LMP2 car.

The Portuguese completed in the 2013 Grand-Am series with Action Express, counting as co-driver Christian Fittipaldi in most races. He won the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio, second in Detroit and Road America and fourth in the 24 Hours of Daytona and Kansas. He finished tenth in the drivers' championship DP class. Barbosa remained with Fittipaldi in the Action Express team in the 2014 United SportsCar Championship season, formed from the merger of the Grand-Am and ALMS series. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona, counting as additional driver Sébastien Bourdais.

In 2015, also with Action Express Team, finished in second in 24 Hours of Daytona and won the 12 Hours of Sebring (with his team-mates Fittipaldi and Bourdais).

Racing record

24 Hours of Daytona results

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2001 United States Morrison/Mosler Racing United States Scott Deware
United States John Heinricy
United States Jim Minneker
Mosler MT900R GT 61 73rd
DNF
33rd
DNF
2002 France Perspective Racing Belgium Michele Neugarten
France Thierry Perrier
Mosler MT900R GT 653 13th 5th
2003 France Perspective Racing France Jérôme Policand
Belgium Michele Neugarten
United Kingdom Andy Wallace
Mosler MT900R GTS 641 9th 1st
2006 United States Brumos Racing United States J. C. France
United States Ted Christopher
United States Hurley Haywood
Fabcar FDSC/03-Porsche DP 559 36th
DNF
18th
DNF
2007 United States Brumos Porsche/Kendall United States J.C. France
United States Hurley Haywood
Brazil Roberto Moreno
Riley Mk. XI-Porsche DP 662 4th 4th
2008 United States Brumos Racing United States J.C. France
United States Hurley Haywood
United States Terry Borcheller
Riley Mk. XI-Porsche DP 622 23rd 11th
2009 United States Brumos Racing United States J.C. France
United States Hurley Haywood
United States Terry Borcheller
Riley Mk. XI-Porsche DP 735 3rd 3rd
2010 United States Action Express Racing United States Terry Borcheller
United Kingdom Ryan Dalziel
Germany Mike Rockenfeller
Riley Mk. XI-Porsche DP 755 1st 1st
2011 United States Action Express Racing United States Terry Borcheller
United States J.C. France
Brazil Christian Fittipaldi
Italy Max Papis
Riley Mk. XI-Porsche DP 721 3rd 3rd
2012 United States Action Express Racing United States Terry Borcheller
United States J.C. France
Italy Max Papis
Coyote Corvette DP DP 739 9th 9th
2013 United States Action Express Racing Brazil Christian Fittipaldi
United States Burt Frisselle
Germany Mike Rockenfeller
Coyote Corvette DP DP 708 4th 4th
2014 United States Action Express Racing Brazil Christian Fittipaldi
France Sébastien Bourdais
Coyote Corvette DP P 695 1st 1st
2015 United States Action Express Racing Brazil Christian Fittipaldi
France Sébastien Bourdais
Coyote Corvette DP P 740 2nd 2nd
2016 United States Action Express Racing Brazil Christian Fittipaldi
Portugal Filipe Albuquerque
United States Scott Pruett
Coyote Corvette DP P 731 4th 4th

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2004 United Kingdom Rollcentre Racing United Kingdom Martin Short
United Kingdom Rob Barff
Dallara SP1-Judd LMP1 230 DNF DNF
2005 United Kingdom Rollcentre Racing United Kingdom Martin Short
Belgium Vanina Ickx
Dallara SP1-Judd LMP1 318 16th 8th
2006 United Kingdom Rollcentre Racing United Kingdom Martin Short
United Kingdom Stuart Moseley
Radical SR9-Judd LMP2 294 20th 5th
2007 United Kingdom Rollcentre Racing United Kingdom Stuart Hall
United Kingdom Martin Short
Pescarolo 01-Judd LMP1 347 4th 4th
2008 United Kingdom Rollcentre Racing France Stéphan Grégoire
Belgium Vanina Ickx
Pescarolo 01-Judd LMP1 352 11th 10th
2009 France Pescarolo Sport France Christophe Tinseau
France Bruce Jouanny
Pescarolo 01-Judd LMP1 368 8th 8th
2011 United States Level 5 Motorsports United States Scott Tucker
France Christophe Bouchut
Lola B08/80-HPD LMP2 319 10th 3rd
2015 United States Krohn Racing United States Tracy Krohn
Sweden Niclas Jönsson
Ligier JS P2-Judd LMP2 323 32nd 12th
2016 United States Krohn Racing United States Tracy Krohn
Sweden Niclas Jönsson
Ligier JS P2-Nissan LMP2 338 22nd 13th

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

(key)(Races in bold indicate pole position, Results are overall/class)

Year Team Make Engine Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points
2014 Action Express Racing Coyote Corvette Daytona Prototype Chevrolet 5.0L V8 P DAY
1
SIR
3
LBH
3
LS
4
DET
6
S6H
3
MSP
4
IMS
1
ELK
1
COA
3
PET
2
1st 349
2015 Action Express Racing Coyote Corvette Daytona Prototype Chevrolet 5.0L V8 P DAY
2
SIR
1
LBH
5
LS
4
DET
3
S6H
3
MSP
5
ELK
2
COA
6
PET
ovr:3
cls:1
1st 309
2016 Action Express Racing Coyote Corvette Daytona Prototype Chevrolet 5.0L V8 P DAY
4
SIR
3
LBH LS DET S6H MSP ELK
COA
PET
3rd 60

References

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