Fernando Rees
Fernando Rees | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 4, 1985 São Paulo, Brazil |
| Occupation | Racing driver (retired) |
| Years active | 1993–2017 |
| Known for | Endurance racing, FIA World Endurance Championship GT-Am champion (2012) |
Fernando Rees (born January 4, 1985) is a retired Brazilian racecar driver. He started karting at the age of eight in 1993, made his international single-seater debut in 2001, and transitioned to endurance racing in 2007, participating in several global championships.
Single-Seater Period (2001 - 2006)
Hailing from São Paulo, Rees participated in a Mercedes-Benz test at Estoril in late 2003, where he recorded the fastest time among six drivers, including Robert Kubica and Adrian Sutil. Nevertheless, Ron Dennis opted for Lewis Hamilton to join the ASM Mercedes-Benz team, leading Rees to explore alternative racing avenues.
Between 2001 and 2005, Rees competed in prominent European single-seater competitions. In 2005, while racing for the budget-conscious Interwetten.com squad in the World Series by Renault, he secured a test opportunity with Italy's Draco Racing. At Valencia, he outpaced a field exceeding 30 drivers—including champion Robert Kubica—by over half a second ahead of Pastor Maldonado. This achievement set a strong foundation for his 2006 campaign.
Unfortunately, early in 2006 during a Formula 3000 International Masters test session at Monza under wet conditions, Rees endured a serious accident that resulted in two fractured vertebrae, three compressed vertebrae, a broken ankle, and leg injuries. This incident necessitated an 18-month break from competition, comprising one year of immobilization followed by six months of rehabilitation.
Endurance Racing Era (2007 - 2015)
Following recovery, Rees made his sportscar racing debut at the concluding event of the 2007 Le Mans Series, the Mil Milhas of Interlagos, piloting an Aston Martin DBR9 for Larbre Compétition. Partnered with Roland Berville, Gregor Fisken, and Steve Zacchia, he achieved victory in the GT1 category after nearly nine hours of competition. He continued to race in the Le Mans Series during the subsequent season.
In 2008, Rees entered the LMP2 category at Monza for the first time. The following year, he joined Barazi-Epsilon alongside Juan Barazi in LMP2; however, financial difficulties forced the team to withdraw mid-season, leaving Rees without a seat.
Rejoining Larbre Compétition in 2010, Rees contributed to several wins throughout the Le Mans Series, including triumphs at Paul Ricard, Algarve, and Hungaroring. The squad captured the GT1 Team Championship driving their Saleen S7-R. Additionally, Rees secured victory at Silverstone and was part of Larbre’s successful entry at the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.
After taking a break in 2011, Rees returned to Larbre for the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship, competing in the GT-Am category with car number #50 Chevrolet Corvette. He replaced Pedro Lamy following Sebring and played a key role alongside Lamy, Julien Canal, and Patrick Bornhauser in winning the team’s world title.
Continuing with Larbre during the FIA WEC’s second season in 2013, Rees again raced the #50 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R in GT-Am and concluded the season seventh overall.
Racing Record Summary
- 2012: FIA World Endurance Championship (Larbre Compétition)
- Competed in 4 events; highest grid position was 2nd (Bahrain, Race 6); top finish was 1st (Interlagos, Race 5)
- 2010: Le Mans Series (Larbre Compétition)
- Participated in 4 rounds; best qualifying position was pole (Hungaroring Race 4; Silverstone Race 5); best race results were wins (Algarve Race 3; Hungaroring Race 4; Silverstone Race 5)
- 2009: Le Mans Series (Barazi-Epsilon)
- Entered one race; best grid spot was fifth; best race finish fourth (Spa-Francorchamps)
- 2008: Le Mans Series (Barazi-Epsilon)
- Took part in four races; highest start position was second (Silverstone); best result eighth (Nurburgring)
- 2007: Le Mans Series (Larbre Compétition)
- One event entered; achieved pole position and victory (Interlagos)
- 2006: Formula 3000 International Masters (Pro Motorsport)
- 2005: World Series by Renault 3.5 (Interwetten)
- Competed in twelve races; best qualifying fifth; top finish fourteenth
- 2005: Formula Toyota Atlantic (Brooks Associates Racing)
- One race start; qualified third; did not finish
- 2004: Formula 3 Euroseries (Swiss Racing Team); tested with ASM Mercedes-Benz
- Participated in two events
- 2003: Formula Three Sudamericana (Cesario Formula); tested with ASM Mercedes
- Twelve races; secured pole and victory at Interlagos; ended season sixth despite partial participation
- 2002: Formula Renault Eurocup and Italian Formula Renault (RC Motorsports)
- Nine races; best qualifying fifth; highest race finish twelfth
- 2001: Italian Formula Renault (Bicar Racing)
- Single entry; started seventh; finished thirteenth
Full Formula Renault 3.5 Series Results
(key) (Races shown in bold denote pole position) (Races in italics signify fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final Position | Points Scored | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Interwetten.com | ZOL 1 |
ZOL 2 |
MON 1 |
VAL 1 |
VAL 2 |
LMS 1 17 |
LMS 2 Ret |
BIL 1 18 |
BIL 2 14 |
OSC 1 Ret |
OSC 2 Ret |
DON 1 23† |
DON 2 Ret |
EST 1 Ret |
EST 2 19 |
MNZ 1 Ret |
MNZ 2 23† |
35th | 0 |
† Classified despite not finishing, having completed over 90% of the race distance.
Full FIA World Endurance Championship Results
(key) (Pole positions are in bold; fastest laps appear in italics)
24 Hours of Le Mans results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Overall Position | Class Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Aston Martin Racing V8 | Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Alex MacDowall Template:Country data NZLTemplate:Namespace detect showall Richie Stanaway |
Aston Martin Vantage GTE | GTE Pro | 320 | 34th | 6th |
| 2016 | Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Aston Martin Racing | Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Jonathan Adam Template:Country data NZLTemplate:Namespace detect showall Richie Stanaway |
Aston Martin Vantage GTE | GTE Pro | 337 | 24th | 6th |
| 2017 | Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Larbre Compétition | Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Romain Brandela Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Christian Philippon |
Chevrolet Corvette C7.R | GTE Am | 309 | 48th | 15th |
Karting Career Stats
- 2001: Competed in Italian and European Championships with Birel Official Factory Team
- 2000: Participated in Italian, European, and World Championships representing Danilo Rossi Racing Team
- 1999: Raced in Italian and European Championships for Danilo Rossi Racing Team
- 1998: Contended in Brazilian National and North-American Championships as part of CRG Official Factory Team
- 1997–1994: Competed in Brazilian National Championships
- 1993: Began karting activities in Interlagos, São Paulo, Brazil