Emilio de Villota Ruíz (born 26 July 1946) is a Spanish former racing driver whose career spanned Formula One, touring cars, endurance racing and Formula 5000-style competition. He competed in Formula One between 1976 and 1982, entering 15 World Championship Grands Prix and qualifying twice. Although his World Championship appearances were limited, he became one of the standout drivers in the British-based Aurora AFX Formula One Championship, winning the title in 1980.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Birthplace | Madrid, Spain |
| Born | 26 July 1946 |
| First Grand Prix | 1976 Spanish Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1982 Dutch Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1976–1978, 1981–1982 |
| Current/Last Team | March |
De Villota first appeared on the international stage in 1972, contesting the European Touring Car Championship in a SEAT 124 SC at the 4 Horas de Jarama. After a brief absence from international competition, he returned in 1975 in a Ford Capri RS 2600, scoring an impressive second place at his home event, the 4 Horas de Jarama, alongside Jorge de Bagration and “Nicha” Cabral.
Determined to reach Formula One, de Villota switched to single-seater racing in 1976 and entered the Shellsport G8 International Series with Lyncar Engineering. The championship mixed Formula One, Formula Two, Formula 5000 and Formula Atlantic machinery, providing valuable experience against top-level opposition. Two fifth-place finishes helped him secure 14th in the standings before he made his Formula One debut later that year.
His first World Championship appearance came at the 1976 Spanish Grand Prix in a privately purchased Brabham BT44B powered by the legendary Cosworth DFV engine. He was unable to qualify, but returned stronger in 1977 after launching an ambitious private Formula One programme under the Iberia Airlines banner. Running a McLaren M23 in the airline’s colours, de Villota contested seven European Grands Prix. He qualified twice, making the grid for his home Spanish Grand Prix, where he finished 13th, and later the Austrian Grand Prix, where a last-lap accident left him classified 17th.
Alongside his Formula One campaign, de Villota continued competing in the Shellsport G8 Series using the same McLaren. Despite dividing his time between championships, he claimed three victories, including two at Mallory Park and another at Brands Hatch, finishing fifth in the overall standings.
After another unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the 1978 Spanish Grand Prix, de Villota turned his attention to the newly formed Aurora AFX Formula One Championship. The British-based series allowed Formula One machinery to compete at a fraction of Grand Prix budgets, and it proved the perfect stage for the Spaniard. He finished third overall in both 1978 and 1979 before producing a dominant campaign in 1980. Driving a RAM Racing-prepared Williams FW07, he stood on the podium in nine of his eleven races, winning five times, including the prestigious Gran Premio Lotteria di Monza, to secure the championship title.
Although his focus had shifted away from Formula One, de Villota made one final high-profile appearance in 1980 at the Spanish Grand Prix. Driving another RAM Racing Williams FW07, he competed in what was initially scheduled to be a World Championship event before political disputes resulted in the race being stripped of its championship status. During the race, he famously became entangled with Carlos Reutemann and Jacques Laffite as they battled for the lead.
Endurance racing became the next chapter of his career. In 1981 he joined Team Lola to compete in the World Endurance Championship, sharing a Lola T600 with Guy Edwards. After a difficult start to the season, the team achieved a class podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans before taking outright victories at the Coppa Florio and the Flying Tiger 1000 at Brands Hatch.
De Villota returned to Formula One one last time in 1982, attempting to qualify for five Grands Prix as a private entrant with LBT Team March in a March 821. None of the attempts were successful, bringing his Formula One career to an end after 15 World Championship entries.
Away from Grand Prix racing, he remained active in sports car competition throughout the 1980s. He raced in the World Endurance Championship and the emerging Group C category with Grid Plaza Racing before continuing with Grid Racing in 1983. Although reliability often hampered results, he also enjoyed success elsewhere that year by winning the Spanish Touring Car Championship in a Ford Capri RS3000.
His endurance racing career continued with John Fitzpatrick Racing in 1986, where, alongside Fermín Vélez, he scored five top-ten finishes in a Porsche 956. Highlights included third place at the ADAC Kouros 1000 km Nürburgring and fourth overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He made his final World Sportscar Championship appearances in 1987 with Kremer Racing before stepping away from international competition.
Even after retiring from the international stage, de Villota remained a regular competitor in Spain. He won the Spanish Porsche Carrera Cup three times between 1993 and 1996 and continued making occasional appearances in GT and endurance events well into the following decade, demonstrating an enduring passion for motorsport.
Life after racing
Following his driving career, de Villota established Emilio de Villota Motorsport, combining a professional racing team with a driver development academy that has helped nurture young talent in Spanish motorsport.
Motor racing remained central to the de Villota family. His son, Emilio de Villota Jr., competed in Formula Three and Formula 3000, while his daughter, María de Villota, became a Formula One test driver. After suffering life-changing injuries in a testing accident in 2012, María passed away the following year.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | WDC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | RAM Racing | Brabham BT44B | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP DNQ | BEL | MON | SWE | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | CAN | USA | JPN | NC | 0 | |
| 1977 | Iberia Airlines | McLaren M23 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP 13 | MON | BEL DNQ | SWE DNQ | FRA | GBR DNQ | GER DNQ | AUT 17 | NED | ITA DNQ | USA | CAN | JPN | NC | 0 |
| 1978 | Centro Asegurador | McLaren M25/M23* | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG | BRA | RSA | USW | MON | BEL | ESP DNQ | SWE | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | USA | CAN | NC | 0 | |
| 1981 | Banco Occidental | Williams FW07 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | USW | BRA | ARG | SMR | BEL | MON | ESP EX | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | CAN | CPL | NC | 0 | ||
| 1982 | LBT Team March | March 821 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | RSA | BRA | USW | SMR | BEL DNPQ | MON DNPQ | DET DNQ | CAN DNQ | NED DNPQ | GBR | FRA | GER | AUT | SUI | ITA | CPL | NC | 0 | |
Teammates & Qualifying Head-to-Head
| Teammate | Years | Races | Qualifying H2H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loris Kessel | 1976 | 1 | – |
