Nathan Antunes (born 23 April 1988) in Sydney, Australia is best known as an Australian race car driver. Educated at Trinity Grammar School in Sydney, he has raced in a variety of classes throughout the world.

Nathan Antunes
Nationality Australian
Born (1988-04-23) 23 April 1988 (age 35)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Racing licence FIA Silver
Previous series
2013-16
2006-09
2007-08
2006
2006
2005
2004
Australian GT Championship
Toyota Racing Series
A1 Grand Prix
Formula 3 Germany
Formula Renault 2.0 NEC
Formula BMW UK
Formula Ford New South Wales
Antunes placed sixth in the 2016 Australian GT Championship driving a McLaren 650S GT3

Racing career edit

Junior Karting edit

Antunes began his career in 1996 and was Goulburn Kart Club Champion in 1997, 1998 (midget karting) and 1999 (rookie karting). He was also the North Shore Kart Club Champion and ACT Junior Sprint Classic Champion in 1998 and 1999

In 2001, Antunes made his first appearance in National Championships Junior National Light and placed 7th in the Junior Clubman NSW Championship. In 2002 he placed 5th in the Junior ICA Australian Championship, 4th in the Junior Piston Port NSW Championship (Junior ICA) and 4th in the Junior Clubman NSW Championship improving on his 7th place the year before. 6 In 2003, Antunes placed 5th in the ICA Australian Championship and competed in the Formula 100 Light Australian Championships aged 14. Unfortunately an accident in the semi-final of Clubman Light did not allow him to complete the season.

Formula Ford edit

Antunes began in Formula Ford after missing the first race of the season due to age licence restrictions. He placed 5th in the NSW Championship in 2004. He competed in one race in his home state of New South Wales at Oran Park Raceway.

Formula BMW edit

In 2005, Antunes moved to Europe to pursue his career and competed in the Formula BMW UK Championship.[1] Antunes drove for Motaworld Racing finishing 7th in the championship and in the top 5 teams. The season included one win, 3 third placings and 3 pole positions.

Antunes also raced at the Formula BMW World Championship in Bahrain for Motaworld Racing. He finished 5th – the highest finish for Motaworld racing to date – up from 18th place in qualifying.[2]

Formula Renault edit

2006 saw Antunes step into Formula Renault car for the first time North European and European Series but did not race the full season. Racing with Motopark Academy, Antunes raced at Circuit Zolder, also known as Circuit Terlaemen in Belgium, qualifying 23rd and finishing 14th. He also raced in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben in Germany, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Nürburgring in Germany.

Antunes also tested at the World Series by Renault.[3]

Formula 3 edit

Antunes also competed in the Formula 3 Recaro Cup German Championship in 2006 with the HS Technik Motorsport team. At three events Antunes placed eighth, sixth, fourth, third, first and retired due to car failure and took one pole position in six races.[4]

Antunes also tested at the World Series by Renault.

GP2 edit

On 30 October 2007, Antunes tested for Super Nova Racing at Paul Ricard Circuit in France.

Toyota Racing Series edit

Antunes competed in the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand with Team European Technique owned by Trevor Sheumatk. Trevor Scheumatk is the Managing Director of Track Tyres, the sole distributor of Michelin Racing Tyres in Australia and New Zealand. He placed 14th.

A1 Grand Prix edit

He made his A1 Grand Prix debut with A1 Team Australia in Shanghai, China in April 2008. He drove in the Rookie sessions for the team, placing 7th and 8th in session 1 and 2 respectively. This paced the team in 7th overall.[5]

In Brands Hatch in May 2008, he again drove for the team in the Rookie sessions, notching up a 10th and an 8th place.[6]

Career results edit

Season Series Position Car Team
2004 New South Wales Formula Ford Championship 6th Van Diemen RF94 Ford
2005 British Formula BMW Championship 7th Mygale FB02 BMW Motaworld Racing
Formula BMW World Final 5th
2006 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC 24th Tatuus FR2000 Renault Motopark Academy
German Formula Three Championship 10th Lola B06/30 Opel HS Technik Motorsport
2007-08 Toyota Racing Series 14th Tatuus TT104ZZ Toyota European Technique
A1 Grand Prix 13th † Lola B05/52 - Zytek A1 Team Australia
2008-09 Toyota Racing Series 11th Tatuus TT104ZZ Toyota European Technique
2013 Australian GT Championship 15th Audi R8 LMS Ultra Melbourne Performance Centre
2014 Australian GT Championship - GT Trophy class 3rd Audi R8 LMS Ultra Rod Salmon
2015 Australian GT Championship 4th Audi R8 Ultra Melbourne Performance Centre
2016 Australian GT Championship 6th McLaren 650S GT3 Tekno Autosports

† Team result

Complete A1 Grand Prix results edit

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2007–08 Australia NED
SPR
NED
FEA
CZE
SPR
CZE
FEA
MYS
SPR
MYS
FEA
CHN
SPR
CHN
FEA
NZL
SPR
NZL
FEA
AUS
SPR
AUS
FEA
RSA
SPR
RSA
FEA
MEX
SPR
MEX
FEA
CHN
SPR

PO
CHN
FEA

PO
GBR
SPR

PO
GBR
FEA

PO
17th 20

Complete Bathurst 12 Hour results edit

Year Car# Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
2015 5   Rod Salmon Racing   Oliver Gavin
  Rod Salmon
Audi R8 LMS AA 103 DNF DNF
2016 5   GT Motorsport   Barton Mawer
  Greg Taylor
Audi R8 LMS AA 294 6th 1st
2017 5   GT Motorsport   Elliot Barbour
  Greg Taylor
Audi R8 LMS AAM 161 DNF DNF

References edit

  1. ^ Aussie Racer Makes UK Debut Norrgard Motorsport Development Retrieved 21 February 2008
  2. ^ Marco Holzer Wins First Formula BMW World Final Formula BMW USA Retrieved 21 February 2008
  3. ^ Nathan Antunes World Series by Renault Retrieved 21 February 2008
  4. ^ Nathan Antunes – A win and pole position in Austria Formula 3.cc Retrieved 21 February 2008
  5. ^ http://www.motorsport.com/#/a1gp/news/shanghai-practice-1-times-2008-04-12/?v=2&y=2008&s=1&i=433 Retrieved from Motorsport.com 10 June 2011.
  6. ^ http://www.motorsport.com/#/a1gp/news/brands-hatch-practice-1-times-2008-05-02/?v=2&y=2008&s=1&i=338 Retrieved Motorsport.com 10 June 2010.
  • A1GP Brands Hatch [1]

External links edit