Nathan William Cavaco Antunes (born 23 April 1988) in Sydney, Australia is best known as an Australian race car driver. Educated at Trinity Grammar School in Sydney, he has raced in a variety of classes throughout the world.
Racing career
Junior Karting
Antunes began his career in 1996 and was Goulburn Kart Club Champion in 1997, 1998 (midget karting) and 1999 (rookie karting). He was also the North Shore Kart Club Champion and ACT Junior Sprint Classic Champion in 1998 and 1999.
In 2001, Antunes made his first appearance in National Championships Junior National Light and placed seventh in the Junior Clubman NSW Championship. In 2002, he placed fifth in the Junior ICA Australian Championship, fourth in the Junior Piston Port NSW Championship (Junior ICA) and fourth in the Junior Clubman NSW Championship improving on his seventh place the year before.
In 2003, Antunes placed fifth in the ICA Australian Championship and competed in the Formula 100 Light Australian Championships at the age of 14. Unfortunately, an accident in the semi-final of Clubman Light did not allow him to complete the season.
Formula Ford
Antunes began in Formula Ford after missing the first race of the season due to age licence restrictions. He placed fifth in the NSW Championship in 2004. He competed in one race in his home state of New South Wales at Oran Park Raceway.
Formula BMW
In 2005, Antunes moved to Europe to pursue his career and competed in the Formula BMW UK Championship.Aussie Racer Makes UK Debut Norrgard Motorsport Development Retrieved 21 February 2008 Antunes drove for Motaworld Racing, finishing seventh in the championship and in the top-five teams. The season included one win, three third placings and three pole positions.
Antunes also raced at the Formula BMW World Championship in Bahrain for Motaworld Racing. He finished fifth – the highest finish for Motaworld racing to date – up from 18th place in qualifying.Marco Holzer Wins First Formula BMW World Final Formula BMW USA Retrieved 21 February 2008
Formula Renault
2006 saw Antunes step into Formula Renault car for the first time North European and European Series but did not race the full season. Racing with Motopark Academy, Antunes raced at Circuit Zolder, also known as Circuit Terlaemen in Belgium, qualifying 23rd and finishing 14th. He also raced in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben in Germany, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Nürburgring in Germany.
Antunes also tested at the World Series by Renault.Nathan Antunes World Series by Renault Retrieved 21 February 2008
Formula 3
Antunes also competed in the Formula 3 Recaro Cup German Championship in 2006 with the HS Technik Motorsport team. At three events, Antunes placed eighth, sixth, fourth, third, first and retired due to car failure and took one pole position in six races.Nathan Antunes – A win and pole position in Austria Formula 3.cc Retrieved 21 February 2008
Antunes also tested at the World Series by Renault.
GP2
On 30 October 2007, Antunes tested for Super Nova Racing at Paul Ricard Circuit in France.
Toyota Racing Series
Antunes competed in the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand with Team European Technique owned by Trevor Sheumatk. Scheumatk is the Managing Director of Track Tyres, the sole distributor of Michelin Racing Tyres in Australia and New Zealand. He placed 14th.
A1 Grand Prix
Antunes made his A1 Grand Prix debut with A1 Team Australia in Shanghai, China in April 2008. He drove in the Rookie sessions for the team, placing seventh and eighth in session 1 and 2 respectively. This paced the team in seventh overall.http://www.motorsport.com/#/a1gp/news/shanghai-practice-1-times-2008-04-12/?v=2&y=2008&s=1&i=433 Retrieved from Motorsport.com 10 June 2011.
In Brands Hatch in May 2008, Antunes again drove for the team in the Rookie sessions, notching up a tenth and an eighth place.http://www.motorsport.com/#/a1gp/news/brands-hatch-practice-1-times-2008-05-02/?v=2&y=2008&s=1&i=338 Retrieved Motorsport.com 10 June 2010.
Career results Season Series Position Car Team 2004 New South Wales Formula Ford Championship 6th Van Diemen RF94 Ford 2005 British Formula BMW Championship 7th Mygale FB02 BMW Motaworld Racing Formula BMW World Final 5th 2006 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC 24th Tatuus FR2000 Renault Motopark Academy Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 34th Tatuus FR2000 Renault Motopark Academy German Formula Three Championship 10th Lola B06/30 Opel HS Technik Motorsport 2007-08 Toyota Racing Series 14th Tatuus TT104ZZ Toyota European Technique A1 Grand Prix 13th † Lola B05/52 - Zytek A1 Team Australia 2008-09 Toyota Racing Series 11th Tatuus TT104ZZ Toyota European Technique 2013 Australian GT Championship 15th Audi R8 LMS Ultra Melbourne Performance Centre 2014 Australian GT Championship - GT Trophy class 3rd Audi R8 LMS Ultra Rod Salmon 2015 Australian GT Championship 4th Audi R8 Ultra Melbourne Performance Centre 2016 Australian GT Championship 6th McLaren 650S GT3 Tekno Autosports † Team result
Complete Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DC Points 2006 Motopark AcademyZOL1ZOL2IST1IST2MIS1MIS2NÜR1NÜR2DON1DON2LMS1LMS2CAT1CAT2 34th 0
Complete Formula Renault 2.0 NEC results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 DC Points 2006 Motopark AcademyOSC1OSC2SPA1SPA2NÜR1NÜR2ZAN1ZAN2OSC1OSC2ASS1ASS2AND1AND2SAL1SAL2 24th 37
Complete A1 Grand Prix results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points 2007–08 AustraliaNEDSPRNEDFEACZESPRCZEFEAMYSSPRMYSFEACHNSPRCHNFEANZLSPR NZLFEA AUSSPR AUSFEA RSASPR RSAFEA MEXSPR MEXFEA CHNSPRPO CHNFEAPO GBRSPRPO GBRFEAPO 17th 20
Complete New Zealand Grand Prix results Year Team Car Qualifying Main race 2008 European Technique Tatuus TT104ZZ - Toyota 7th 15th
Complete Bathurst 12 Hour results Year Car# Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps 2015 5 Rod Salmon Racing Oliver Gavin Rod Salmon Audi R8 LMS AA 103 DNF DNF 2016 5 GT Motorsport Barton Mawer Greg Taylor Audi R8 LMS AA 294 6th 1st 2017 5 GT Motorsport Elliot Barbour Greg Taylor Audi R8 LMS AAM 161 DNF DNF
References
A1GP Brands Hatch
External links
Photos by Driver: Nathan Antunes NathanAntunes.com Official website