If there is one thing really interesting about the late 1980s and early 1990s it is the amount of drivers that had a chance to drive in the Formula One. Many of them did not had the needed financial support or were just simply refused by, back then, the FISA for a super license. What makes it more interesting is the drivers that had the chance to race for a backmarker team such as Coloni, AGS, Osella and of course for Life Racing Engines and Pacific Grand Prix. The Brazilian Paulo Carcasci had twice he chance to race in the Formula One. First in 1990 and the second time in 1995.
I came across Paulo Carcasci’s name when I was doing research on Life Racing Engines. Paulo started his racing career in the European Formula Ford 1600 where he entered with a work Van Diemen RF85. Wining several races and beating drivers like Bertrand Gachot and Damon Hill. A year later he appeared in the, at that time prestigious, British Formula Ford 2000 Championship with Team Duckhams. He won again several races on Thruxton and Snetterton. He would stay in 1987 in the series only to move to the British Formula 3 in 1988. In the five races he competed he was doomed from the start. He raced with an older Reynard 883 powered by Alfa Romeo.
Disappointed with the British Formula 3 he appeared in several Formula Opel Lotus Championships. At that time, the Formula Opel Lotus provided plenty of Formula One drivers. For a short while, it seemed that Paulo Carcasci would be one of them. Some sites state that he was approached by Life in late 1989. However, this seems to be untrue. For 1990, he joined Jason Plato as teammate for Manor Motorsport in the British Formula Renault Championship. He had a great season there, besides ramming his team mate of the track at Knockhill.
At that time Life Racing Engines from Ernesto Vita made it’s debut in the Formula One. After two races, Garry Brabham was disappointed. Completing two laps with F190 was a big success. After the disastrous weekend at Brazil Brabham just left the team, while he had a contract for two years. Ernesto needed a new driver, he contacted Paulo Carcasci if he was interested to appear in San Marino as their driver. While Carcasci accepted it, the FISA took long to grant the super license that was needed. Therefore, Leyton House test driver Bruno Giacomelli was hired.
Paulo continued racing as a runner-up in the British Formula Renault though without the needed budget he made the move to Japan. Where he would race in the Japanese Formula 3 Championship. He managed to sign a contract with TOMs (who were also working on their F1 project) winning four races that weekend. He would stay in Japan until 1993. In 1994, he returned to England to race in the last two races of the International F3000 Championship. This was not a success.
In 1995, he returned to Brazil where he started in the Copa Petrobras de Formula Uno, this was similar to touring car racing/ Saloon racing. He came in contact with Pacific Grand Prix and a deal was made to race for the team in the South American Formula One races that year. The funds where there, the deal was made, yet he would not appear behind the wheel of the Pacific PR02. The same reason as five year previous. His super license was denied once again. Disappointed again he appeared at the start of the Mexican F3 championship. A year later he had a one-off in the Indy Light series.
He “retired” in 1996 as a race driver and became a coach for many Brazilian drivers. He coached drivers like Antônio Pizzonia and Luciano Burti. In 2022 he resumed his racing career when he appeared at the start of the GT4 championship In America, where he also raced in 2023.
