4/2/1976
Record updated
Christian Ledesma is an Argentine racing driver. He races in Turismo Carretera and won the Championship in 2007. He also won the TC2000 title in 2004.
Christian Ledesma was born in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. He started racing in karts in 1987 and between then and 1994, driving for his brother Johnny Ledesma's team, he participated in more than 100 races, winning three championships, taking the Junior, Senior and Sudam Senior titles. He also finished runner up four times.
In 1994 he graduated to Formula Honda and took part in the Concurso Nacional de Pilotos Prodriver. He beat 40 other drivers to secure a drive in Formula Honda's Prodriver team managed by Guillermo Kissling.
He wrapped up the 1995 Formula Honda Argentine Championship by mid-season and ended the year with 6 pole positions, 6 wins and 10 podiums in the 10 race series.
For 1996 he switched to South American Formula 3 driving the Tom's Toyota of Víctor Rosso's ProRacing team. His best finish was third at Goiania in Brazil, and ended up 10th overall in the championship, the top rookie.
He entered the Argentine Formula Super Renault series in 1997 driving a Reynard/Renault for Guillermo and Raúl Kissling. He took the title with 4 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds. He also did three days testing for Team Draco at Magione, Italy. It was his first time in and F3000 car and his times were just 0.3 seconds off the best times set over the weekend.
He entered Turismo Carretera in 1998 driving a Ford, switching to Chevrolet in 2001.
He made his TC 2000 debut in 2003. He took two wins that year at Bahía Blanca and Río Cuarto, and a third place at Mar del Plata. The following year he took the title with four wins. It was the first championship for Chevrolet in the TC2000 series.
He clinched the 2007 championship with six wins and a total of 277 points, breaking Juan María Traverso's 1995 points record of 272.
With thanks to Maximiliano Catania, www.funof1.com.ar