Toto Wolff

Toto Wolff

Wolff in 2014
Born Torger Christian Wolff
(1972-01-12) 12 January 1972
Vienna, Austria
Nationality Austrian
Occupation Executive director of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team
Net worth CHF350m–400m (Dec 2015)[1]
Predecessor Norbert Haug
Spouse(s) Susie Wolff (m. 2011)

Torger Christian "Toto" Wolff[2] (born January 12, 1972 in Vienna, Austria) is an Austrian investor and former racing driver. He is currently a 30% owner and executive director of Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team and formerly a shareholder of Williams F1.[3][4]

Wolff began his motorsport career in the Austrian Formula Ford Championship and the German Formula Ford Series. He won his category in the 1994 24 Hours Nürburgring and later competed in the FIA GT Championship and Italian GT Championship.

As an investor, Wolff founded Marchfifteen in 1998 and Marchsixteen Investments in 2004, initially focusing on Internet and Technology companies. He currently specialises in strategic investments in medium-sized industrial and listed companies, which have included Williams F1 and German HWA AG.

Motorsport

Wolff started his motorsport-career in 1992 in the Austrian Formula Ford Championship, driving in Austrian and German Formula Ford in 1993 and 1994. In 1994, he won the 24 Hours Nürburgring in his category. In 2002 Wolff finished in sixth place in the N-GT category in the FIA GT Championship and won one race. He switched to the Italian GT Championship in 2003, winning a race in 2004 with Lorenzo Case, while also teaming with Karl Wendlinger in the FIA GT Championship.[5] Wolff was runner up in the Austrian Rally Championship in 2006, and winner of the 24-hour race in Dubai.[6] Wolff has also served as an instructor at the Walter Lechner Racing School.

Investor

Wolff founded investment companies Marchfifteen (1998) and Marchsixteen (2004), both of which initially focused on internet and technology company investments.

Since 2003, Wolff has concentrated on strategic investments in medium-sized industrial and listed companies.[7] Investments include the German HWA AG, in which Wolff bought a 49% stake in 2006[8] listing the company on the stock exchange in 2007.[9] The company runs the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters race program for Mercedes Benz, developing F3 engines and the Gullwing Mercedes Benz SLS GT3 racing car.

Other investments include BRR Rallye Racing, one of the largest rally parts dealers in Europe. Wolff is also co-owner of a sports management company with Mika Häkkinen and was involved in the management of upcoming racing drivers such as Bruno Spengler, Alexandre Premat and Valtteri Bottas.

Formula One

In 2009, Wolff bought a share of the Williams Formula One Team and joined the board of directors.[7] In 2012, he was named executive director of WilliamsF1.[8]

In January 2013, Wolff left WilliamsF1 to become an executive director of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team,[9] with his business partner Rene Berger becoming non-executive director. In addition to joining the team, he also acquired 30% of Mercedes Grand Prix. Wolff took over the co-ordination of all Mercedes-Benz motorsport activities, a responsibility previously held by Norbert Haug. In 2014, Wolff sold 10% of Williams to American businessman Brad Hollinger.[3] On 9 March 2016, Wolff sold his remaining 5% shares in the Williams team.

As co-owner of both WilliamsF1 (where wife Susie worked as a test driver, until November 2015) and Mercedes Grand Prix, Wolff could celebrate among numerous podiums and successes for both teams, a 1–2–3–4 finish at Spielberg, Austria in his 'home race', as well as at Monza, Italy in both Qualifying and Race classifications.[10]

Personal life

Wolff lives with his wife, the Scottish racer Susie Wolff (née Stoddart) in Ermatingen at Lake Constance in Switzerland.[11] In October 2016 Susie announced on Twitter that she was pregnant with their first child.[12][13]

References

  1. ↑ Bilanz: Die Neuzugänge unter den 300 reichsten, bilanz.ch, December 2015
  2. ↑ Enzinger, Gerald (10 November 2010). "Der Toto-Gewinner". Wiener Post (in German). Styria Media Group. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  3. 1 2 BBC: Mercedes' Wolff sells Williams shares
  4. ↑ Patnaude, Art (2016-03-09). "Toto Wolff Sells Remaining Stake in Williams F1 Team". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  5. ↑ fiagt.com: Driver Biography: Toto Wolff
  6. ↑ 24-series.com: Duller Motorsport wins first 24 hourrace of the Middle-East
  7. 1 2 Autosport.com: Williams sells stake in team
  8. 1 2 "Williams shareholder Toto Wolff becomes executive director". Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  9. 1 2 "F1: Mercedes AMG Formula 1 team shareholder Toto Wolff embarks on new role". F1SA. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "Lewis Hamilton needs to be more consistent if he is to catch Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, writes David Coulthard". BBC Sport. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Susie Stoddart and Toto Wolff married". Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. ITR e.V. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  12. ↑ service, Grandprix.com - First & fastest: The original online F1 news. "Grandprix.com".
  13. ↑ "Mercedes-Boss Wolff - PS-Baby mit seiner Rennfahrer-Frau".
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