Omar Martínez
Encyclopedia
Omar Gurí Martínez is an Argentine
racing driver
. He currently competes in Turismo Carretera
, TC2000 and Top Race V6
. His nickname Gurí is a common Guaraní
term used in his hometown to refer to a young boy.
. He clinched back-to-back both 1990 and 1991 Championships before joining the competitive Formula Three Sudamericana
, where he was runner-up in 1994.
Back to Argentine series, he started racing in Turismo Carretera
and TC2000 in 1995, representing Ford
in both championships.
In 1997, he crowned himself as Top Race champion by winning to Juan María Traverso
in the final race. Traverso and himself were team-mates in 1998 TC 2000 season driving Hondas
, and Martínez got his first title in that series.
Nevertheless, Gurí could not become Turismo Carretera
champion until 2004, being four times vice-champion from 1999 to 2002. He has held since racing duels with drivers as Guillermo Ortelli
and Traverso.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
racing driver
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
. He currently competes in Turismo Carretera
Turismo Carretera
Turismo Carretera is a popular touring car racing series in Argentina, and the oldest car racing series still active in the world....
, TC2000 and Top Race V6
Top Race V6
-The cars:The Top Race V6 category sees the vehicles presented in silhouette form, with identical, strictly controlled mechanical specifications. Body styles currently running in the series are the Ford Mondeo, Chevrolet Vectra , Peugeot 407, Mercedes C-Class and Volkswagen Passat, all in sedan form...
. His nickname Gurí is a common Guaraní
Guaraní language
Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of...
term used in his hometown to refer to a young boy.
Career
Martínez started his career in domestical Formula Entrerriana in 1983, being vice-champion in 1985. Then he passed to Argentine Formula RenaultFormula Renault
Formula Renault is a class of formula racing founded in 1971. It is popular in Europe and other countries. Regarded as an entry-level series to motor racing, it is a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before moving on to Formula Three, World Series by Renault, GP2 or...
. He clinched back-to-back both 1990 and 1991 Championships before joining the competitive Formula Three Sudamericana
Formula Three Sudamericana
Formula Three Sudamericana is the official name for the South American Formula Three Championship. It was inaugurated in 1987 and currently holds events in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay...
, where he was runner-up in 1994.
Back to Argentine series, he started racing in Turismo Carretera
Turismo Carretera
Turismo Carretera is a popular touring car racing series in Argentina, and the oldest car racing series still active in the world....
and TC2000 in 1995, representing Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
in both championships.
In 1997, he crowned himself as Top Race champion by winning to Juan María Traverso
Juan María Traverso
Juan María El Flaco Traverso , is a retired car racing driving, now living in Beccar...
in the final race. Traverso and himself were team-mates in 1998 TC 2000 season driving Hondas
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
, and Martínez got his first title in that series.
Nevertheless, Gurí could not become Turismo Carretera
Turismo Carretera
Turismo Carretera is a popular touring car racing series in Argentina, and the oldest car racing series still active in the world....
champion until 2004, being four times vice-champion from 1999 to 2002. He has held since racing duels with drivers as Guillermo Ortelli
Guillermo Ortelli
Guillermo Ortelli is an Argentine racing car driving, who currently is competing in several domestic series.-Biography:...
and Traverso.
Career
- 1983–1986: Formula Entrerriana
- 1987–1992: Argentine Formula RenaultFormula RenaultFormula Renault is a class of formula racing founded in 1971. It is popular in Europe and other countries. Regarded as an entry-level series to motor racing, it is a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before moving on to Formula Three, World Series by Renault, GP2 or...
(1990 and 1991 Champion) - 1992–1994: Formula Three SudamericanaFormula Three SudamericanaFormula Three Sudamericana is the official name for the South American Formula Three Championship. It was inaugurated in 1987 and currently holds events in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay...
- 1995: First race in TC2000 and Turismo CarreteraTurismo CarreteraTurismo Carretera is a popular touring car racing series in Argentina, and the oldest car racing series still active in the world....
(TC) - 1996: 5th in TC (Ford FalconFord Falcon (Argentina)The Argentine Ford Falcon is a car that was built by Ford Argentina from 1962 to 1991. Mechanically, it was based on Ford USA's 1960 Falcon. The Falcon retained the same elegant body style throughout its production, with several substantial face lifts taking place during its lifespan, giving it a...
) and 3rd in TC2000 (Renault 19Renault 19The Renault 19 is a small family car that was produced by the French car manufacturer Renault between 1988 and 2000.-Overview:The R19 was launched on September 1988 as the replacement for the 9 and 11, both of which were ageing and outdated by the late 1980s...
) - 1997: Top Race Champion (Honda PreludeHonda PreludeThe Honda Prelude was a sports coupe produced by Japanese automaker Honda from 1978 until 2001. It replaced the Honda S800, a front-engined, front wheel drive sports car...
), 5th in TC (Ford Falcon) and 7th in TC2000 (Honda CivicHonda CivicThe Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
) - 1998: TC2000 Champion (Honda Civic), 6th in TC (Ford Falcon) y Top Race runner-up (Honda Prelude)
- 1999: Top Race (Honda Prelude), TC2000 runner-up (Honda Civic) and TC runner-up (Ford Falcon)
- 2000: TC runner-up (Ford Falcon), Top Race champion (Honda Prelude-BMW 320BMW MotorsportBMW Motorsport is the division of BMW responsible for motorsport-related activities, including works-run competition programmes in touring car racing, sportscar racing and Formula One.-See also:* BMW M* BMW in motorsport* BMW Sauber* Schnitzer Motorsport...
) and TC2000 (Honda Civic) - 2001: TC runner-up (Ford Falcon) and TC2000 (Honda Civic)
- 2002: TC runner-up (Ford Falcon) and TC2000 runner-up (Honda Civic-Toyota CorollaToyota CorollaThe Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
) - 2003: 4th in TC (Ford Falcon), Top Race (Peugeot 406Peugeot 406The Peugeot 406 was a large family car made by the French automaker Peugeot from 1995 to 2004. Available in saloon, estate and coupé bodystyles with a choice of petrol or turbodiesel engines, the 406 replaced the Peugeot 405 in Peugeot's lineup, and was itself replaced by the Peugeot 407...
) and TC2000 (Toyota Corolla) - 2004: TC Champion (Ford Falcon) y 6th in Top Race (Ford Focus)
- 2005: TRV6 (Ford MondeoFord MondeoThe Mondeo was launched on 8 January 1993, and sales began on 22 March 1993. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk...
) y 6th in TC (Ford Falcon) - 2006: 4th in TC (Ford Falcon) y TRV6 (Ford Mondeo)
- 2007: 4th in TC (Ford Falcon) y 6th in TRV6 (Ford Mondeo)
- 2008: TCTurismo CarreteraTurismo Carretera is a popular touring car racing series in Argentina, and the oldest car racing series still active in the world....
, TRV6 - 2009: TCTurismo CarreteraTurismo Carretera is a popular touring car racing series in Argentina, and the oldest car racing series still active in the world....
, TRV6, TC2000