Zdeněk Chovanec

Zdeněk Chovanec
Chovanec in 2022
NationalityCzech Republic Czech
Portugal Portuguese
Venezuela Venezuelan
via triple nationality
BornZdeněk Chovanec López
(2004-10-09)9 October 2004
Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela
Died18 July 2026(2026-07-18) (aged 21)
Trofa, Portugal
FIA Formula 3 Championship career
Debut season2021
Current teamCharouz Racing System
Categorisation FIA Silver
Car number15
Starts12 (13 entries)
Wins0
Podiums0
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish34th in 2021
Previous series
2021
2021
2020
2020		F3 Asian Championship
Euroformula Open Championship
Formula 4 UAE Championship
Italian F4 Championship

Zdeněk Chovanec López (9 October 2004 – 18 July 2026), otherwise known as Zdeněk Chovanec Jr. or simply Zdeněk Chovanec, was a Czech, Portuguese, and Venezuelan racing driver. He notably raced in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Charouz Racing System.

Chovanec raced with Double R Racing in the Euroformula Open Championship in 2021, and made the switch to FIA F3 with Charouz Racing System prior to round five of the championship, following Reshad de Gerus' departure from the team. He previously competed in the Italian F4 Championship in 2020.

Early career

Chovanec driving at the Red Bull Ring in BOSS GP in 2022.

Karting

Zdeněk Chovanec López was born in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela on 9 October 2004, to a family with Czech roots. He started karting professionally in 2018 at the age of 14 while living in Portugal, fairly late compared to other drivers.

Lower formulae

2020

In early 2020, Chovanec made his car racing debut, competing with Xcel Motorsport in the 2020 Formula 4 UAE Championship. He was seventh in the standings with two podium finishes. He then went on to race with Bhaitech in the Italian F4 Championship, finishing 17th in the championship with eighteen points.

2021

Chovanec started 2021 stepping up to the F3 Asian Championship for the first round of the season with BlackArts Racing, and scored points in only his third race. He later signed with Double R Racing to compete in the Euroformula Open Championship. After five rounds in which he generally was a backmarker, he moved to Charouz Racing System to take part in the remaining five events of the 2021 FIA F3 season, replacing Reshad de Gerus. He achieved a best finish of 20th twice and finished second last in the championship.

2022

Chovanec driving the Dallara F3 2019 during the 2022 Spielberg Formula 3 round.

In 2022, Chovanec drove for MM International Motorsport in BOSS GP. Chovanec also drove for Charouz Racing System in his return to the 2022 FIA F3 season in Silverstone, replacing Lirim Zendeli. In the sprint race, Chovanec caused a collision with teammate László Tóth and retired; he was given a three-place grid penalty ahead of the feature race. He was retained at Spielberg, where in the feature race he was involved in an accident with teammate Francesco Pizzi, as the Italian spun Chovanec out of the race. However, for the Budapest round, Chovanec was replaced by Christian Mansell. Chovanec ended the season 40th and last in the standings with no points.

Sportscar career

2023 season

The 2023 season would see Chovanec making a move to sportscar racing, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo for the GetSpeed Performance alongside Lance Bergstein and Aaron Walker in the Silver Cup class of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. However, he withdrew from the season before the opening round. Chovanec made a lone appearance in the LMP3 class of the Ultimate Cup Series, driving at Estoril with TS Corse.

Chovanec stepped away from racing in late 2024 due to "personal issues". Despite this, in early 2025, he would make a one-off test for the Fast Track Racing team at Daytona International Speedway in the ARCA Menards Series. This would turn out to be his last time in a race car.

Personal life and death

Chovanec was close with fellow Charouz Racing System drivers Enzo Fittipaldi and László Tóth.[citation needed] In 2024, he founded ZDK Motorsport, a company dedicated to the restoration of classic cars, automotive mechanics and the sale and assembly of performance components.

Chovanec died on 18 July 2026, at the age of 21.

