Omar Martínez
Omar Gurí Martínez | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 1, 1966 Rosario del Tala, Entre Ríos Province, Argentina |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Years active | 1983–2022 |
| Known for | Turismo Carretera, TC2000, Top Race V6 competitor, multiple-time champion |
Omar Gurí Martínez (born January 1, 1966, in Rosario del Tala, Entre Ríos Province) is a prominent Argentine motorsport competitor recognized for his participation in Turismo Carretera, TC2000, and Top Race V6. His moniker Gurí originates from the Guaraní language, meaning a young boy.
Career
Martínez launched his racing journey in Formula Entrerriana in 1983, achieving the position of vice-champion by 1985. He then progressed to the Argentine Formula Renault series, where he secured back-to-back championship titles in 1990 and 1991. Subsequently, he advanced to compete in Formula Three Sudamericana, concluding the 1994 season as runner-up.
In 1995, Martínez returned to Argentine national competitions, joining Turismo Carretera and TC2000 while driving for Ford. He claimed the Top Race championship in 1997, surpassing his teammate Juan María Traverso. The following year, he earned his first TC2000 championship title piloting a Honda Civic alongside Traverso.
Although consistently placing as a strong competitor with four second-place finishes between 1999 and 2002, Martínez won his initial Turismo Carretera championship in 2004. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the Konex Award Merit Diploma in 2010 as one of Argentina’s leading drivers of the decade. He added a second Turismo Carretera crown to his record in 2015. Since 2018, Martínez has gradually reduced his racing commitments.
Career summary
- 1983–1986: Formula Entrerriana
- 1987–1992: Argentine Formula Renault (Champion in 1990 and 1991)
- 1992–1994: Formula Three Sudamericana (Runner-up in 1994)
- 1995–2017: Turismo Carretera (noteworthy victories with Ford Falcon)
- 1997, 2000: Top Race Champion
- 1998: TC2000 Champion (driving Honda Civic)
- 2004, 2015: Turismo Carretera Champion
- 2018–2022: TC Pick Up (Champion in 2022 with Ford Ranger)
External links
- Official website (Spanish)