Pedro Paulo Diniz (São Paulo, 22 May 1970) is a Brasilian former racing driver.

After a modest career in minor races, going through kart, Formula Ford, F3 and Formula 3000 he debuted in Formula 1 as pay driver in 1995 with Scuderia Forti. He was hired because he had a lot of sponsors, as his father (Abílio dos Santos Diniz, owner of Companhia Brasileira de Distribuiçao and one of the richest man of Brasil) and Parmalat (multinational Italian dairy and food corporation).

Steering Wheels:

• This MOMO steering wheel in our collection of steering wheels that once belonged to Formula 1 greats on show in the Nicolis Museum was used by driver Pedro Paulo Diniz during the 1996 Formula 1 World Championship. The car placed in his hands by the French team, a Ligier JS43, despite being powerful, proved unreliable and often encountered serious problems with the braking system. Even with these major handicaps, the Brazilian driver at least managed to win two championship points during the season, claiming two sixth places at the Spanish and Italian Grands Prix respectively.


• This PERSONAL steering wheel in the Nicolis Museum collection belonged to the Brazilian driver Pedro Paulo Diniz, who used it during the 1997 Formula 1 World Championship as part of the British team, Arrows. At the wheel of the Arrows A18 single-seater, Diniz managed to score two championship points, thanks to a 5th place at the Dutch Grand Prix.

(Source: Wikipedia; Formula1.com)