Career Information
In late 2003, Fernando made a good impression to Mercedes-Benz in a private test of the German manufacturer in the Portuguese circuit of Estoril. On December 11 2003, Mercedes-Benz had organized a Formula 3 test among its official client teams of the Formula 3 Euroseries. Only six drivers were selected to take part in the test: Fernando Rees, Robert Kubica, Jamie Green, Bruno Spengler, Alexandre Premat and Adrian Sutil. In the single test day, Fernando topped the time sheets driving the ASM Mercedes-Benz car. Later in the same year, Ron Dennis picked the ASM Mercedes-Benz team for Lewis Hamilton to drive in the upcoming Formula 3 Euroseries championship, and Fernando was forced to look elsewhere to compete.
After four years competing in the major single-seater categories in Europe (2001–2005), and having proved himself driving for the low budget team Interwetten.com in World Series by Renault during its 2005 season, Fernando was awarded a test in the renowned Italian dream Draco Racing in the winter of that same year. With more than 30 drivers on track, including 2005 season champion Robert Kubica, Rees lead the field in the demanding track of Valencia, with more than half a second gap to Pastor Maldonado, who emerged second. The test opened new doors for the Brazilian driver, and 2006 was a promising year.
But in early 2006, at the Italian circuit of Monza, Fernando was unfortunately involved in a shunt during a Formula 3000 International Masters test day, under heavy rain, and was seriously injured. Fernando had two broken vertebrae, three compressed vertebrae, a broken ankle, and other excoriations in both legs. As a consequence, Rees was away from motor racing for a period of 18 months - of which 12 months were spent under serious immobilization, and the remaining 6 months with continuous physiotherapy sessions.
With his convalescence complete, Fernando made his sportscar debut in the last Le Mans Series event of 2007, the Mil Milhas of Interlagos. Racing for Larbre Compétition with an Aston Martin DBR9, together with drivers Roland Berville, Gregor Fisken and Steve Zacchia, Fernando took a clear win in the GT1 class after almost nine hours of racing. It was the perfect comeback, and Fernando decided to remain in the Le Mans Series for the following season.
Fernando made his debut in the LMP2 class of the Le Mans Series in the second round of the 2008 championship, in Monza. Returning to the place of his huge accident back in 2006 for the first time, Fernando had a strong pace racing for the Barazi-Epsilon team alongside drivers Juan Barazi and the experienced Michael Vergers. Fernando Rees had taken over from Juan Barazi for the second stint in the race, and was immediately quick, recording the car's fastest lap in the race weekend. An "ever-improving" Fernando got progressively quicker during the 2008 Le Mans Series season, becoming recognized as the fastest driver in the team. But a "black cat" surrounded the Barazi-Epsilon team during the 2008 season. With starting positions between second and fourth during the whole season, mechanical problems (in Spa-Francorchamps) and racing accidents (two by Michael Vergers in Barcelona and Monza, and two by Juan Barazi in Nurburgring and Silverstone) resulted in a frustrating season with the team's best result an eighth place in Nurburgring. The results clearly did not represent the potential of the team.
In 2009, Fernando signed once again with the Barazi-Epsilon team in the LMP2 class of the Le Mans Series. For this season, Barazi-Epsilon decided to run a two-drivers team, with Rees and Juan Barazi. But soon ater the second race of the championship, in Spa-Francorchamps, the team announced its retirement from the 2009 Le Mans Series championship because of financial problems. Fernando was left without a team to race for the remaining season of 2009.
In 2010 Fernando returned to Larbre Compétition in the Le Mans Series, the same team with which he won the Interlagos round of the championship in 2007 - at that time, driving an Aston Martin DBR9. In 2010, after wins in the opening event at Paul Ricard, at the Algarve, and Hungaroring, and a fourth place in Spa-Francorchamps, Larbre Compétition secured the Team's Championship with its Saleen S7-R in the GT1 category. Fernando went on to win his third race in the 2010 championship at Silverstone, in the closure of the season. Larbre Compétition also won the 2010 edition of the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.
After a brief hiatus in 2011, it became known that Fernando signed with Larbre Compétition for the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2012. Fernando will drive the Corvette in the GT-Am category, replacing Pedro Lamy after the initial round of the championship at Sebring.
Read more about this topic: Fernando Rees
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