Cristiano Morgado
Cristiano Morgado | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 27, 1979 South Africa |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Known for | Five-time Rotax Max Challenge World Champion |
Cristiano Morgado (born 27 August 1979) is a South African driver with Portuguese heritage, distinguished as a five-time Rotax Max Challenge World Champion, holding an unparalleled record of five global Rotax titles. His initial triumph in the Rotax Max Challenge World Championship came in 2004, followed by claiming the European Championship in the RM1 category in 2005. During his first year in car racing, he earned pole position at the 2004 Formula Ford Festival. In 2006, Morgado secured four victories and finished second overall in the British Formula Three National Class Championship, an achievement that awarded him Protea Colours.
In 2008, he took part in South Africa's newly established Formula Volkswagen Series, where he won eight events throughout the season. These accomplishments led to his appointment as test driver for A1 Team South Africa during sessions in Taupō, New Zealand, and later competing in the final two A1 Grand Prix races held at Portimão, Portugal, and Brands Hatch, England. Returning to karting competition in 2011, he captured the Rotax World Championship title in the DD2 Masters division and successfully defended this crown in 2012, 2013, and 2018, achieving his record fifth world championship.