Race Car Driver Alex Popow

DOB: November 09, 1975
Place of Birth: Barcelona, Venezuela
Family: Lu-Ann Acosta-Rubio (Wife), Alex & Mariel (Children)
Hobbies: Extreme Sports

BIO

Popow’s career as a race car driver begins in his native Venezuela in 1966, when he achieved first place in the Eastern Division Championship for the 2000cc category, racing as rookie in the expert category. In 1997 he competed in the same championship and repeated as 2000cc champion. In 1998 and 1999 he won the Palio Cup, and moved on to the Mustang Cup, winning both in 2000 and in 2002. He then moved to international racing, competing in the most important professional car racing event in Colombia, the “6 hours of Bogota”, where he won a well deserved second place in his first foreign competition, and also received the best “foreign team” award.

In 2003, he undertook an even more challenging event, building his own prototype with a Ford 2000 engine, with which he drove in the Bogota 6 hour race. He ran in second place for the first four hours, but retired due to a gearbox problem. In 2004 he again competed in the Colombian 6 hour race, and gets third place overall among more than 70 cars, and also won one of the races.

In 2006, he formed the first all-Venezuelan team, from mechanics, to engineers and drivers; to participate in the infant Panam-GP Series, which took place in six countries, including Venezuela, where they finished with excellent results. From 2007 to 2009 he placed well in the AWA 4×4 Rally Championship, getting 3rd place in the LUV D-MAX TROPHY. In 2010, Alex came back to the racetracks and participates in the LATAM CHALLENGE SERIES in Mexico and the U.S., achieving third place in the championship. In 2011, Alex participated in the first Venezuelan team, which races in one of the most competitive and prestigious events in international car racing: GRAND-AM Rolex Series Daytona Prototypes, as one of the two lead drivers for the entire championship. The second race in Homestead-Miami, Popow and his team finished seventh position overall, after starting 12th. He was recognized as winner of the Jim Trueman Award as the top Pro-Am DP driver in the event. Besides his great performance in the GRAND-AMSeries throughout the year, Alex competed in two other championships simultaneously: the “Super Copa Seat Leon, Mexico 2011″ in which he finished in Second Place; and the “Latam formula 2000 Championship”, finishing in Fourth Place.

Alex started 2012 with great results, finishing in Third Place in the “Gulf 12 Hours of Abu Dhabi”, and 2 weeks later, competing in the 50st Anniversary of the “24 Hours of Daytona” and getting, along with his team, the Pole position and finishing in Second Place, with the most laps led.

RACING CAREER

St. Petersburg Grand Prix 458 Challenge: Second Place (Race #1), Pole + First Place (Race #2) (2012)

Sebring’s 12Hrs 60th Anniversary: First Place (2012)

Daytona 24Hrs 50th Anniversary: Pole, Second Place, Most laps led (2012)

Gulf 12 Hours of Abu Dhabi: Third Place (2012)

Speed’s GRAND-AM: 2011 Rookie of the Year

Full Season Rolex Series: Third Place in Watkins Glen (August); Three Jim Trueman Awards for Best Rookie (2011)

Supercup Seat Leon Championship, Mexico: Second Place (2011)

Latin American Challenge Formula 2000 Championship: Third Place, Fourth Place (2010-11)

Formula 2000 Venezuela Championship: CHAMPION (2005)

The Bogota 6 Hours Championship: Champion (2011) Second Place (2005, 2004, 1997)

National Colombian Endurance Championship: Third Place in Category “Open 2000cc”

Mustang Cup Championship: CHAMPION (2002, 2000)

Fiat Palio Cup Championship Expert class: CHAMPION (1999, 1998)

Alfa Romeo Trophy in Varano, ITALY: CHAMPION (1998)