Zdeněk Chovanec
| Zdeněk Chovanec | |
|---|---|
Chovanec in 2022 | |
| Nationality | via triple nationality |
| Born | Zdeněk Chovanec López 9 October 2004 Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela |
| Died | 18 July 2026 (aged 21) Trofa, Portugal |
| FIA Formula 3 Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2021 |
| Current team | Charouz Racing System |
| Categorisation | |
| Car number | 15 |
| Starts | 12 (13 entries) |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 34th in 2021 |
| Previous series | |
| 2021 2021 2020 2020 | F3 Asian Championship Euroformula Open Championship Formula 4 UAE Championship Italian F4 Championship |
Zdeněk Chovanec López (9 October 2004 – 18 July 2026), otherwise known as Zdeněk Chovanec Jr. or simply Zdeněk Chovanec, was a Czech, Portuguese, and Venezuelan racing driver.[1] He notably raced in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Charouz Racing System.[2][3]
Chovanec raced with Double R Racing in the Euroformula Open Championship in 2021,[4] and made the switch to FIA F3 with Charouz Racing System prior to round five of the championship, following Reshad de Gerus' departure from the team.[5] He previously competed in the Italian F4 Championship in 2020.[6]
Early career
[edit]
Karting
[edit]Zdeněk Chovanec López was born in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela on 9 October 2004, to a family with Czech roots.[7][8][9] He started karting professionally in 2018 at the age of 14 while living in Portugal, fairly late compared to other drivers.[10]
Lower formulae
[edit]2020
[edit]In early 2020, Chovanec made his car racing debut, competing with Xcel Motorsport in the 2020 Formula 4 UAE Championship.[11] He was seventh in the standings with two podium finishes. He then went on to race with Bhaitech in the Italian F4 Championship, finishing 17th in the championship with eighteen points.[12]
2021
[edit]Chovanec started 2021 stepping up to the F3 Asian Championship for the first round of the season with BlackArts Racing,[13] and scored points in only his third race. He later signed with Double R Racing to compete in the Euroformula Open Championship. After five rounds in which he generally was a backmarker, he moved to Charouz Racing System to take part in the remaining five events of the 2021 FIA F3 season, replacing Reshad de Gerus.[5][14] He achieved a best finish of 20th twice and finished second last in the championship.[15]
2022
[edit]
In 2022, Chovanec drove for MM International Motorsport in BOSS GP.[16] Chovanec also drove for Charouz Racing System in his return to the 2022 FIA F3 season in Silverstone, replacing Lirim Zendeli.[17] In the sprint race, Chovanec caused a collision with teammate László Tóth and retired; he was given a three-place grid penalty ahead of the feature race.[18][19] He was retained at Spielberg,[20] where in the feature race he was involved in an accident with teammate Francesco Pizzi, as the Italian spun Chovanec out of the race.[21] However, for the Budapest round, Chovanec was replaced by Christian Mansell.[22] Chovanec ended the season 40th and last in the standings with no points.[23]
Sportscar career
[edit]2023 season
[edit]The 2023 season would see Chovanec making a move to sportscar racing, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo for the GetSpeed Performance alongside Lance Bergstein and Aaron Walker in the Silver Cup class of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.[24] However, he withdrew from the season before the opening round.[25] Chovanec made a lone appearance in the LMP3 class of the Ultimate Cup Series, driving at Estoril with TS Corse.[26]
Chovanec stepped away from racing in late 2024 due to "personal issues". Despite this, in early 2025, he would make a one-off test for the Fast Track Racing team at Daytona International Speedway in the ARCA Menards Series. This would turn out to be his last time in a race car.[3]
Personal life and death
[edit]Chovanec was close with fellow Charouz Racing System drivers Enzo Fittipaldi and László Tóth.[citation needed] In 2024, he founded ZDK Motorsport, a company dedicated to the restoration of classic cars, automotive mechanics and the sale and assembly of performance components.[27]
Racing record
[edit]Karting career summary
