Juan Manuel López (racing driver)
Juan Manuel López | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 9, 1980 Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Other names | Cochito Lopez |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Years active | 1995–2012 |
| Known for | Competing in TC2000, Top Race V6, Spanish GT Championship, International GT Open |
Juan Manuel López, frequently referred to as Cochito Lopez (born March 9, 1980), is a professional racing driver from Argentina. He participated in the TC2000 championship from 2001 through 2003, with further entries in 2007 and 2010. Additionally, he secured eleventh place in the Top Race V6 competitions of 2005 and 2006.
Beginning in 2007, López extended his racing pursuits into Europe, taking part in the Spanish GT Championship during the years 2007, 2009, and 2010, as well as competing in the International GT Open series from 2009 until 2012. He claimed the Super GT title in the Spanish GT Championship twice—in 2007 and again in 2010—and achieved fifth place finishes in the International GT Open Super GT division for both 2011 and 2012.
Early career
Originating from Buenos Aires, Argentina, López launched his motorsport journey in 1995 within the Argentine Formula Renault Championship. By 1997, he advanced to the Campeonato Sudamericano de Formula 3, concluding the season ranked sixteenth overall with eight points. That same year, he also competed in two rounds of the South American Super Touring Car Championship piloting an Alfa Romeo 155 TS fielded by Race Car, collecting seven points and finishing eighteenth in the standings. Moreover, he took part in the Formula Vauxhall Winter Series representing Team Meritus, where he placed fourth.
In 1998, López committed to a full campaign in the Formula Super Renault Argentina series with Ruben Rullo, attaining three podium finishes and one pole position to end sixth overall with a total of 66 points.
The following year, he competed in the Italian Formula Three Championship for Prema Powerteam, securing one victory and five podiums en route to sixth place with 140 points. Additionally, López participated selectively in several other events: he finished seventeenth at Spa-Francorchamps during the British Formula 3 Championship, seventh at the FIA European Formula Three Cup, and eighteenth at the Masters of Formula 3.
In 2000, López entered six rounds of British F3 driving for Manor Motorsport, scoring six points throughout the season, and returned to contest the European Formula 3 Cup where he finished tenth.
2001-2004
Returning to Argentina in 2001, López joined the TC 2000 Championship with CL Racing, competing behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo 146 alongside his father, Osvaldo López. Over ten races, he accumulated four points and ranked twenty-sixth overall. That year, he also claimed victory in a single round of the South American Super Touring Car Championship driving an Alfa Romeo 156 TS for Quadrifoglio Corse. In 2002, remaining with CL Racing in TC 2000, López improved his performance to eighteenth place with thirteen points across ten events and earned a pole position in the Top Race V6 series.
In 2003, López switched teams within TC 2000 to join JM Competicion, continuing with an Alfa Romeo 146 but dropping to twenty-eighth place with only two points from twelve races. The following year, he moved into the Turismo Nacional Argentina series competing in Clase 3 using a Ford Escort, participating in five races and gathering twenty-four points to finish thirty-sixth within his class.
2005-2008
López returned to Top Race V6 competition in 2005 with River Plate Motorsports, driving a Ford Mondeo. He finished eleventh that season after earning sixty-five points and repeated that standing in 2006 with an improved tally of ninety-two points. In 2007, he contested full seasons simultaneously in Top Race V6 and the Spanish GT Championship. Partnered with Manuel Gião, he drove a Ferrari F430 GT2 for GPC Sport. Although his Top Race V6 ranking declined to eighteenth with forty-nine points, López secured the Super GT class championship title within the Spanish GT series by achieving seven class wins alongside four additional podium finishes.
Furthermore, López made a solitary appearance in TC2000 during 2007 representing Sportteam Competicion driving a Volkswagen Bora. Starting from twenty-eighth on the grid, he crossed the finish line eighteenth. In 2008, he participated in six Top Race V6 events for Crespi Competición, scoring only one point and ending fifty-first overall.
2009-2012
In 2009, López made a return to the Spanish GT Championship with the Aurora Racing Team, sharing the #1 Ferrari F430 GT2 with Peter Sundberg. For the Jarama round, the team competed under the name "Exakt Racing" and achieved several victories and podium finishes throughout the campaign. During the season finale at Algarve, which was held jointly with the International GT Open, they emerged as the quickest Spanish GT outfit in the first race, securing fifth place overall, and finished tenth in the second race, ranking third among Spanish GT competitors. López wrapped up the year third in the Super GT division, accumulating 77 points. Additionally, he participated in the Master de Pilotos de la República Argentina karting competition, finishing sixth, and took part in a one-off Top Race V6 invitational event, where he placed fifteenth.
Continuing with Aurora Racing Team in 2010, López teamed up with Manuel Gião in the Spanish GT Championship. The opening round at Valencia, which was also part of the International GT Open calendar, saw them claim eighth and third places overall across two races, being the fastest among Spanish GT participants. Over nine races, they secured six victories, ultimately finishing second in the overall standings with 194 points and winning the Super GT class championship with 98 points. That year, López also made a single appearance in TC2000 representing the factory Fiat squad, finishing thirty-second, and concluded fourteenth in the Master de Pilotos de la República Argentina.
In 2011, López transitioned to a full-season campaign in the International GT Open with Vittoria Competizioni, partnering Marco Frezza in a Ferrari F430 GT2. Their season included four triumphs at Imola, Magny-Cours, Spa-Francorchamps, and Barcelona—the latter alongside Alessandro Pier Guidi. López ended the season fifth overall as well as within the Super GT category.
For the 2012 season, López joined Scuderia Villorba Corse competing in the International GT Open alongside Andrea Montermini in a Ferrari 458 GT2. Although their start was challenging—highlighted by a retirement at Nürburgring—the duo claimed their only victory of the year during Nürburgring's second race and added six more podium finishes. López concluded the season ranked fifth both in the overall drivers' championship and within the Super GT classification.