Welcome to the world of auto racing in Colombia! This country has become home to some of the best drivers in the world, with an impressive track record of success both domestically and internationally.
From the legendary Juan Pablo Montoya to the modern-day stars like Gabby Chaves, Colombia has a rich history of top-notch racing talent.
We will take a look at some of the best auto racing players in Colombia, highlighting their impressive achievements and analyzing the impact they have had on the sport.
With a combination of skill, passion, and dedication, these racers have truly put Colombia on the map when it comes to auto racing.
1. Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya Roldán, often referred to as JPM, is a racing driver from Colombia. His impressive career has seen him win multiple championships throughout the years. In 1998, he was victorious in the International F3000 championship, becoming the first Colombian to do so.
He then went on to win the CART FedEx Championship Series in his debut year, 1999.
Montoya Roldán continued his winning streak into 2019 when he was crowned the champion of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Montoya Roldán’s impressive racing career has seen him compete on a variety of tracks across the world.
His skill and determination have earned him the respect of both his peers and the fans alike.
He is often regarded as one of the top Colombian drivers of all time and has been a major influence for younger drivers looking to make it in the racing industry. Montoya Roldán’s success over the years is a testament to his hard work and dedication.
He has consistently shown an impressive level of skill and determination, making him a formidable opponent on the track. His impressive list of accomplishments is a source of pride for his homeland and a reminder that anything can be achieved with dedication and hard work.
2. Roberto Guerrero
Roberto José Guerrero Isaza is an impressive figure in the world of racing. He is a Colombian-American former race driver, who made history by becoming the first Colombian to start a Formula One Grand Prix.
He achieved this feat on the 23rd of January, 1982, when he participated in his first F1 Grand Prix.
In total, he competed in 29 F1 Grands Prix, during which he showed great skill and ability behind the wheel. Guerrero Isaza was a pioneer of the sport, and his achievements have been celebrated by the Colombian racing community.
He has inspired many young racers to pursue their dreams and to never give up on their goals. Despite the fact that he retired from racing in the late 1980s, his legacy still lives on in the sport today.
He is a true role model, and his accomplishments will be remembered for many years to come.
3. Ricardo Londoño
Ricardo Londoño-Bridge was a racing driver from Colombia who is best known for his one attempt at Formula One in the 1981 Brazilian Grand Prix with Ensign. This made him the first racing driver from Colombia to participate in a Formula One race weekend.
Londoño’s international career was otherwise unremarkable. He did not achieve any notable successes and was unable to make an impact in the sport. Londoño’s Formula One debut was a significant milestone for Colombian racing.
It was the first time a driver from the country had been given the chance to compete in the highest level of motorsport and showed that Colombia was capable of producing drivers capable of competing on the highest stage.
Despite the fact that Londoño was unable to make an impact, his participation in the Brazilian Grand Prix opened the door for other Colombian racers to gain entry into Formula One. It is clear from Londoño’s career that his participation in the Brazilian Grand Prix was an important moment in the history of Colombian racing.
It showed that Colombia could produce a driver capable of competing on the highest stage and gave the country a sense of pride when it came to motorsport.
Londoño’s career may have been short-lived, but it left a lasting legacy for Colombian racing and proved that the country was capable of producing drivers capable of competing at the highest level.
4. Sebastián Saavedra
Sebastián Saavedra is a professional racing driver from Bogotá, Colombia. Saavedra has competed in a number of different motorsports disciplines, including Formula Renault 3.5, GP2 Series, Indy Lights, and the Verizon IndyCar Series.
In 2014, Saavedra drove for KVSH Racing in the Verizon IndyCar Series, a professional American-based open-wheel racing series. However, at the end of the season, Saavedra was replaced by Stefano Coletti, a former GP2 Series driver.
Coletti had previously competed in the formula racing series in 2012 and 2013, and his move to the Verizon IndyCar Series marked his return to open-wheel racing.
Saavedra’s replacement came as a surprise to many, as the Colombian had earned a podium finish at the 2014 Indianapolis 500 and had been considered a successful driver for KVSH.
