Nathan William Cavaco Antunes (born 23 April 1988) in Sydney, Australia is best known as an Australian race car driver. Educated at Trinity Grammar School in Sydney, he has raced in a variety of classes throughout the world.
Antunes began his career in 1996 and was Goulburn Kart Club Champion in 1997, 1998 (midget karting) and 1999 (rookie karting). He was also the North Shore Kart Club Champion and ACT Junior Sprint Classic Champion in 1998 and 1999.
In 2001, Antunes made his first appearance in National Championships Junior National Light and placed seventh in the Junior Clubman NSW Championship. In 2002, he placed fifth in the Junior ICA Australian Championship, fourth in the Junior Piston Port NSW Championship (Junior ICA) and fourth in the Junior Clubman NSW Championship improving on his seventh place the year before.
In 2003, Antunes placed fifth in the ICA Australian Championship and competed in the Formula 100 Light Australian Championships at the age of 14. Unfortunately, an accident in the semi-final of Clubman Light did not allow him to complete the season.
Antunes began in Formula Ford after missing the first race of the season due to age licence restrictions. He placed fifth in the NSW Championship in 2004. He competed in one race in his home state of New South Wales at Oran Park Raceway.
In 2005, Antunes moved to Europe to pursue his career and competed in the Formula BMW UK Championship. Antunes drove for Motaworld Racing, finishing seventh in the championship and in the top-five teams. The season included one win, three third placings and three pole positions.
Antunes also raced at the Formula BMW World Championship in Bahrain for Motaworld Racing. He finished fifth â the highest finish for Motaworld racing to date â up from 18th place in qualifying.
2006 saw Antunes step into Formula Renault car for the first time North European and European Series but did not race the full season. Racing with Motopark Academy, Antunes raced at Circuit Zolder, also known as Circuit Terlaemen in Belgium, qualifying 23rd and finishing 14th. He also raced in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben in Germany, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Nürburgring in Germany.
Antunes also tested at the World Series by Renault.
Antunes also competed in the Formula 3 Recaro Cup German Championship in 2006 with the HS Technik Motorsport team. At three events Antunes placed eighth, sixth, fourth, third, first and retired due to car failure and took one pole position in six races.
Antunes also tested at the World Series by Renault.
On 30 October 2007, Antunes tested for Super Nova Racing at Paul Ricard Circuit in France.
Antunes competed in the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand with Team European Technique owned by Trevor Sheumatk. Scheumatk is the Managing Director of Track Tyres, the sole distributor of Michelin Racing Tyres in Australia and New Zealand. He placed 14th.
Antunes made his A1 Grand Prix debut with A1 Team Australia in Shanghai, China in April 2008. He drove in the Rookie sessions for the team, placing seventh and eighth in session 1 and 2 respectively. This paced the team in seventh overall.
In Brands Hatch in May 2008, Antunes again drove for the team in the Rookie sessions, notching up a 10th and an 8th place.
â Team result
() (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
() (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
() (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)