Who is João Paulo de Oliveira, replacing Tom Dillmann at Vanwall?

João Paulo de Oliveira will compete in the 6 Hours of Monza with Vanwall. A name that doesn't necessarily mean much to the French public but whose track record is well stocked.

Published 16/06/2023 à 15:45

Gonzalo Forbes

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Who is João Paulo de Oliveira, replacing Tom Dillmann at Vanwall?

João Paulo de Oliveira will discover the WEC with Vanwall. ©Instagram/João Paulo de Oliveira

It is with minimal, flat communication consisting of only 7 words that Vanwall formalized its trio of drivers for the 6 Hours of Monza. The announcement only came a few hours ago after the surprise departure by Tom Dillmann. While she made the choice to continue with Esteban Guerrieri and Tristan Vautier after Le Mans, the Austrian team decided to replace the Frenchman not with its reserve Esteban Muth but with a driver coming from very far away: João Paulo de Oliveira.

By a long way because the Brazilian has mainly spent his entire career on the other side of the globe, in Japan. After a rather traditional passage through the universe of Single seat in South America and Europe, the Paulista quickly chose to settle in the land of the Rising Sun.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by João Paulo de Oliveira (@jpdeoliveira)

A successful Brazilian in Japan

We might have thought he was lost in a country where it is not often easy for a European driver to find a place. In the end, quite the opposite happened. Arriving there in 2004, João Paulo de Oliveira started with single-seaters before moving on to one of the flagship championships of Japanese national motorsport: the Super GT in 2006. He will prove himself there until 2018 with a 2e final place as the best final result before moving up to GT300, the lower category, the following year.

This time, it works much better since he is crowned twice, in 2020 and 2022 and company of Kiyoto Fujinami in a Kondo Racing Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. Currently, the Brazilian is leading the championship but is now supported by Teppei Natori.

João Paulo de Oliveira, champion seed. ©Instagram/João Paulo de Oliveira

But Auriverde has not only tried GT since its arrival in Japan 19 years ago. Alongside his involvement in Super GT, João Paulo de Oliveira also distinguished himself in Super Formula. And how.

Engaged by Team Impul, one of the references in the field, the South American tasted victory in his second full season (2008) before winning the title in 2010 against two champions of the Japanese category but also winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, André Lotterer and Loïc duval before hanging up at the end of 2018. Two men that João Paulo de Oliveira will meet at the 6 Hours of Monza on July 9. A great opportunity to remember the good old days.

This is a photo that he should show to André Lotterer (left) and Loïc Duval (right). ©Instagram/João Paulo de Oliveira

ALSO READ > After Dillmann's departure, Vanwall announces its drivers for Monza

Gonzalo Forbes

In charge of promotion formulas (F2, F3, FRECA, F4...). Carried by the grace of Franco Colapinto.

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