Ronnie Quintarelli

Last updated
Ronnie Quintarelli
Ronnie Quintarelli.jpeg
Quintarelli in 2015 SUPER GT Motegi
NationalityFlag of Italy.svg  Italian
Born (1979-08-09) 9 August 1979 (age 45)
Negrar, Italy
Super GT career
Years active 2005–2024
Teams SARD, Lexus Team Cerumo, Lexus Team Kraft, Hasemi Motorsport, Team Impul, Mola, Nismo
Car number23
Starts150
Championships4 (2011, 2012, 2014 & 2015)
Wins18
Podiums46
Poles16
Previous series
2005-2008 Formula Nippon
Championship titles
2011-12, 14-15
2004 		Super GT
Japanese Formula 3 Championship

Ronnie Quintarelli (born 9 August 1979) is an Italian racecar driver competing in Super GT from 2005 through 2024. A four-time champion, he holds the all-time record for the most drivers' championship titles won in the GT500 class of Super GT. [1]

Contents

Biography

Quintarelli first encountered motorsports at age 6 when his father gave him a small go-kart. After starting his karting career in 1990, he scored two second place finishes in the World Formula Super A championship and a European Formula C title. [2] He made his single seaters debut in 1999 when he drove in 5 rounds of the Formula Opel Cup in Croatia. He finished 2nd in the standings, behind his teammate Antony Bertocchi, who competed in every round. [3] In 2000, he entered the Italian Formula Renault Championship and ended up third with Prema Powerteam. He also entered the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, the German Formula Three Championship and the Formula Volkswagen Germany.

In 2005, he scored his maiden GT win in the 1000 km Suzuka race with André Couto and Hayanari Shimoda and later made his way to the Super GT. After spending two seasons under the Lexus banner, Quintarelli moved to the Nissan camp, securing multiple victories. Driving for the Mola team, he won two consecutive titles in 2011 and 2012 partnered by Masataka Yanagida. He later joined the Nismo Official Team alongside Tsugio Matsuda. The pairing cruised to two more titles in 2014 and 2015 which made Quintarelli the most titled driver in the history of the series. While still fighting for the title in 2016 with a third place, the Nissan teams struggled at the beginning of the following year but Quintarelli and Matsuda rallied to finish the season in second place. In 2018, they were again steadily at the front of the Nissan roster, and managed to snatch a win at Fuji Speedway. Unfortunately, they would not hit the top-5 again, eventually taking eighth place in the championship. [4]

In 2019, the Nismo pairing completed the championship in third position with four podium finishes and three pole positions scored by Quintarelli himself. In 2020, they remained in contention for the title until the very last race by taking two wins in the two rounds held at Suzuka. The final event of the season at Fuji Speedway (the track hosted four events to simplify logistics during the COVID-19 pandemic) saw a record 11 teams in contention for the title with tight margins. Quintarelli moved from sixth place to the lead in the opening lap, although tyre issues cost him track position later. He and Matsuda would eventually end up ninth in the race and sixth in the championships. They returned to the Nismo team for 2021.

Quintarelli driving in the 2014 Super GT season at Suzuka Ronnie Quintarelli 2014 Super GT Suzuka Q2.jpg
Quintarelli driving in the 2014 Super GT season at Suzuka

The 2021 season started with a double retirement as contact involving team-mate Tsugio Matsuda at Okayama and a broken engine at Fuji Speedway impacted the rest of the season. The number 23 Nismo car still secured one win at Suzuka and a third place at Autopolis, but the Quintarelli-Matsuda pairing had to settle for ninth in points. For the 2022 season, all the Nissan teams debuted the new Z GT500 model. However, the Nismo team suffered the tragic loss of its Director Yutaka Suzuki, who prematurely died during the winter. Despite the positive start at Okayama with a third place, contact and a mechanical issue jeopardized the following two events. A brilliant second place in wet conditions at Sugo put Quintarelli and Matsuda back in title contention. Unfortunately, two more technical problems in the two final events at Autopolis and Motegi forced the pairing to seventh place in the standings.

Finishing in 3rd in Okayama International Circuit in the first race of the 2022, the Italian driver extended his all-time record streak in Super GT to 15th consecutive year at least 1 podium/season as a non-Japanese driver.

