Nilton Rossoni

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Nilton Rossoni

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| nationality = {{flagicon|BRA}} Brazilian

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1981|04|21}}

| birth_place = Curitiba, Paraná

| death_date =

| death_place =

| retired = 2002

| related to =

| last series = Barber Dodge Pro Series

| years active = 1997-2000, 2002

| teams =

| starts = 35

| wins = 10

| poles = 6

| fastest laps = 7

| best finish = 1st

| year = 2000

| prev series = Barber Dodge Pro Series
Indy Lights
Barber Dodge Pro Series

| prev series years = 1997-2000
2001
2002

| titles = Barber Dodge Pro Series

| title years = 2000

| awards =

| award years =

}}

Nilton 'Niltinho' Rossoni (Curitiba, April 21, 1981) is a former Brazilian racing driver who won the 2000 Barber Dodge Pro Series championship.

Racing career

After winning karting championships in the Paraná and São Paulo regions the young driver graduated into single-seaters in 1997. The sixteen-year-old raced in the Formula Chevrolet Brazil, a support series to the highly popular Stock Car Brasil. He won the rookie of the year title in his inaugural season.{{cite web|title=Rossoni disputa duas corridas|url=http://www1.an.com.br/1998/mai/21/0esp.htm|work=ANotícia|accessdate=31 March 2014}} Near the end of the racing season the Brazilian made his debut in the Barber Dodge Pro Series. He qualified twelfth out of 27 but had to retire after one lap due to a clutch failure.{{cite web|title=SBRS: Laguna Seca final qualifying|url=http://www.motorsport.com/openwheel/news/sbrs-laguna-seca-finale/|work=motorsport.com|accessdate=31 March 2014|archive-date=24 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324201541/http://www.motorsport.com/openwheel/news/sbrs-laguna-seca-finale/|url-status=dead}} He returned the following year winning races at Road America and Homestead-Miami Speedway finishing sixth in the standings. The 1999 season was a season in which Rossoni failed to finish six times. At Homestead-Miami Speedway the Brazilian won pole-position but had to retire due to a mechanical issue.{{cite web|title=Homestead Results |url=http://www.skipbarber.com/proseries/1999/presult11.htm |work=Skip Barber Racing School |accessdate=31 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000115161623/http://www.skipbarber.com/proseries/1999/presult11.htm |archivedate=January 15, 2000 }} The young driver got his revenge in the 2000 season of the Barber Dodge Pro Series. Rossoni won six out of twelve races. Before the final round only Jon Fogarty had a mathematical chance to win the championship. Rossoni won his title in style by winning the final round of the season.{{cite web|title=Rossoni the Champion |url=http://www.barberdodge.com/news/2000/articles/proNews321.shtml |work=Skip Barber Racing School |accessdate=31 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010713025322/http://www.barberdodge.com/news/2000/articles/proNews321.shtml |archivedate=July 13, 2001 }} After his success the Brazilian graduated into the Indy Lights. But as the economic crisis hit Brazil, his longtime sponsor Fox Distribuidora de Petróleo (owned by the Rossoni family) almost went bankrupt.{{cite web|title=Niltinho Rossoni: Quando a crueldade da vida impede que um talento do automobilismo se firme|url=http://www.diariomotorsport.com.br/2012/01/niltinho-rossoni-quando-a-crueldade-da-vida-impede-que-um-talento-do-automobilismo-se-firme/|work=Diario Motorsport|accessdate=31 March 2014}} Rossoni could only compete one race, at Fundidora park supporting the Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey. His weekend started well as he qualified in second place. Rossoni had a poor start of the race as he was passed by Townsend Bell and passed the finish line in seventh place after the first lap. Rossoni failed to finish as he wrecked his car after four laps.{{cite web|title=Monterrey Sunday race report|url=http://www.motorsport.com/indylights/news/monterrey-sunday-race-report/|work=motorsport.com|accessdate=31 March 2014}} After his nightmare 2001 season Rossoni decided to return to the Barber Dodge Pro Series in 2002 for two races.{{cite web|title=Dois anos após, Rossoni volta a correr na F-Barber Dodge Pro|url=http://www.speedonline.com.br/montatela.php?t=news&sql_query=4147|work=Speed On Line|accessdate=31 March 2014}} After two fourth place finishes he retired from professional racing.