Racing record

Karting career summary

Season Series Team Position
2019 IAME Winter Cup - X30 Senior Monlau Junior Team N/A
Source:

Racing career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2020 Formula 4 UAE Championship Xcel Motorsport 19 0 0 0 2 88 7th
Italian F4 Championship Bhaitech 14 0 0 0 0 18 17th
2021 Euroformula Open Championship Double R Racing 18 0 0 0 0 33 15th
FIA Formula 3 Championship Charouz Racing System 8 0 0 0 0 0 34th
F3 Asian Championship BlackArts Racing 2 0 0 0 0 2 18th
2022 BOSS GP Series - Formula Class MM International Motorsport 6 5 5 0 6 147 5th
FIA Formula 3 Championship Charouz Racing System 4 0 0 0 0 0 40th
2023 Ultimate Cup Series - Proto P3 TS Corse 1 0 0 0 0 24 15th
Source:

Complete Formula 4 UAE Championship results

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

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2020 Xcel Motorsport DUB1
1
7		 DUB1
2
6		 DUB1
3
Ret		 DUB1
4
C		 YMC1
1
5		 YMC1
2
3		 YMC1
3
5		 YMC1
4
4		 YMC2
1
5		 YMC2
2
7		 YMC2
3
7		 YMC2
4
Ret		 DUB2
1
10		 DUB2
2
8		 DUB2
3
6		 DUB2
4
Ret		 DUB3
1
11		 DUB3
2
10		 DUB3
3
10		 DUB3
4
3		 7th 113
Source:[failed verification]

Complete Italian F4 Championship results

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

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Pos Points
2020 Bhaitech MIS
1
Ret		 MIS
2
14		 MIS
3
13		 IMO1
1
5		 IMO1
2
19		 IMO1
3
Ret		 RBR
1
Ret		 RBR
2
27		 RBR
3
24†		 MUG
1
18		 MUG
2
27		 MUG
3
6		 MNZ
1
14		 MNZ
2
Ret		 MNZ
3
13		 IMO2
1		 IMO2
2		 IMO2
3		 VLL
1		 VLL
2		 VLL
3		 17th 18
Source:

Complete Euroformula Open Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DC Points
2021 Double R Racing POR
1
12		 POR
2
8		 POR
3
9		 LEC
1
9		 LEC
2
10		 LEC
3
9		 SPA
1
Ret		 SPA
2
9		 SPA
3
Ret		 HUN
1
9		 HUN
2
11		 HUN
3
9		 IMO
1
7		 IMO
2
11		 IMO
3
7		 RBR
1
11*		 RBR
2
11		 RBR
3
Ret		 MNZ
1		 MNZ
2		 MNZ
3		 CAT
1		 CAT
2		 CAT
3		 15th 33
Source:

Complete FIA Formula 3 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 DC Points
2021 Charouz Racing System CAT
1		 CAT
2		 CAT
3		 LEC
1		 LEC
2		 LEC
3		 RBR
1		 RBR
2		 RBR
3		 HUN
1		 HUN
2		 HUN
3		 SPA
1
26		 SPA
2
26		 SPA
3
24		 ZAN
1
26		 ZAN
2
20		 ZAN
3
23		 SOC
1
26		 SOC
2
C		 SOC
3
20		 34th 0
2022 Charouz Racing System BHR
SPR		 BHR
FEA		 IMO
SPR		 IMO
FEA		 CAT
SPR		 CAT
FEA		 SIL
SPR
Ret		 SIL
FEA
24		 RBR
SPR
26		 RBR
FEA
Ret		 HUN
SPR		 HUN
FEA		 SPA
SPR		 SPA
FEA		 ZAN
SPR		 ZAN
FEA		 MNZ
SPR		 MNZ
SPR		 40th 0
Source:

Complete BOSS GP Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year Entrant Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DC Points
2022 MM International Motorsport Dallara GP2/11 Formula HOC
1
4		 HOC
2
6		 RBR
1
3		 RBR
2
3		 LEC
1
3		 LEC
2
2		 BRN
1		 BRN
2		 MUG
1		 MUG
2		 MIS
1		 MIS
2		 5th 147
Source:[failed verification]

