Marco Campos
Encyclopedia
Marco Campos
Marco Campos (24 February 1976 in Curitiba
, Brazil
– 15 October 1995 in Paris
, France
) was a Brazil
ian racing driver. He died in an accident in a Formula 3000 race at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
circuit, making him the only driver ever killed in the International Formula 3000 series.
.
His personal friend Mario-Alberto Bauér negotiated a deal for Marco to race for the WTS F3 Team of Michael Schumacher
's personal manager Willi Weber
as a team mate to Ralf Schumacher
. But a Brazilian sponsor lured Marco into staying with the Draco as the team jumped a step up to the International Formula 3000 championship in 1995.
On board of the newcomer's Lola-Cosworth
results were hard to come by in his rookie season and Marco's only points-finish was a fourth place in Enna
.
's car while racing, and was launched into the air. His car flipped over, and Campos' head struck the top of the concrete
retaining wall whilst flying upside-down. The accident resulted in severe skull fractures, and massive head trauma and put him into a deep coma
. Campos died the following day at the Lariboisière Hospital
in Paris
, France
Marco Campos was 13th in the final Drivers' Championship standings in his only F3000 season.
championship in 2001 in the USA
and now competes in Brazil
's Stock Car Brasil Championship
.
Marco Campos (24 February 1976 in Curitiba
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
– 15 October 1995 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian racing driver. He died in an accident in a Formula 3000 race at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a motor racing circuit located in central France, near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers, some 250 km from Paris...
circuit, making him the only driver ever killed in the International Formula 3000 series.
Career
Campos was a successful kart driver, winning the Panamerican championiship in 1992 and 1993. In 1993 he also won the South American karting championship. Then in 1994 he went to drive in the European Formula Opel championship, winning the title in his first year for the Draco Junior TeamDraco Racing
Draco Racing is a motorsports team from Italy. It currently operates in the World Series by Renault, but has also taken part in Formula Opel Lotus, International Formula 3000 and Euro Formula 3000.-Formula Opel Lotus Euroseries:...
.
His personal friend Mario-Alberto Bauér negotiated a deal for Marco to race for the WTS F3 Team of Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher is a German Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes GP team. Famous for his eleven-year spell with Ferrari, Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion and is widely regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time...
's personal manager Willi Weber
Willi Weber
Wilhelm "Willi" Friedrich Weber is the manager of numerous German racing drivers including seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, his brother Ralf Schumacher and Timo Scheider...
as a team mate to Ralf Schumacher
Ralf Schumacher
Ralf Schumacher is a German racing driver, and the younger brother of seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher...
. But a Brazilian sponsor lured Marco into staying with the Draco as the team jumped a step up to the International Formula 3000 championship in 1995.
On board of the newcomer's Lola-Cosworth
Cosworth
Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries...
results were hard to come by in his rookie season and Marco's only points-finish was a fourth place in Enna
Autodromo di Pergusa
The Autodromo di Pergusa is an automobile and motorcycle circuit that encircles the only Sicilian natural lake, Pergusa Lake. The circuit is also known as Enna-Pergusa, as the lake is located near the city of Enna....
.
Death
Campos was killed in an accident at the season-ending race in Magny Cours. On the last lap of the season finale, on the straight before the Adelaide hairpin, his left front tyre collided with the right rear tyre of Thomas BiagiThomas Biagi
Thomas Biagi is a professional racecar driver from Italy. Biagi was born in Bologna, in 7 May 1976.Biagi started his career in single seaters, driving in Formula Alfa Boxer and Italian Formula Three Championship, where he was 5th best in 1995, with two wins. From there, he moved up to the FIA...
's car while racing, and was launched into the air. His car flipped over, and Campos' head struck the top of the concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
retaining wall whilst flying upside-down. The accident resulted in severe skull fractures, and massive head trauma and put him into a deep coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
. Campos died the following day at the Lariboisière Hospital
Lariboisière Hospital
Lariboisière Hospital is a hospital in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, France.The hospital was one of several built following the second cholera pandemic, which had reached Paris in 1832, and which led to a new emphasis on hygienic practices in hospitals...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Marco Campos was 13th in the final Drivers' Championship standings in his only F3000 season.
Other
His brother, Julio, went through karting and formula championships, winning the Skip BarberSkip Barber
John "Skip" Barber III is a retired racecar driver who is most famous for his Skip Barber Racing Schools.- Driving career :...
championship in 2001 in the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and now competes in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
's Stock Car Brasil Championship
Stock Car Brasil
Stock Car Brasil is a Touring car auto racing series held in Brazil, its first season was in 1979, it's considered the major Brazilian motorsports series...
.