Personal life

Based in Yokohama, Kanagawa. Quintarelli speaks Japanese fluently and serves as a TV color commentator for the Super Formula series. In recent years, he devoted his efforts towards the people affected by earthquakes, raising awareness and providing support to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami relief. Together with fellow Super GT regular Andrea Caldarelli, he led a fundraising campaign in favour of the populations impacted by the 2016–2017 Central Italy earthquakes. His cross-border charity efforts, together with his sporting results, earned him the title of Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy. [5]

Awards

ITA OSI 2011 Uff BAR.svg
5th Class/Officer: Order of the Star of Italy : 2015 [6]

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesPolesWinsPointsPosition
1999Formula Opel Cup CroatiaVergani RT5*3442nd
2000 Formula Renault 2000 Italia Prema Powerteam *21*3rd
2001 Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup Cram Competition 511667th
2002 Formula Volkswagen Team Penker Racing*42*2nd
GC-21 INGING Motorsport 101N/ANC
2003 Japanese Formula 3 Championship INGING Motorsport 20002004th
Macau Grand Prix JB Motorsport with INGING 10004th
Korea Super Prix 100016th
2004 Japanese Formula 3 Championship INGING Motorsport 20482511st
Macau Grand Prix 10008th
Bahrain Super Prix 100022nd
2005 Formula Nippon Kondo Racing Team 600129th
Super GT - GT500 SARD 8002116th
1000 km Suzuka 101N/A1st
2006 Formula Nippon Team Boss INGING 900610th
Super GT - GT500 Cerumo 100924th
Formula One Midland F1 Test driver
2007 Formula Nippon Team Boss INGING 901277th
Super GT - GT500 Bandai Toyota Team Kraft300224th
2008 Formula Nippon Cerumo/INGING 80021.59th
Super GT - GT500 Hasemi Motorsport9113912th
2009 Super GT - GT500 Hasemi Motorsport911497th
2010 Super GT - GT500 Team Impul 701475th
2011 Super GT - GT500 Mola811901st
2012 Super GT - GT500 Mola812931st
2013 Super GT - GT500 Nismo 810506th
2014 Super GT - GT500 Nismo 822811st
2015 Super GT - GT500 Nismo 822791st
2016 Super GT - GT500 Nismo 802623rd
2017 Super GT - GT500 Nismo 811822nd
2018 Super GT - GT500 Nismo 811438th
2019 Super GT - GT500 Nismo 83052.53rd
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters 1000NC†
2020 Super GT - GT500 Nismo 802516th
2021 Super GT - GT500 Nismo 801419th
2022 Super GT - GT500 Nismo 810377th
Super Taikyu - ST-Q NISMO
2023 Super GT - GT500 Nismo 811563rd
2024 Super GT - GT500 NISMO 800458th
Super Taikyu - ST-Q

† As Quintarelli was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score championship points.

Complete Japanese Formula 3 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamEngine1234567891011121314151617181920DCPts
2003 INGING Toyota SUZ
1
3		 SUZ
2
3		 FUJ
1
3		 FUJ
2
5		 TAI
1
3		 TAI
2
3		 MOT
1
5		 MOT
2
6		 SUZ
1
6		 SUZ
2
6		 SUG
1
2		 SUG
2
2		 TSU
1
4		 TSU
2
2		 SUG
1
4		 SUG
2
3		 MIN
1
4		 MIN
2
2		 MOT
1
2		 MOT
2
2		4th200
2004 INGING Toyota SUZ
1
9		 SUZ
2
6		 TSU
1
13		 TSU
2
1		 OKA
1
2		 OKA
2
1		 MOT
1
2		 MOT
2
1		 SUZ
1
4		 SUZ
2
1		 SUG
1
1		 SUG
2
1		 MIN
1
3		 MIN
2
6		 SEN
1
2		 SEN
2
13		 MIN
1
1		 MIN
2
1		 MOT
1
Ret		 MOT
2
3		1st251

Complete Formula Nippon results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrant1234567891011DCPoints
2005 Kondō Racing MOT SUZ SUG FUJ
5		 SUZ
5		 MIN
2		 FUJ
Ret		 MOT
5		 SUZ
10		9th12
2006 Team Boss INGING FUJ
5		 SUZ
Ret		 MOT
Ret		 SUZ
Ret		 AUT
5		 FUJ
10		 SUG
4		 MOT
9		 SUZ
12		10th6
2007 FUJ
5		 SUZ
6		 MOT
5		 OKA
1		 SUZ
Ret		 FUJ
7		 SUG
8		 MOT
6		 SUZ
14		7th27
2008 Cerumo / INGING FUJ
5		 SUZ
8		 MOT
Ret		 OKA
7		 SUZ
10		 SUZ
9		 MOT
Ret		 MOT
13		 FUJ
6		 FUJ
3‡		 SUG
7		9th21.5

‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.

