Tarso Marques

Template:Short description {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters | check | ignoreblank = y | unknown = Template:Main other | preview = Page using Template:Infobox F1 driver with unknown parameter "_VALUE_" | embed | child | subbox | name | Name | image | Image | image_size | upright | image_upright | alt | caption | birth_name | birth_date | birth_place | death_date | death_place | relations | relatives | nationality | Nationality | years | Years | teams | Teams | Team(s) | team | Team | engines | Engines | current_team | current team | Current team | 2025 Team | 2026 Team | car_number | car number | Car number | races | Races | championships | Championships | wins | Wins | podiums | Podiums | points | Points | poles | Poles | fastest_laps | fastest laps | Fastest laps | first_race | first race | First race | first_win | first win | First win | last_win | last win | Last win | last_race | last race | Last race | last_position | last position | Last position | last_season | last season | Last season | bf1_years | bf1 years | BF1 Years | bf1_races | bf1 races | BF1 Races | bf1_championships | bf1 championships | BF1 Championships | bf1_wins | bf1 wins | BF1 Wins | bf1_podiums | bf1 podiums | BF1 Podiums | bf1_points | bf1 points | BF1 Points | bf1_poles | bf1 poles | BF1 Poles | bf1_fastest_laps | bf1 fastest laps | BF1 Fastest laps | signature | signature_size | signature alt | signature_alt | website | module | module1 | module2 | module3 | module4 | module5 | record template1 | record template2 | record template3 | record template4 | record template5 | career template1 | career template2 | career template3 | career template4 | career template5 | updated | Updated }} Tarso Anibal Santanna Marques (born 19 January 1976) is a Brazilian racing driver and vehicle customizer. He participated in 24 Formula One Grands Prix, all driving for the Minardi team, but scored no championship points in three separate seasons and never completed a full season in the sport.

Racing career

Open wheel racing

After five years of karting, Marques raced in Formula Chevrolet in his home country aged only 16, and he won the title at his first attempt. In 1993 he moved up to Formula Three Sudamericana and subsequently International Formula 3000 and became the youngest driver to win races at both levels. In Template:F1, he started racing for Minardi in Formula One, competing with various drivers for the seat over the following two years, including Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli and Pedro Lamy. Minardi's financial situation demanded that drivers with strong sponsorship were generally favoured, and there were several driver changes in the team at that time.

In 1999, he moved stateside to drive in the American Champ Car ranks, and caught the eye of legendary team-owner Roger Penske. When two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. was injured, Penske asked him to fill in. His best finish was 9th. In 2000, 2004, and 2005, he drove sporadically in that series for perennial minnows Dale Coyne Racing, with a best result of 11th.

Marques returned to Formula One in Template:F1 to race alongside future double World Champion Fernando Alonso in the Minardi team, newly purchased by Paul Stoddart. He finished the season ahead of the Spaniard but it was a difficult season for Marques, with the team's financial difficulties not always allowing equal equipment for both drivers. Marques brought no money to the team and was employed under the provision that another driver with more sponsorship money could replace him at any point in the season,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and that prospect was realised towards the end of the year, when Minardi replaced Marques with Alex Yoong with three races remaining. Marques welcomed the driver change as the extra finance would enable the team to progress, adding, "Yoong brought the sponsor for the team already two or three races ago so he should be in the car."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His two ninth-place finishes remained Minardi's best results of the season, but he was nearly always outpaced by Alonso. Marques would however remain at Minardi for 2002 as the test and reserve driver.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite this, he did not replace Yoong later in the season when the Malaysian was dropped, with the seat instead going to Anthony Davidson, and Justin Wilson also being offered the drive ahead of Marques.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Since his last Champ Car outing in 2005, Marques has returned to South America to drive in the TC2000 and Stock Car Brasil touring car championships.

