The body of former driver Wilson Fittipaldi Junior, known as Wilsinho, was laid to rest this Saturday morning (24) with a series of tributes at the Interlagos Racetrack, in São Paulo.
One of the pioneers and biggest names in motorsport in Brazil, he died on Friday (23), aged 80, victim of complications from a cardiac arrest suffered in December last year.
The coffin with Wilsinho’s body took a walk around the track on top of a Fire Department truck, accompanied by his widow, Rita, and his son, Christian, who followed in his father’s footsteps in the sport and also had a stint in Formula 1.
Wilson’s younger brother, Emerson Fittipaldi, responsible for Brazil’s first two titles in the category, in 1972 and 1974, was also present.
The procession was accompanied by the teams participating in the first stage of the Paulista Motorsport Championship, which was scheduled for this Saturday at the location. The truck passed through the pits and was widely applauded by those present.
As part of the tributes, some iconic cars from the former driver’s career were taken to the racetrack, in particular a restored Copersucar-Fittipaldi, which was towed around the track on a trailer. It was one of the models used by the first and only Brazilian team on the F1 grid, created by the Fittipaldi brothers in 1975.
A Karmann-Ghia Dacon and three cars from Formula Vee, a national category whose biggest name is Wilson Fittipaldi and was the last one he worked on, also toured the racetrack.
All cars participating in the Campeonato Paulista will race with stickers in honor of the former driver this Saturday on the circuit.
Wilson’s body will be buried this Sunday (25), at the Peace Cemetery, in São Paulo, in a ceremony for family and friends.