Nevertheless, Coletti has since become a regular competitor in the series, competing in the last three IndyCar seasons.
5. Carlos Huertas
Carlos Huertas is a professional racing driver from Colombia. He was born in Bogotá in 1991 and quickly developed a passion for racing. He began his racing career in karting and quickly moved up the ranks to become a professional driver.
He has competed in a variety of different racing series, including Formula Renault, GP3, and IndyCar. In 2014, he achieved his first win in the IndyCar series, becoming the first Colombian to win a race in the series.
He is currently a part of the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team and competes in the IndyCar series. He is an accomplished driver who is well-known in the racing community and is highly respected for his ability to win races.
His passion and drive for racing has propelled him to the top of the racing world, and he is an inspiration to aspiring drivers around the world.
6. Gabby Chaves
Gabriel “Gabby” Chaves is a talented and accomplished racing driver from Colombia who is currently competing in two major motorsport series: the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Michelin Pilot Challenge.
Chaves is no stranger to the highest levels of motorsport as he has competed in the IndyCar Series, the premier open-wheel racing series in the US.
His biggest accomplishment in IndyCar is undoubtedly winning the 2014 Indy Lights Championship, the official feeder series for IndyCar. It was a monumental victory for Chaves, as it marked the first time an international driver had won the championship.
His success in the championship also opened the door for international drivers to compete and succeed in IndyCar. Chaves is now a great example of a driver who has worked his way up from lower tiers of racing to the major leagues.
He is an inspiration to aspiring drivers who come from all over the world.
7. Tatiana Calderón
Tatiana Calderón Noguera is an incredibly talented Colombian racing driver. She began her career in motorsport with a focus on open-wheel racing, competing in the Super Formula Championship with the Drago Corse with ThreeBond squad.
Here, she achieved a great deal of success, earning a reputation as a dynamic and reliable driver. In 2020, Tatiana Calderón Noguera made the move to endurance racing, joining the FIA World Endurance Championship with the Richard Mille Racing team.
Here, she has continued to demonstrate her prowess on the track, showing great promise for the future. She is an incredibly talented and determined driver, and is sure to have a successful career in motorsport.
8. Carlos Muñoz
Carlos Andrés Muñoz is a highly-skilled professional racing driver from Colombia. He has achieved great success in the IndyCar Series, having raced for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2018.
His most notable success was in the Indianapolis 500, where he achieved second place in both his rookie year of 2013 and again in 2016.
His impressive driving has seen him become a regular feature in the IndyCar Series, and he continues to be well respected by his peers and colleagues.
Muñoz is an inspiration to many budding young drivers, and his dedication to racing has made him a well-known and respected figure in the world of motorsports.
9. Óscar Tunjo
Óscar Andrés Tunjo is a professional racing driver from Colombia. He began his career in karting at the age of 8, and has since gone on to become one of the most successful drivers in the country.
He has won numerous titles in his native country, including the Colombian Karting Championship and the Colombian Formula Renault Championship. In 2011, he made his international debut, competing in the GP3 Series.
He finished the season in 9th place overall and has since raced in various championships including Formula Renault 3.5, Euro F3 and GP2. Tunjo has also been a part of the Renault Sport Academy since 2017 and is currently signed to the Trident team for the 2018 GP3 Series.
His success on the track has made him one of the most popular drivers in the country, and he is a role model for many aspiring racing drivers.
10. Gustavo Yacamán
Gustavo “El Tigrillo” Yacamán Aristizabal is a Colombian racing driver from Santiago de Cali, Colombia.
He is renowned for his impressive driving skills and has been racing for many years. Yacamán began his racing career in open-wheel racing, which involves racing cars with an open cockpit and exposed wheels.
This type of racing is very challenging and requires a lot of skill and precision. He competed in a number of open-wheel championships and achieved notable results, which earned him his nickname “El Tigrillo”.In 2012, Yacamán decided to switch to sports car endurance racing.
This type of racing is a longer-term event where drivers have to compete over longer distances and in harsher conditions.
It requires more stamina and endurance than open-wheel racing, but Yacamán was up for the challenge. Since then, Yacamán has had a successful career in endurance racing, competing in a number of events around the world.
