Rafael Sperafico

Sperafico competed in the United States-based Barber Dodge Pro Series from 2000 to 2002, finishing as championship runner-up in his final year.

On lap six of the race, Sperafico lost control of his car on the fast left-hand corner immediately before the start-finish straight (Subida dos Boxes) and speared into the retaining wall on the right-hand side of the circuit at high speed.

The force of the impact saw the damaged car rebound onto the racing line, where it was t-boned by Renato Russo, triggering a pile-up involving several other drivers.

The race was stopped and the circuit's medical personnel quickly arrived at the scene, where Sperafico died from massive head injuries.

[2] Gustavo Sondermann, Rafael Sperafico's team-mate at the time, was killed a few years later in an almost identical crash at the same corner.