Cristiano Morgado

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Cristiano Morgado
Crispodium1.jpg
Nationality Flag of South Africa.svg South African
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portuguese
Born (1979-08-27) 27 August 1979 (age 46)
Johannesburg (South Africa)
Championship titles
2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals (DD2 Masters) World Champion
Awards
Protea Colours

Cristiano Morgado (born 27 August 1979) is a South African racing driver of Portuguese descent who is a five-time Rotax Max Challenge World Champion. [1] He is the first and only driver to have won five Rotax world titles, establishing him as one of the most successful drivers in the competition's history. [2] His achievements in the sport have been profiled in international publications such as Vroom International Karting Magazine. [3] In addition to his karting career, Morgado has competed in single-seater car racing, achieving success in the British Formula 3 International Series and Formula Volkswagen South Africa. He also represented A1 Team South Africa in the A1 Grand Prix.

Contents

Career

Karting and Early Single-Seaters

Morgado began his international career in karting, winning his first Rotax Max Challenge World Championship in 2004. [4] He followed this by winning the European Championship in the RM1 class the next year. The same year as his first world title, Morgado transitioned to car racing, making an immediate impact by securing pole position for the prestigious Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. [5]

British Formula 3 and A1 Grand Prix

In 2006, he competed in the National Class of the British Formula 3 International Series, where he achieved four wins and finished the season as the championship runner-up. [6] His achievements in motorsport led to him being awarded Protea Colours, a high honour for South African sportspeople. Morgado returned to South Africa in 2008 to compete in the inaugural Formula Volkswagen South Africa Championship, where he dominated the season with eight race wins. His success earned him a call-up to A1 Team South Africa for the 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix season. He served as the team's test driver in Taupō, New Zealand, before being selected for the final race weekends of the season in Portimão, Portugal, and Brands Hatch, England.

Return to Karting and Record-Breaking Dominance

Morgado is best known for his record-breaking success in the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, an annual event considered the "Olympics of karting," where competitors gain entry by winning a national or international championship rather than by paying. [7] After returning to competitive karting, Morgado won the World Championship in the DD2 Masters class in 2011. He successfully defended his title in 2012 and secured a third consecutive championship in 2013 in New Orleans, USA. [8] [9] In 2018, competing in Brazil, he won his fifth Rotax world title. He secured pole position, won every heat, and led the final from start to finish, becoming the only driver in history to achieve this feat. [1] [2] His continued competitiveness at the national level secured his qualification for subsequent world finals, as he sought a potential sixth world crown. [10]

References

  1. 1 2 "uMhlanga resident scoops fifth world kart title". North Glen News. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Morgado scoops 5th world championship". George Herald. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "Cristiano Morgado". Vroom International Karting Magazine. May 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Cristiano's ignition is powered by passion". North Glen News. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  5. ↑ "Cristiano Morgado • Career & Character Info | Motorsport Database". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Christiano Morgado | Driver Database". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "RMC Grand Finals". Rotax Racing. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  8. ↑ "Who can dethrone Morgado, the King of DD2 Master?". Kartcom. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  9. ↑ "Cristiano Morgado crowned Karting World Champ for the fourth time". CAR Magazine. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  10. ↑ "NATIONAL KART CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT ZWARTKOPS". Karting South Africa. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2025.

Official Website Cristiano Morgado career summary at DriverDB.com Category.A1 Grand Prix Rookie drivers

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