Tatuus
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| Limited liability company | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Artico Sandonà |
| Headquarters | Concorezzo, Italy |
| Website | http://www.tatuus.it/ |
Tatuus is an Italian chassis manufacturer for a series of formula racing series, being first founded in 1980. The company is known for its association with Renault Sport for its production of the Formula Renault chassis.
The Tatuus company was founded by Artico Sandonà in 1980. The first cars were manufactured for the 500cc and 1000cc Formula Monza championship. Founder Sandona was one of the drivers in the Formula Monza championship. Luca Melgrati won the first championship for Tatuus in 1983 in the Formula Panda Monza championship. Sandona achieved a second place in the championship. Tatuus were the team and chassis to beat. Melgrati won the championship again in 1985 and 1986. For the 1988 season the Italian manufacturer was contracted to build the cars for the new Formula König. The car was a tube framed, wings and slicks racecar. The first season was won by seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher.
Although not a Formula 3 constructor, Tatuus entered the Italian Formula Three as a team in 1989. Driver Fabrizio Bettini took the rookie of the year title in their inaugural season. Bettini drove a Alfa Romeo powered Dallara 389 chassis and achieved one podium finish in seven races. Niko Palhares represented Tatuus in their 1991 campaign. Palhares scored one pole position and one podium finish in the Italian championship. Tatuus entered the Monaco Grand Prix Formula Three support race for the first time. Palhares achieved a 16th place, he was the last running driver. Their 1992 campaign ended in a second place in the championship for Brazilian driver Niko Palhares. Palhares had less luck in the annual Monaco F3 Grand Prix, he failed to finish. Tatuus made their first appearance in the Masters of Formula 3. Palhares finished in 14th place during the second edition of this Formula 3 classic. The following year Fiat appointed Tatuus as their official factory team. The team had little success in the Italian championship (Gianantonio Pacchioni finishing seventh). But Pacchioni achieved a win at the prestigious Monaco F3 Grand Prix. At the Masters of Formula 3 at Circuit Park Zandvoort local Formula Ford 1600 driver Tom Coronel joined the team. Pacchioni scored a seventh-place finish while Coronel finished in 20th place. The team improved for the following season. The team fielded Pacchioni, who was considered one of the favorites, and rookie Simone Rebai. Pacchioni didn't take the title but managed to finish third in the standings. For the Masters of Formula 3 Rebai was replaced by Roberto Colciago. Coming over from RC Motorsport Colciago managed to beat regular driver Pachioni by placing seventh compared to Pachioni's 25th place. After winning the Formula Alfa Boxer championship in a Tatuus chassis Tony Kanaan joined the Tatuus Formula 3 team. Kanaan scored one win and was the best foreign driver in the Italian championship finishing fifth in the final standings. After this season, Tatuus focused on Formula Renault.
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