Ricardo González (racing driver)

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is González and the second or maternal family name is Valdez.
Ricardo González

González in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2012
Nationality Mexico Mexican
Born (1977-10-20) 20 October 1977
Monterrey, Mexico
FIA World Endurance Championship career
Debut season 2012
Current team Mexico RGR Sport
Car no. 43
Former teams Greaves Motorsport
OAK Racing
G-Drive Racing
Starts 25
Wins 4
Poles 2
Fastest laps 0
Best finish 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013
Previous series
FIA World Endurance Championship
Championship titles
2011
2013		 American Le Mans Series LMPC class
FIA WEC LMP2 class
Awards
1999 Rookie of the year Indy Lights Panamericana
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Participating years 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
Teams United Kingdom Greaves Motorsport
France OAK Racing
Russia G-Drive Racing
Mexico RGR Sport
Best finish 1st (2013)
Class wins 1 LMP2 (2013)

Ricardo González Valdez (born 20 October 1977 in Monterrey) is a Mexican racing driver who competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for G-Drive Racing. In 2013 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP2 class[1] and 2013 FIA WEC World Champion LMP2 class for drivers and teams.[2]

For the season of 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship González shall participate as owner and pilot of the rookie Mexican team RGR Sport by Morand in the LMP2 class and confirms its participation in 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans.[3]

Personal life

Ricardo comes from a family of drivers, his father Roberto González, Sr., finished in third place in the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1976 and his brother Roberto, Jr., competed in the Champ Car World Series in 2003 and 2004. He is a father of four children and lives with his family in Mexico City. His daughter Roberta Luciana, at 11 years old is a 2013 National equestrian champion in Mexico.

Racing career

1994 - 95

In 1994-1995 Ricardo was the youngest driver to participate in the Mexican F3 FIA, which took pole position in his debut. His career began in karts in 1990, and in 1993 was the National Champion 125cc shifters despite being the youngest driver in the category.

1999 - 2000

Indy Lights Panamericana which had five wins, four pole positions, and rookie of the year title.

2001

In 2001, González took part in the Formula Chrysler Euroseries as teammate to his older brother Roberto at Swiss team Alpie Motorsport. Ricardo finished the season fourth as Roberto was runner-up. In 2003 he raced in the World Series by Nissan.

2010

In 2010 he returned from a seven-year break from racing to contest the American Le Mans Series. After starting four races in the GTC class, he and teammate Luis Díaz switched to the LMPC class for the final four rounds of the season.

2011

In 2011 season González drove for Core Autosport team in the American Le Mans Series LMPC class with his co-driver Gunnar Jeannette, they got the victory in two races, GP of Long Beach and GP of Mosport, with 156 points they won the American Le Mans Series season.[4]

2012

In 2012 he is racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Greaves Motorsport alongside Elton Julian and Christian Zugel.[5]

In 24 Hours of Le Mans González and his co-drivers Julian and Zugel from Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN-Nissan team, got the 5th place the in LMP2 class (twelfth overall).

2013

For 2013, González was hired by OAK Morgan-Nissan to drive Morgan-Nissans in the LMP2 class on the FIA World Endurance Championship. González shares the number 35 entry with co-drivers Bertrand Baguette and Martin Plowman.

The 2013 season started at the 6 Hours of Silverstone, the OAK Racing Morgan LMP2-Nissan No. 35 finished in fourth place (twelfth overall) to get their first 10 points for the World Championship.[6]

On the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, González, Baguette and Plowman finished in third position (for cars registered for points in the FIA World Endurance Championship), of LMP2 class (eleventh overall).[7]

Martin Plowman, González's co-driver at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans winners

In 24 Hours of Le Mans Ricardo and his co-drivers Bertrand Baguette and Martin Plowman from OAK Racing Morgan LMP2-Nissan team, won 81st edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP2 class (seventh overall). Their Morgan LMP2 covered a total of 329 laps in the Circuit de la Sarthe. The race was run in very difficult weather conditions and several serious accidents bringing out a record of twelve safety car caution periods.[8] So, González became the first Mexican driver to get the first place of since Pedro Rodríguez in 1968.[9] González recognize to Pedro Rodríguez as his hero.[10] Heavy rains forced race officials to start the race under safety car conditions, completing eight laps before the race was temporarily stopped due to no improvement in track conditions.

The 6 Hours of São Paulo were held at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, on 30 August–1 September. González, Baguette and Plowman got the second place of LMP2 category, only behind Oreca 03-Nissan team (Rusinov, Martin and Conway). With this result the Mexican driver got his second podium of the year.[11]

In the fifth round of 2013 season were the 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on 20–22 September. González, Baguette and Plowman obtained the seventh place of LMP2 category (eleventh overall).[12]

On 18–20 October, in the 6 hours of Fuji, following a two-hour delay the race was restarted once more under the safety car, lapping another eight circuits before officials stopped the race again and eventually called an end to the event. The No. 35 OAK Morgan-Nissan (Baguette, González and Plowman), started in the pole position and was declared the race winner of LMP2 class (fourth overall), in the same position they started. Due to difficult weather conditions half points will be awarded for all the teams and drivers in the event.[13][14][15]

During the 6 Hours of Shanghai on 8–9 November, the No. 35 OAK Morgan-Nissan trio (Baguette, González and Plowman), qualified in fourth position and finished in third place (7th overall). With this new podium the French team extend their lead on 15 points to the final race of the championship.[16][17][18]

