In 1973, brothers Emerson and Wilson Fittipaldi planned the creation of an entirely Brazilian racing team, Fittipaldi Automotive, to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship. The year 1974 was particularly intense for the Fittipaldi brothers: Emerson acted as a consultant for the new team while still competing in the Championship—where he ultimately claimed the title—as an official McLaren driver, while Wilson was busy organizing the new Brazilian structure. He secured the involvement of the Brazilian sugar and alcohol cooperative Copersucar as a sponsor and the national aerospace company Embraer as a supplier of cutting-edge materials. Additionally, Embraer provided the nascent team access to its wind tunnel for aerodynamic studies. Mexican Jo Ramírez was hired as team manager, and Brazilian Richard Davila as the designer. They worked at the team’s headquarters in Brazil, challenging the Formula 1 norm of the 1970s, which was entirely Europe-centric. The Fittipaldi brothers' project was backed by the Brazilian government, eager to enhance its international prestige, and fueled by national pride, as the country sought to showcase its technical capabilities and position itself among the world's economic giants.
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| COPERSUCAR-FITTIPALDI FD01 |
The first car from the newly founded team was the Copersucar-Fittipaldi FD01, an ambitious and unique vehicle. Wind tunnel testing led Davila to design a distinctive body: long and low, starting with a flat, squared-off nose that housed a cantilevered wing, followed by rounded, enveloping side pods, and ending with a fully enclosed engine cover that seamlessly merged with the rear wing. The chassis was a monocoque aluminum structure, and the car was powered by the classic Ford Cosworth DFV engine, paired with a Hewland FG400 gearbox. The radiators were placed at the rear within the bodywork, as were the suspension components, featuring inboard-mounted dampers.
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| COPERSUCAR-FITTIPALDI FD01 |
The FD01 was unveiled in Brasília at the Federal Government headquarters in the presence of President Ernesto Geisel, underscoring the national significance of the Fittipaldi brothers’ project. The car made its debut at the first round of the 1975 Championship in Argentina, with Wilson Fittipaldi behind the wheel, but the race was a complete failure. The FD01 qualified in last place, a full 11 seconds off the pole position time, and retired due to a technical failure on lap 12. The innovative car was immediately abandoned after just one appearance in the 1975 World Championship.
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