Ni Amorim
Last updated
Fernando Manuel Neiva Machado "Ni" Amorim (born 1 March 1962) is a Portuguese motorsport executive and former racing driver who built a career spanning touring cars, GT machinery, and endurance prototypes. He first climbed into a race car in 1982, competing in both circuit racing and rallying, but by the mid-1980s he had focused almost entirely on touring cars. Amorim became a regular fixture in one-make cups and the Portuguese Touring Car Championship, where he claimed multiple national titles. His success at home eventually led to international opportunities, including factory drives with Chrysler's Oreca-run team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a class championship in the British GT Championship.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Fernando Manuel Neiva Machado "Ni" Amorim
- Born
- 1 March 1962
- Nationality
- Portuguese
Facts from the source article.
National career
Amorim first raced in circuits and rallies in 1982, but by the mid-1980s he had shifted almost entirely to touring cars, a fixture in one-make series and the Portuguese Touring Car Championship. He secured the Group N title in 1987, then took the Group A crown in 1989 and 1990 piloting the Poligrupo Ford Sierra RS500, and again in 1993 with the factory Opel Astra. After a lengthy break, he rejoined the Portuguese Touring Car Championship in 2007 driving a semi-works BMW 320si, marking his first full season in Portugal since 1994.
International career
Ni Amorim first raced as a Mercedes-AMG driver in the Macau Grand Prix's Guia Race before launching his international career in 1995 with the International Touring Car Championship, followed by a stint in the Spanish Touring Car Championship in 1996. When Opel withdrew its support in 1997, he shifted to endurance racing, appearing sporadically in the FIA GT Championship, the American Le Mans Series, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His finest moments came in 1999 and 2000 with the Oreca-run factory Chrysler squad, piloting the Viper GTS-R and the Chrysler LMP.
He also competed in the Spanish and British GT Championships, claiming a class title in the British series in 2004. In 2005, he drove a Courage C65 in the Le Mans Endurance Series. The following year, he teamed with Manuel Gião to finish second in the Spanish GT Championship aboard a Ferrari 360 Modena. In 2007, while racing full-time on the national scene, he handled a Ferrari 430 in both the Spanish GT Championship and the International GT Open.
Did You Know?
- He finished second in the Spanish GT Championship in 2006, partnered with Manuel Gião in a Ferrari 360 Modena.
- Amorim returned to the Portuguese Touring Car Championship in 2007 after a 13-year absence, driving a semi-works BMW 320si.
More in Portuguese Racing Drivers
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Ni Amorim (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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