Fórmula Truck

The concept originated from discussions between Aurélio Batista Félix, a truck driver from Santos, and Portuguese journalist Francisco Santos.

The first race took place on September 6th 1987 at the Autodromo Internacional de Cascavel circuit in Paraná. The trial involved 35 competitors and was named, I Copa Brasil de Caminhões (First Brazilian Trucks' Cup), and served as a test to ascertain the safety of this new type of racing. There was however, a fatal accident involving one of the participants; Jeferson Ribeiro da Fonseca, a driver who was also the president of Autodromo Internacional de Cascavel. Jeferson Ribeiro's death was extremely impactful, resulting in Francisco Santos leaving Fórmula Truck three years later.

In 1994 a new event for truck drivers and businessmen was created with safety as a priority at the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo. The consolidation begun in 1995, with the four trials held in the cities of Cascavel and Londrina (PR), Tarumã (RS) and Goiânia (GO). In Goiânia, over 120,000 people attended the event.

The first championship with defined rules took place in 1996, and was approved by the Confederação Brasileira de Automobilismo (Brazilian Automobile Confederation). The first official competition took place in Guaporé (RS), and had 13 trucks on the grid.

Renato Martins (#9), first champion of the category in 1996.
2006 in Curitiba.

On March 5, 2008, the creator of Formula Truck, Aurélio Batista Félix, died of a stomach hemorrhage. He had heart problems and suffered a heart attack in the first stage of the 2008 season, which was being held in Guaporé.

In 2010, the organisation announced a South American championship and Roberval Andrade was crowned champion. In 2011, three races were announced for the South American Championship.

The qualifying session that decides the starting grid is held the Saturday before the race. Each pilot can have a warm-up lap, three timed laps and a slowdown lap. If he gives up his back, he is entitled to a single attempt at the end of training.

In Formula Truck the number of laps varies between 30 and 35, depending on the length of the track and the conditions of the racetrack. During the race of Ceará, which was included in 2006, the number of laps is 60, due to the length of the track. The laps completed with Pace Truck are not counted as valid. In restarts, there is the pairing of the trucks stopped and overtaking is allowed only after the checkered flag, or when the green light is lit.

Pace Truck of 2006 championship.

In 2006, when the 12th lap is valid, the pilots will receive a checkered flag in green and yellow, which scores the first five places. At this point, the trail enters the Pace Truck, which neutralises the race for cleaning and removal of vehicles on the track, staying three to five laps. After restart, trucks complete the preset number and make the podium in accordance with the classification in the race, plus the times of the penalties, if applicable.

The trucks have enough power to exceed 200 km/h, but, in one point of the circuit, there is a speed limit of 160 km/h, to ensure sufficient safety. The inspection takes place with the help of radars installed at varied points around the track.

In 2017, several teams left the organisation to create a new championship called Copa Truck. After two rounds of the 2017 season, the lack of audience, partners and drives forced the postponement of the third race twice. After that, it was announced via the organisation's website that the 2017 season was cancelled and that they would try to return in 2018.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fórmula Truck.

• Official website of the Fórmula Truck (in Portuguese) - (in Portuguese)