On the last race of the season the 6 Hours of Bahrain on 29–30 November, González, Baguette and Plowman qualified in sixth place and finished in fourth position (sixth overall). Therefore, the Mexican Ricardo González won the 2013 FIA WEC World Championship for drivers and teams in LMP2 class.[2][18][19]

2014

Le Castellet, France – April 2, 2014 – Ricardo González will compete in the 2014 European Le Mans Series with ART Grand Prix driving a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 in GTC class. González will run for the first time in his career in a GT3 car, which he will share with Alex Brundle and Karim Ajlani.[20]

2015

In 2015 González returns to FIA World Endurance Championship with the Russian team G-Drive Racing along with his co-drivers Gustavo Yacamán and Pipo Derani.[21]

2016

In 2016 González returns to FIA World Endurance Championship as owner and driver of the Mexican team RGR Sports by Morand. His co-drivers are the ex Formula 1 Bruno Senna and Filipe Albuquerque.[22]

In the 6 Hours of Silverstone the Mexican rookie team won the race in the LMP2 Class, incredible result in their debut as a team.[23]

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2012 United Kingdom Greaves Motorsport Germany Christian Zugel
Ecuador Elton Julian		 Zytek Z11SN-Nissan LMP2 348 12th 5th
2013 France OAK Racing Belgium Bertrand Baguette
United Kingdom Martin Plowman		 Morgan LMP2-Nissan LMP2 329 7th 1st
2015 Russia G-Drive Racing Colombia Gustavo Yacamán
Brazil Pipo Derani		 Ligier JS P2-Nissan LMP2 354 12th 4th
2016 Mexico RGR Sport Portugal Filipe Albuquerque
Brazil Bruno Senna		 Ligier JS P2-Nissan LMP2 - - - - - -

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

Year Team Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rank Points
2012 United Kingdom Greaves Motorsport LMP2 Zytek Z11SN Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 SEB
4		 SPA
6		 LMS
5		 SIL
12		 SÃO
DNP		 BHR
7		 FUJ
7		 SHA
8		 5th 56
2013 France OAK Racing LMP2 Morgan LMP2 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 SIL
4		 SPA
3		 LMS
1		 SÃO
2		 COA
7		 FUJ
1		 SHA
3		 BHR
4		 1st 141.5
2015 Russia G-Drive Racing LMP2 Ligier JS P2 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 SIL
2		 SPA
1		 LMS
3		 NÜR
3		 COA
3		 FUJ
3		 SHA
Ret		 BHR
3		 3rd 134
2016 Mexico RGR Sport LMP2 Ligier JS P2 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 SIL
1		 SPA
 LMS
 NÜR
 MEX
 COA
 FUJ
 SHA
 BHR
 1st 25

* Season still in progress.

European Le Mans Series results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Engine Class Tyres 1 2 3 4 5 Points Rank
2014 France ART Grand Prix United Kingdom Alex Brundle
Switzerland Karim Ajlani		 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 McLaren 3.8L V8 GTC M UK
5		 ITA
4		 AUS
8		 FRA
8		 POR
Ret		 38 14th

* Season still in progress.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Race - Final Classification" (PDF). Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 Autosport. 30 November 2013 http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111672. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑ http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rgr-sport-by-morand-launched-albuquerque-senna-confirmed/
  4. ↑ http://www.imsaracing.net/2011/alms/LMPC.pdf
  5. ↑ Dagys, John (6 January 2012). "LE MANS: Greaves Confirms WEC Driver Lineup". SpeedTV.com. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  6. ↑ http://www.fiawec.com/races/6-hours-of-silverstone/results-and-chrono.html
  7. ↑ http://www.fiawec.com/races/6-hours-of-spa-francorchamps/results-and-chrono.html
  8. ↑ "Statistiques 24ème Heure / 24th Hour Statistics" (PDF). Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  9. ↑ Autosport. 23 June 2013 http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/108252. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ http://www.record.com.mx/article/piloto-mexicano-gana-24-horas-de-le-mans
  11. ↑ http://www.fiawec.com/races/6-hours-of-sao-paulo/results-and-chrono.html
  12. ↑ http://www.fiawec.com/races/6-hours-of-circuit-of-the-americas/results-and-chrono.html
  13. ↑ Watkins, Gary (20 October 2013). "Fuji WEC: Toyota gets victory as rain ends race". Autosport.com (Haymarket Press). Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  14. ↑ http://www.fiawec.com/races/6-hours-of-fuji/results-and-chrono.html
  15. ↑ Autosport. 20 October 2013 http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110760. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ http://www.fiawec.com/races/6-hours-of-shanghai/results-and-chrono.html
  17. ↑ Autosport. 9 November 2013 http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111211. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. 1 2 3 http://www.fiawec.com/courses/classification.html
  19. ↑ http://www.fiawec.com/races/6-hours-of-bahrain/results-and-chrono.html
  20. ↑ http://www.icontact-archive.com/_pmUeOOc9FY8dk2ZsHpfwQAXFVCnSdVI
  21. ↑ DiZinno, Tony (5 February 2015). "G-Drive Confirms Two Cars, Engine, Lineups". John Dagys Media. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  22. ↑ http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rgr-sport-by-morand-launched-albuquerque-senna-confirmed/
  23. ↑ http://www.fiawec.com/races/6-hours-of-silverstone/results-and-chrono.html

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
none		 FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Drivers
2013 with:
Bertrand Baguette
Martin Plowman 		Succeeded by
Sergey Zlobin
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