For most Formula 1 fans, Luiz Pereira Bueno, often referred
as Luiz Bueno, was just another unknown, wealthy driver from a far away land
who managed to buy his way into a single ride in Formula 1 and fulfill a dream.
It is true that Bueno had a single Formula 1 start, the Brazilian Grand Prix of
1973, driving an outdated Surtees model and finishing a lowly 12th after
starting dead last. However, Bueno was not wealthy and he was definitely not
a nobody. He was one of the main drivers of the pre-Fittipaldi generation, for
Luiz had been racing since 1957 and rose to prominence as a Willys (Renault)
factory driver in the early 60’s. There he raced Gordinis, Interlagos (a
Brazilian version of the Alpine), Alpine, Formula Junior and the Bino
prototypes. He won many races in the yellow cars, and even after the demise of
Willys as a manufacturer, Bueno raced the Bino prototypes for a few more
seasons.
One of the best things that happened to Brazilian racing was
the closing of the Interlagos race track for renovations during 1968 and 1969!
That meant no racing in Sao Paulo, where most of the best drivers and teams
were located. It also meant that drivers began looking abroad to continue
racing, and Luiz was one of them. He raced for Stirling Moss’ Formula Ford team
in 1969, and just like Emerson Fittipaldi, won a few races, in fact six.
However, Luiz reckoned he was too old for adventures, being 32, and decided to
return to Brazil for good for the 1970 season. He did take part in the International
Formula Ford (winning in Rio), Formula Three and Formula Two tournaments held
in 1970 and 1971, and soldiered on with the Bino prototype during the 1970 season,
winning a few more races.
In 1971, Luiz and Anisio Campos bought two Porsches, a 910
and a 908/2, set up a team called Equipe Z, which eventually got Hollywood
cigarette sponsorship. Driving this car Luiz was basically unbeatable in local
racing and even won an international race in Argentina. He also raced the car in
the 1000 km of Austria of 1972, starting seventh with Tite Catapani (they
failed to finish) and ended second in the 500 km of Interlagos of 1972, behind
Reinhold Joest (Porsche 908-3).
By then Bueno had his first try in Formula 1, driving an
older March 711 in the non-championship Brazilian GP of 1972. He did well to finish
6th, 2 laps behind the winner, Reutemann.
As for his single World Championship outing, there isn’t
much to say. Bueno’s car was a Surtees
TS9B, and he was obviously forewarned by
Big John to avoid crashing or over revving the engine.
He ran a very conservative
race, with the aim to finish, and that he did (this was a big deal at the time,
you must remember). Dreaming of a 6th place that time would be impossible, for while
the 1972 race was poorly supported, and the 1973 race had a full entry.
Luiz spent his last three seasons driving other Hollywood
sponsored cars in Brazil. The Porsche 908-2 had been outlawed for 1973, so Luiz
drove Chevrolet Opala and Ford Maverick saloons in sprints and long distance
races, sat out 1974, and had a powerful Berta prepared Maverick and a
Berta-Hollywood prototype for the 1975 season, winning six races. He officially retired, but raced a few more
times, once in a touring car race in 1978, unsuccessfully racing in the
Brazilian Stockcar championship in 1982 and in the 1984 1000 km of Brasilia,
retiring for good.
Bueno was actually the only local Brazilian driver do manage
getting a one-off ride for the Brazilian Grand Prix. At the time it was usual
for local drivers to hire extra GP cars and participate in their local race. There
were rumors that Antonio Castro Prado, Francisco Lameirão and Eduardo Celidoneo
were getting rides for the local race, but these came to naught and maybe highly
speculative. Part of the reason is that privateers usually did not take cars to
the South American rounds, and most of these one-off happened in more humble
teams. Works teams usually took as little equipment as possible.
Much more information about racing in the 70's can be found in my book MOTOR RACING IN THE 70'S - PIVOTING FROM ROMANTIC TO ORGANIZED. It is a 472-page book about racing in the period, with 242 photos, covering Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula 5000, other lower formulae, Formula Indy, NASCAR, Touring Cars, Sports Cars, Can Am, Trans Am, IMSA, DRM, local racing scenes, main driver profiles, plus long lists of makes that raced in the period, main drivers and racing venues from 85 countries, year highlights, performance and financial analysis of the sport. It can be bought at Amazon shops in the USA, UK, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, Australia, Japan,
After his death, his Ashes were trown next to the old Curve 1 of Interlagos by his friends.
ReplyDeleteThe Senna S Curve cut the old Curve 1.
After his death, his Ashes were trown next to the old Curve 1 of Interlagos by his friends.
ReplyDeleteThe Senna S Curve cut the old Curve 1.