Stock car racing

In March 2022, it was announced that Marques would compete in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 79 Ford Mustang for Team Stange Racing on a part-time basis.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His Cup Series debut, which was going to be in the race at Road America, had to be delayed as NASCAR would not approve him to make a Cup Series start without any prior experience in a stock car.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As a result, TSR announced that they would field an entry for Marques in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Indianapolis Road Course in order for him to be approved to race in the Cup Series, and his first Cup Series start would now be in the race at Watkins Glen.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The team and Marques did not show up for the race weekend. Nothing has been heard from the team since then, and they ended up not running at all in 2022.

Post-racing activities

Television

In 2012, Marques participated in the first edition of the reality show Amazônia, on Rede Record.<ref>https://www.infomoney.com.br/mercados/tarso-marques-quem-e-o-ex-piloto-de-formula-1-detido-por-receptacao-de-carro-de-luxo/</ref>

In 2013, he became a contributor to the Auto Esporte program on TV Globo, covering topics related to vehicle customization.<ref>http://tarsomarques.com/</ref>

In 2015, he debuted on the "Lata Velha" segment of TV Globo's Caldeirão do Huck,<ref>https://gshow.globo.com/programas/caldeirao-do-huck/lata-velha/</ref><ref>http://tarsomarques.com/customizacao-lata-velha.html</ref> customizing a low-displacement motorcycle for the first time. The segment became part of the program's schedule, with Tarso Marques responsible for the vehicle transformations. Further he made TMC Custom Design Motorcycles, at Vila Olympia autoshop, including in 2018 the Dumont, a 300 hp V6 engine mounted on a structure between wheels without center hub.<ref>https://uncrate.com/tmc-dumont-motorcycle/</ref>

Legal issues

Marques was arrested in São Paulo in the early hours of August 31, 2025, for alleged illegal possession of a Lamborghini Gallardo without license plates. After being stopped by police, Marques tried to attach the plates and said it was a demonstrator show car. He was nevertheless arrested along with two women who were with him. Charges included the alleged handling of a vehicle connected to judicial restrictions, which had overdue licensing since 2013 and carried R$ 1.3 million in IPVA debts. The vehicle belonged to a company which had been convicted of a pyramid scheme. Marques was released on bail after the R$ 22,700 bail bond was paid.<ref>https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/nacional/ex-piloto-de-formula-1-preso-em-sao-paulo-e-tarso-marques/</ref><ref>https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2025/08/31/ex-piloto-de-formula-1-e-preso-por-receptacao-de-carro-de-luxo-em-sp-veiculo-estava-sem-placa.ghtml</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Racing record

Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	DC	Points
1994	Vortex Motorsport	SIL Template:Small	PAU Template:Small	CAT Template:Small	PER Template:Small	HOC Template:Small	SPA Template:Small	EST Template:Small	MAG Template:Small	12th	3
1995	DAMS	SIL Template:Small	CAT Template:Small	PAU Template:Small	PER Template:Small	HOC Template:Small	SPA Template:Small	EST Template:Small	MAG Template:Small	5th	15
Template:Small {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	WDC	Points
Template:F1	Minardi Team	Minardi M195B	Ford V8	AUS	BRA Template:Small	ARG Template:Small	EUR	SMR	MON	ESP	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	JPN		NC	0
Template:F1	Minardi Team	Minardi M197	Hart V8	AUS	BRA	ARG	SMR	MON	ESP	CAN	FRA Template:Small	GBR Template:Small	GER Template:Small	HUN Template:Small	BEL Template:Small	ITA Template:Small	AUT Template:Small	LUX Template:Small	JPN Template:Small	EUR Template:Small	25th	0
Template:F1	European Minardi F1	Minardi PS01	European V10	AUS Template:Small	MAL Template:Small	BRA Template:Small	SMR Template:Small	ESP Template:Small	AUT Template:Small	MON Template:Small	CAN Template:Small	EUR Template:Small	FRA Template:Small	GBR Template:Small	GER Template:Small						22nd	0
		Minardi PS01B														HUN Template:Small	BEL Template:Small	ITA	USA	JPN
Template:Small {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}

American open-wheel racing

(key)

