Profile Text
Fittipaldi in 2012, photo by prphotos.com
Place of Birth: São Paulo, Brazil
Date of Birth: 12 December, 1946
Ethnicity: * father – Italian * mother – Polish, Russian
Emerson Fittipaldi is a Brazilian racing driver. He has won both the Formula One World Championship and the Indianapolis 500 twice.
His father, Wilson Fittipaldi, Sr., was born in Santo André, São Paulo, to an Italian father, from Basilicata, and to a mother whose family was from Emilia-Romagna, Italy. His mother, Józefa “Juzy” Wojciechowska, was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and is of Polish and Russian descent. Emerson was named after American author and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson’s brother was Formula One driver and team owner Wilson Fittipaldi Júnior. His nephew is race car driver Christian Fittipaldi.
Emerson is married to economist Rossana Fanucchi. He has three children with his former wife Maria Helena; two children with his former wife Teresa; and two children with Rossana. His grandchildren, Pietro Fittipaldi and Enzo Fittipaldi, are also race car drivers. Emerson speaks fluent Portuguese, Italian, English, Spanish, and French.
Emerson’s paternal grandfather was Pasquale “Paschoal” Fittipaldi (the son of Giuseppe Fittipaldi and Angelina Lascio). Pasquale was born in Trecchina, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy. Angelina was born in Lauria, also in Potenza.
Emerson’s paternal grandmother was Enrichetta “Henriqueta” Rignani (the daughter of Innocenzo Rignani and Giuseppina Fontana). Enrichetta was born in Taquaritinga, São Paulo, Brazil, to parents from Ravenna and Lugo, both in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Innocenzo was the son of Giuseppe Rignani and Teresa Malavasi. Giuseppina was the daughter of Giovanni Fontana and Adele Franchi
Emerson’s maternal grandfather was named Ivan Wojciechowski.
Emerson has said that his maternal grandmother was a Russian woman named Maria.
Sources: http://m.viagem.uol.com.br (in Portuguese) http://motor-chicche.blogspot.com.br (in Italian)