Complete Super GT results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCarClass123456789DCPoints
2005 SARD Toyota Supra GT500 OKA
8		 FUJ
Ret		 SEP
9		 SUG
2		 MOT
14		 FUJ
12		 AUT
11		 SUZ
11		16th21
2006 Lexus Team Cerumo Lexus SC430 GT500 SUZ OKA FUJ SEP SUG SUZ
7		 MOT AUT FUJ 24th9
2007 Lexus Team Kraft Lexus SC430 GT500 SUZ OKA FUJ SEP
11		 SUG
9		 SUZ
Ret		 MOT AUT FUJ 24th2
2008 Hasemi Motorsport Nissan GT-R GT500 SUZ
15		 OKA
10		 FUJ
15		 SEP
9		 SUG
11		 SUZ
5		 MOT
1		 AUT
6		 FUJ
13		12th39
2009 Hasemi Motorsport Nissan GT-R GT500 OKA
12		 SUZ
13		 FUJ
7		 SEP
1		 SUG
9		 SUZ
2		 FUJ
6		 AUT
8		 MOT
12		7th49
2010 Team Impul Nissan GT-R GT500 SUZ
Ret		 OKA
4		 FUJ
6		 SEP
1		 SUG
4		 SUZ
12		 FUJ
C		 MOT
5		5th47
2011 MOLA Nissan GT-R GT500 OKA
6		 FUJ
10		 SEP
2		 SUG
1		 SUZ
2		 FUJ
7		 AUT
2		 MOT
2		1st90
2012 MOLA Nissan GT-R GT500 OKA
7		 FUJ
8		 SEP
14		 SUG
3		 SUZ
1		 FUJ
2		 AUT
1		 MOT
2		1st93
2013 NISMO Nissan GT-R GT500 OKA
3		 FUJ
Ret		 SEP
9		 SUG
3		 SUZ
2		 FUJ
9		 AUT
8		 MOT
8		6th50
2014 NISMO Nissan GT-R GT500 OKA
7		 FUJ
8		 AUT
1		 SUG
14		 FUJ
2		 SUZ
2		 BUR
10		 MOT
1		1st81
2015 NISMO Nissan GT-R GT500 OKA
13		 FUJ
1		 CHA
5		 FUJ
4		 SUZ
7		 SUG
6		 AUT
1		 MOT
2		1st79
2016 NISMO Nissan GT-R GT500 OKA
1		 FUJ
1		 SUG
9		 FUJ
4		 SUZ
6		 CHA
14		 MOT
9		 MOT
7		3rd62
2017 NISMO Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500 OKA
7		 FUJ
4		 AUT
5		 SUG
4		 FUJ
2		 SUZ
2		 CHA
9		 MOT
1		2nd82
2018 NISMO Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500 OKA
5		 FUJ
1		 SUZ
6		 CHA
12		 FUJ
9		 SUG
7		 AUT
15		 MOT
7		8th43
2019 NISMO Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500 OKA
2‡		 FUJ
2		 SUZ
Ret		 CHA
11		 FUJ
3		 AUT
13		 SUG
3		 MOT
8		3rd52.5
2020 NISMO Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500 FUJ
11		 FUJ
9		 SUZ
1		 MOT
8		 FUJ
11		 SUZ
1		 MOT
7		 FUJ
9		6th51
2021 NISMO Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500 OKA
Ret		 FUJ
Ret		 MOT
9		 SUZ
1		 SUG
7		 AUT
3		 MOT
15		 FUJ
7		9th41
2022 NISMO Nissan Z GT500 GT500 OKA
3		 FUJ
4‡		 SUZ
12		 FUJ
14		 SUZ
5		 SUG
2		 AUT
14		 MOT
13		7th37
2023 NISMO Nissan Z GT500 GT500 OKA
1		 FUJ
7		 SUZ
13		 FUJ
13		 SUZ
DSQ		 SUG
2		 AUT
10		 MOT
2		3rd56
2024 NISMO Nissan Z GT500 GT500 OKA
5		 FUJ
2		 SUZ
10		 FUJ
13		 SUG
12		 AUT
2		 MOT
9		 SUZ
8		8th45

‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.

Records

All-time Super GT records

As of the Super GT – 2020 Takanokono Hotel Fuji GT race:

DescriptionRecordDrivers matched
Championships
Most Drivers' Championships4Stands alone
Most Drivers' Championships as a non-Japanese driver4Stands alone
Most Drivers' Championships won in GT500 class4Stands alone
Most consecutive season with at least 1 podium/season as non-Japanese driver16Stands alone

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References

  1. ↑ "Ronnie Quintarelli, In Search Of More History With NISMO | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  2. ↑ CIK-FIA History
  3. ↑ https://haks.hr/rezultati/rez99/opel.htm
  4. ↑ SUPER GT’S 7 Most Dominant Champions
  5. ↑ Onorificenze
  6. ↑ "Onoreficenze". quirinale.it (in Italian). 28 December 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
Sporting positions
Preceded by All-Japan Formula 3 Championship
Champion
2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Super GT
GT500 Champion
2011 – 2012
With: Masataka Yanagida 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Super GT
GT500 Champion
2014–2015
With: Tsugio Matsuda 		Succeeded by
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