Complete Ultimate Cup Series results

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

Year Entrant Class Chassis 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points
2023 TS Corse LMP3 Duqueine M30 - D08 LEC1 NAV HOC EST
11		 MAG LEC2 15th 24
Source:

References

  1. ↑ "Jovem português Zdenek Chovanec vence em Paul Ricard". Motor24 (in Portuguese). 21 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec to return to Charouz and FIA F3 at Silverstone". Formula Scout. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  3. 1 2 Gillard, H. M.; McClure, Michael (22 July 2026). "Former FIA F3 driver Zdeněk Chovanec dies aged 21". Feeder Series. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Double R Racing announces Zdenek Chovanec for 2021 Euroformula season". Euroformula Open. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Yeany and Chovanec join Charouz FIA F3 Lineup for Spa". Formula Scout. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  6. ↑ "BhaiTech Announces Zdenek Chovanec for the 2020 Italian F4 Championship". KartXpress. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  7. ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec". Formula 3. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec, el checo-venezolano que competirá en la Euroformula Open 2021". SportHD.news (in Spanish). 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Faleceu Zdeněk Chovanec". SportMotores (in Portuguese). 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec becomes Euroformula's first driver of 2021". Formula Scout. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  11. ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec | Racing career". DriverDB. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  12. ↑ "BhaiTech announces Zdenek Chovanec for 2020 Italian F4 championship". Kartxpress. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  13. ↑ "BlackArts Racing signs Zdenek Chovanec for Asian F3". Formula Scout. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  14. ↑ Demmendaal, Jeroen; Visman, Floris (25 August 2021). "Who Are Charouz' New F3 Recruits Hunter Yeany and Zdenek Chovanec?". Feeder Series. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec Results | Motorsport Stats". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec Lopez". Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  17. ↑ Gascoigne, Roger (29 June 2022). "Zdenek Chovanec to return to Charouz and FIA F3 at Silverstone". Formula Scout. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  18. ↑ White, Megan (3 July 2022). "F3 Britain: Hadjar seals sprint victory after late Martins pass". Autosport. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Round 4 post-Sprint Race penalties". www.fiaformula3.com. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  20. ↑ Alonso Lopez, Alejandro (6 July 2022). "Chovanec retained by Charouz for Red Bull Ring in FIA F3". Formula Scout. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  21. ↑ McClure, Michael (12 July 2022). "A Red Bull double on the Red Bull Ring: 5 takeaways from FIA F3 Round 5 at Spielberg". Feeder Series. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Charouz Racing System confirms Christian Mansell for Budapest". FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  23. ↑ "Driver Standings for the FIA Formula 3 2022 Championship". FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  24. ↑ "Un nouveau trio chez GetSpeed sur les manches Endurance". Endurance Info (in French). Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  25. ↑ Lloyd, Daniel (22 February 2023). "GetSpeed Increasing Endurance Cup Effort to Three Cars". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  26. ↑ "#51 ZDENEK CHOVANEC LOPEZ". BOSS GP. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  27. ↑ "ZDK Motorsport com uma 'casa' para entusiastas dos automóveis na Maia". noticiasprimeiramao.pt (in Portuguese). 21 January 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  28. ↑ "Morreu Zdeněk Chovanec, jovem promessa do automobilismo português". autosport.pt (in Portuguese). 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  29. ↑ "Falecimento – Zdenek Chovanec". O Notícias da Trofa (in Portuguese). 21 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  30. ↑ "IAME Winter Cup 2019 Valencia - Booklet X30 SENIOR" (PDF). apex-timing.com. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  31. ↑ "Zdenek Chovanec – Career Stats, DriverDB Rating & Results". Driver Database. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  32. ↑ "2020 F4 UAE — Standings, Results & Stats | DriverDB". Driver Database. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  33. 1 2 3 "Zdenek Chovanec Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  34. ↑ "2022 BOSS GP - Open Class — Race Calendar & Schedule | DriverDB". Driver Database. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  35. ↑ "Ultimate Cup Series – Endurance Proto Challenge – LMP3 Ultimate" (PDF). series.ultimatecup.racing. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.