Toto Wolff

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Toto Wolff
File:Toto Wolff 2014.jpg
Wolff in 2014
Born Torger Christian Wolff
(1972-01-12) 12 January 1972 (age 52)
Vienna, Austria
Nationality Austrian
Occupation Executive director of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
Net worth CHF350m-400m (Dec 2015)[1]
Predecessor Norbert Haug
Spouse(s) Susie Wolff (wife)

Torger Christian "Toto" Wolff[2] (born January 12, 1972 in Vienna, Austria) is an Austrian investor and racing driver who is currently a 30% Owner and Executive Director of Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team and a shareholder in Williams F1 of which he owns just under 5% in shares.[3]

Wolff started his motorsport career in the Austrian Formula Ford Championship and the German Formula Ford Series. He won his category in the 1994 24 Hours Nürburgring and later competed in the FIA GT/GT1 series in Italy.

As an investor, Wolff founded Marchfifteen in 1998 and Marchsixteen Investments in 2004 which initially focused on Internet and Technology companies. He currently focuses on strategic investments in medium-sized industrial and listed companies which have included Williams F1, German HWA AG and BRR Rallye Racing.

Motorsport

Wolff started his motorsport-career 1992 in the Austrian Formula Ford Championship. He drove in Austrian and German Formula Ford in 1993 and 1994. In 1994 he won the 24 Hours Nürburgring in his category. In 2002 Wolff finished in sixth place at the FIA NGT world championship and won one race. In 2003 he won a race of the FIA GT/GT1 series in Italy.[citation needed] In 2004 Wolff raced together with Karl Wendlinger at the FIA GT Championship series.[4] Wolff was runner up in the Austrian Rally Championship in 2006 and Winner of the 24-hour race in Dubai.[5] Wolff has also served as an instructor at the Walter Lechner Racing School.

Investor

Wolff founded the investment company Marchfifteen in 1998 and Marchsixteen Investments in 2004. The initial investments focused on internet and technology companies. Since 2003 Wolff has been concentrating on strategic investments in medium-sized industrial and listed companies.[6] Investments include amongst other the German HWA AG, in which Wolff bought a 49% stake in 2006 and listed the company on the stock exchange in 2007.[7] The company runs the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters race program for Mercedes Benz, develops F3 engines and the Gullwing Mercedes Benz SLS GT3 racing car. Wolff serves as deputy chairman of the board to Mr. Hans-Werner Aufrecht, founder of AMG. Other investments include BRR Rallye Racing, one of the largest rally parts dealers in Europe and winner of the 2008 Production World Rally Championship (PWRC) with then Red Bull Junior Andreas Aigner,[8] and in 2011 winner of the Super 2000 World Rally Championship (S-WRC) with driver Juho Hänninen.[citation needed] Wolff is co-owner of a sports management company with Mika Häkkinen and was involved in the management of upcoming racing drivers such as Bruno Spengler, Alexandre Premat and Valtteri Bottas.[citation needed]

Formula One

In 2009, Wolff bought a share of the Williams Formula One Team and joined the board of directors of the team.[9] In 2012 he was named Executive Director of WilliamsF1.[10]

In January 2013, Wolff left WilliamsF1 to become an executive director of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team,[11] his business partner Rene Berger becoming non-executive director. In addition to joining the team, he also acquired 30% of Mercedes Grand Prix, the F1 team of Mercedes. Wolff took over the co-ordination of all Mercedes-Benz motorsport activities, a responsibility previously held by Norbert Haug. Wolff remains a Williams shareholder, but does not have a role at the team.[12] In 2014, Wolff sold 10% of Williams to American businessman Brad Hollinger.[3]

As co-owner of both WilliamsF1 (where wife Susie had worked as a test driver, until November 2015) and Mercedes Grand Prix, Wolff could celebrate among numerous podiums and successes for both teams, a 1–2–3–4 finish at Spielberg, Austria in his 'home race', as well as at Monza, Italy in both Qualifying and Race classifications.[13]

Personal life

Wolff lives with his wife, the Scottish racer Susie Wolff (née Stoddart) in Ermatingen at Lake Constance in Switzerland.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Bilanz: Die Neuzugänge unter den 300 reichsten, bilanz.ch, December 2015
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 BBC: Mercedes' Wolff sells Williams shares
  4. ↑ fiagt.com: Driver Biography: Toto Wolff
  5. ↑ 24-series.com: Duller Motorsport wins first 24 hourrace of the Middle-East
  6. ↑ Mercedes AMG F1
  7. ↑ Boerseexpress.com[dead link]
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Autosport.com: Williams sells stake in team
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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