He has achieved a number of podium finishes and is considered one of the top endurance racers in Colombia. He continues to push himself to the limits and is an inspiration to many aspiring racing drivers.
11. Yonny Hernández
Yonny Hernández Vega is a professional motorcycle racer from Colombia. He is highly skilled and well respected in the sport, having achieved success in multiple races throughout his career. He has been recognized for his achievements, earning numerous awards and accolades.
In addition to his own success, Yonny is also the older brother of another successful motorcyclist, Santiago Hernández. Santiago is also a native of Colombia and has achieved remarkable success in the sport, having won several championships and medals.
The two brothers have an inspiring story of success, both having started out as amateur riders and eventually becoming professional racers. They serve as an example of what can be accomplished through dedication and hard work.
12. Andrés Méndez
Andrés Méndez is a professional race car driver from Colombia. He is a highly acclaimed driver and is known for his success in both Formula Three and Formula Junior categories.
He has also competed in the Formula One series, having raced for several teams over the years. Méndez began his racing career at a young age, competing in karting races in his native Colombia.
He quickly moved up the ranks of racing, and soon began competing in Formula Three and Formula Junior categories.
He has achieved success in these categories, winning several championships and earning himself a reputation as one of the best drivers in the world. Méndez has also been a part of the Formula One series, having raced for teams like Sauber and Williams.
He has had a few successful races and has achieved some impressive results. He is considered to be one of the best drivers from Colombia in the Formula One series. Andrés Méndez is an extremely talented racing driver and has earned himself a great reputation in the racing world.
His achievements have made him a household name in his native Colombia, and he continues to be an inspiration to aspiring racers.
13. Steven Goldstein
Steven Goldstein is a professional racing driver from Colombia. He is widely recognized as one of the leading drivers in the country.
He has achieved great success over the years, having won several prestigious events and championships.Goldstein began his career in 2000 and has since competed in a variety of different racing series.
He has participated in some of the most prestigious events in the world, including the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He has also raced in Formula One, Formula Renault 3.5 and GP2.Goldstein has had considerable success in his career.
In 2010, he became the first Colombian driver to win the IndyCar Series. He won the championship again in 2012 and 2013 and was the runner-up in 2014.
He has also won several other prestigious events, such as the Grand Prix of Monaco and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Goldstein is well respected by his peers and is highly regarded as an outstanding driver.
He is an active member of the racing community and is involved in numerous philanthropic initiatives.
He is also an ambassador for the sport, having appeared in a variety of television and print media campaigns. Steven Goldstein is a talented and successful racing driver from Colombia who has achieved a great deal of success in his career.
He is a great ambassador for the sport and is highly respected by his peers. He is undoubtedly one of the best drivers in the country.
14. Julián Leal
Julián Leal is a professional racing driver from Colombia. He is well-known both in his home country and abroad, having competed in several major international racing championships.
He has a long history of success in both single-seater and touring car racing. Leal began his career in 2005 competing in the Colombian F3 Championship, and quickly became a regular podium finisher in the series.
He then moved on to the European Formula 3 Championship, where he won the title in 2011. This success led to a move to the GP2 Series, where he competed with an Italian licence.
Leal continued to impress in the GP2 Series, regularly finishing in the top ten and scoring podium finishes.
In 2015, he made the move to the GP3 Series, where he secured a podium finish in his first season. Leal’s success in the GP3 Series earned him a promotion to the GP2 Series full-time in 2016.
He continued to perform well in the series, taking a win in the sprint race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria and securing a fourth-place finish in the championship.
In 2017, he made the move to the IndyCar Series, where he won the Indianapolis 500 for Chip Ganassi Racing. Julián Leal is a highly skilled and successful racing driver, who has competed in some of the top racing championships around the world.
He is a true testament to the skill and passion of Colombian racing drivers and has proven himself to be a top competitor.
Conclusion
The best auto racing players in Colombia have proven that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. With their impressive track records, these racers have shown that their skill and dedication can make them successful in any race.
Their hard work and dedication will continue to make them successful in the future.