[edit]| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | IAME Winter Cup - X30 Senior | Monlau Junior Team | N/A |
| Source:[30] | |||
Racing career summary
[edit]| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Formula 4 UAE Championship | Xcel Motorsport | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 7th |
| Italian F4 Championship | Bhaitech | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 17th | |
| 2021 | Euroformula Open Championship | Double R Racing | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 15th |
| FIA Formula 3 Championship | Charouz Racing System | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34th | |
| F3 Asian Championship | BlackArts Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18th | |
| 2022 | BOSS GP Series - Formula Class | MM International Motorsport | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 147 | 5th |
| FIA Formula 3 Championship | Charouz Racing System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40th | |
| 2023 | Ultimate Cup Series - Proto P3 | TS Corse | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 15th |
| Source:[31] | |||||||||
Complete Formula 4 UAE Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Xcel Motorsport | DUB1 1 7 |
DUB1 2 6 |
DUB1 3 Ret |
DUB1 4 C |
YMC1 1 5 |
YMC1 2 3 |
YMC1 3 5 |
YMC1 4 4 |
YMC2 1 5 |
YMC2 2 7 |
YMC2 3 7 |
YMC2 4 Ret |
DUB2 1 10 |
DUB2 2 8 |
DUB2 3 6 |
DUB2 4 Ret |
DUB3 1 11 |
DUB3 2 10 |
DUB3 3 10 |
DUB3 4 3 |
7th | 113 |
| Source:[32][failed verification] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Complete Italian F4 Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Bhaitech | MIS 1 Ret |
MIS 2 14 |
MIS 3 13 |
IMO1 1 5 |
IMO1 2 19 |
IMO1 3 Ret |
RBR 1 Ret |
RBR 2 27 |
RBR 3 24† |
MUG 1 18 |
MUG 2 27 |
MUG 3 6 |
MNZ 1 14 |
MNZ 2 Ret |
MNZ 3 13 |
IMO2 1 |
IMO2 2 |
IMO2 3 |
VLL 1 |
VLL 2 |
VLL 3 |
17th | 18 |
| Source:[33] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Complete Euroformula Open Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Double R Racing | POR 1 12 |
POR 2 8 |
POR 3 9 |
LEC 1 9 |
LEC 2 10 |
LEC 3 9 |
SPA 1 Ret |
SPA 2 9 |
SPA 3 Ret |
HUN 1 9 |
HUN 2 11 |
HUN 3 9 |
IMO 1 7 |
IMO 2 11 |
IMO 3 7 |
RBR 1 11* |
RBR 2 11 |
RBR 3 Ret |
MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
MNZ 3 |
CAT 1 |
CAT 2 |
CAT 3 |
15th | 33 |
| Source:[33] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Complete FIA Formula 3 Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Charouz Racing System | CAT 1 |
CAT 2 |
CAT 3 |
LEC 1 |
LEC 2 |
LEC 3 |
RBR 1 |
RBR 2 |
RBR 3 |
HUN 1 |
HUN 2 |
HUN 3 |
SPA 1 26 |
SPA 2 26 |
SPA 3 24 |
ZAN 1 26 |
ZAN 2 20 |
ZAN 3 23 |
SOC 1 26 |
SOC 2 C |
SOC 3 20 |
34th | 0 |
| 2022 | Charouz Racing System | BHR SPR |
BHR FEA |
IMO SPR |
IMO FEA |
CAT SPR |
CAT FEA |
SIL SPR Ret |
SIL FEA 24 |
RBR SPR 26 |
RBR FEA Ret |
HUN SPR |
HUN FEA |
SPA SPR |
SPA FEA |
ZAN SPR |
ZAN FEA |
MNZ SPR |
MNZ SPR |
40th | 0 | |||
| Source:[33] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Complete BOSS GP Series results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)
| Year | Entrant | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | MM International Motorsport | Dallara GP2/11 | Formula | HOC 1 4 |
HOC 2 6 |
RBR 1 3 |
RBR 2 3 |
LEC 1 3 |
LEC 2 2 |
BRN 1 |
BRN 2 |
MUG 1 |
MUG 2 |
MIS 1 |
MIS 2 |
5th | 147 |
| Source:[34][failed verification] | |||||||||||||||||
Complete Ultimate Cup Series results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | TS Corse | LMP3 | Duqueine M30 - D08 | LEC1 | NAV | HOC | EST 11 |
MAG | LEC2 | 15th | 24 |
| Source:[35] | |||||||||||
References
[edit]- ↑ "Jovem português Zdenek Chovanec vence em Paul Ricard". Motor24 (in Portuguese). 21 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec to return to Charouz and FIA F3 at Silverstone". Formula Scout. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- 1 2 Gillard, H. M.; McClure, Michael (22 July 2026). "Former FIA F3 driver Zdeněk Chovanec dies aged 21". Feeder Series. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "Double R Racing announces Zdenek Chovanec for 2021 Euroformula season". Euroformula Open. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- 1 2 "Yeany and Chovanec join Charouz FIA F3 Lineup for Spa". Formula Scout. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ↑ "BhaiTech Announces Zdenek Chovanec for the 2020 Italian F4 Championship". KartXpress. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec". Formula 3. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec, el checo-venezolano que competirá en la Euroformula Open 2021". SportHD.news (in Spanish). 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- 1 2 "Faleceu Zdeněk Chovanec". SportMotores (in Portuguese). 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec becomes Euroformula's first driver of 2021". Formula Scout. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec | Racing career". DriverDB. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ↑ "BhaiTech announces Zdenek Chovanec for 2020 Italian F4 championship". Kartxpress. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ↑ "BlackArts Racing signs Zdenek Chovanec for Asian F3". Formula Scout. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ↑ Demmendaal, Jeroen; Visman, Floris (25 August 2021). "Who Are Charouz' New F3 Recruits Hunter Yeany and Zdenek Chovanec?". Feeder Series. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec Results | Motorsport Stats". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec Lopez". Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ↑ Gascoigne, Roger (29 June 2022). "Zdenek Chovanec to return to Charouz and FIA F3 at Silverstone". Formula Scout. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- ↑ White, Megan (3 July 2022). "F3 Britain: Hadjar seals sprint victory after late Martins pass". Autosport. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ "Round 4 post-Sprint Race penalties". www.fiaformula3.com. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Alonso Lopez, Alejandro (6 July 2022). "Chovanec retained by Charouz for Red Bull Ring in FIA F3". Formula Scout. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- ↑ McClure, Michael (12 July 2022). "A Red Bull double on the Red Bull Ring: 5 takeaways from FIA F3 Round 5 at Spielberg". Feeder Series. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ "Charouz Racing System confirms Christian Mansell for Budapest". FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- ↑ "Driver Standings for the FIA Formula 3 2022 Championship". FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ↑ "Un nouveau trio chez GetSpeed sur les manches Endurance". Endurance Info (in French). Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ↑ Lloyd, Daniel (22 February 2023). "GetSpeed Increasing Endurance Cup Effort to Three Cars". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ↑ "#51 ZDENEK CHOVANEC LOPEZ". BOSS GP. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ↑ "ZDK Motorsport com uma 'casa' para entusiastas dos automóveis na Maia". noticiasprimeiramao.pt (in Portuguese). 21 January 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ "Morreu Zdeněk Chovanec, jovem promessa do automobilismo português". autosport.pt (in Portuguese). 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "Falecimento – Zdenek Chovanec". O Notícias da Trofa (in Portuguese). 21 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "IAME Winter Cup 2019 Valencia - Booklet X30 SENIOR" (PDF). apex-timing.com. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec – Career Stats, DriverDB Rating & Results". Driver Database. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "2020 F4 UAE — Standings, Results & Stats | DriverDB". Driver Database. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Zdenek Chovanec Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "2022 BOSS GP - Open Class — Race Calendar & Schedule | DriverDB". Driver Database. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ "Ultimate Cup Series – Endurance Proto Challenge – LMP3 Ultimate" (PDF). series.ultimatecup.racing. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
External links
[edit]- Zdeněk Chovanec career summary at DriverDB.com
- 2004 births
- 2026 deaths
- Bhaitech drivers
- BlackArts Racing drivers
- Charouz Racing System drivers
- Czech racing drivers
- Double R Racing drivers
- Euroformula Open Championship drivers
- FIA Formula 3 Championship drivers
- Italian F4 Championship drivers
- Sportspeople from Puerto la Cruz
- Portuguese people of Czech descent
- Venezuelan racing drivers
- Venezuelan people of Czech descent
- UAE F4 Championship drivers
- 21st-century Portuguese sportsmen