CART/Champ Car

Year	Team	No.	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Rank	Points	Ref
1999	Team Penske	2	Penske PC-27	Mercedes-Benz IC108E V8t	MIA	MOT Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	NAZ																	27th	4	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		3							RIO Template:Small	GAT Template:Small	MIL	POR Template:Small
			Lola B99/00										CLE Template:Small	ROA	TOR	MIC	DET	MDO	CHI	VAN	LAG	HOU	SRF	FON
2000	Dale Coyne Racing	34	Swift 011.c	Ford XF V8t	MIA	LBH	RIO	MOT Template:Small	NAZ Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIC Template:Small	CHI Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	LS Template:Small	GAT Template:Small	HOU Template:Small	SRF Template:Small	FON Template:Small	25th	11	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2004	Dale Coyne Racing	19	Lola B02/00	Ford XFE V8t	LBH Template:Small	MTY Template:Small	MIL	POR	CLE	TOR	VAN	ROA	DEN	MTL	LS	LVS	SRF	MXC Template:Small							22nd	9^	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2005	Dale Coyne Racing	19	Lola B02/00	Ford XFE V8t	LBH	MTY	MIL	POR	CLE Template:Small	TOR	EDM	SJO	DEN	MTL	LVS	SRF	MXC								24th	10	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Small {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}

^{^} New points system implemented in 2004.

Complete Stock Car Brasil results

Year	Team	Car	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	Rank	Points
2006	Terra Avallone	Mitsubishi Lancer	INT Template:Small	CUR	MOU	INT	LON	CUR Template:Small	SCZ Template:Small	BRA Template:Small	TAR Template:Small	ARG Template:Small	RIO Template:Small	INT Template:Small										21st	30
2007	Terra Avallone	Mitsubishi Lancer	INT Template:Small	CUR Template:Small	MOU Template:Small	INT Template:Small	LON Template:Small	SCZ Template:Small	CUR Template:Small	BRA Template:Small	ARG Template:Small	TAR Template:Small	RIO Template:Small	INT Template:Small										24th	28
2008	Sky Action Power	Peugeot 307	INT Template:Small	BRA Template:Small	CUR Template:Small	SCZ Template:Small	MOU Template:Small	INT Template:Small	RIO Template:Small	LON Template:Small	CUR Template:Small	BRA Template:Small	TAR Template:Small	INT Template:Small										27th	20
2009	Action Power	Chevrolet Vectra	INT	CUR	BRA Template:Small	SCZ Template:Small	INT	SAL	RIO	MOU	CUR Template:Small	BRA Template:Small	TAR Template:Small	INT Template:Small										31st	0
2010	Gramacho Competições	Chevrolet Vectra	INT	CUR Template:Small	VEL Template:Small	RIO Template:Small	RBP Template:Small	SAL	INT	MOU	LON	SCZ	BRA	CUR										36th	0
2011	Amir Nasr Racing	Peugeot 408	CUR	INT	RBP	VEL	MOU	RIO	INT Template:Small	SAL	SCZ	LON	BRA	VEL										NC†	0†
2016	Mico's Racing	Peugeot 408	CUR 1 Template:Small	VEL 1	VEL 2	GOI 1	GOI 2	SCZ 1	SCZ 2	TAR 1	TAR 2	CAS 1	CAS 2	INT 1	LON 1	LON 2	CUR 1	CUR 2	GOI 1	GOI 2	CRI 1	CRI 2	INT 1	NC†	0†
2018	Mico's Racing	Chevrolet Cruze	INT 1 Template:Small	CUR 1	CUR 2	VEL 1	VEL 2	LON 1	LON 2	SCZ 1	SCZ 2	GOI 1	MOU 1	MOU 2	CAS 1	CAS 2	VCA 1	VCA 2	TAR 1	TAR 2	GOI 1	GOI 2	INT 1	NC	0

^† As Marques was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.

References

• 'Professor' de Alonso na F1, Marques vê automobilismo acabado no Brasil Template:In lang

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:Racing-Reference driver
• Profile on F1 Rejects
• Profile - by FIA GT Championship official website