Getting to know: Toto Wolff
Torger Christian "Toto" Wolff is an Austrian investor and former racing driver. He is currently a 30% owner and executive director of Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Profile
Nationality: Austrian
Date of Birth: 12 January 1972
Place of Birth: Vienna, Austria
Career Timeline
2013 Appointed Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
2012 Appointed Executive Director of Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC
2009 Invested in Williams F1
2006 Invested in HWA AG; winner of Dubai 24 Hours
2004 Founded Marchsixteen Investments
2002 FIA NGT World Championship, 6th overall with one win
1998 Founded Marchfifteen Investments
1994 Class winner, Nürburgring 24 Hours
1992 Began motorsport career in Austrian Formula Ford Championship
Biography
Torger Christian ‘Toto’ Wolff is Executive Director and the managing partner of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd alongside wider responsibilities as Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.
Born into modest surroundings in Vienna, Austria, Toto’s first taste of motorsport came when at 17, whilst watching a friend race at the Nürburgring. A short racing career of his own followed, competing in Austrian Formula Ford and scoring a class win at the 1994 Nürburgring 24 Hours.
Toto called time on his racing career just three years later, pursuing his business career and finding a new outlet for his talent – investment. After studying at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Toto founded his own investment company, Marchfifteen, in 1998, followed by Marchsixteen in 2004.
Initially focusing on internet and technology companies in the ‘tech boom’ era of the 90s, the business developed strategic investments in medium-size industrial companies and listed companies.
One of these investments included the initial public offering of HWA AG - the company responsible for developing and racing Mercedes-Benz cars for the DTM (German Touring Car Championship), as well
as Mercedes-Benz’s successful Formula 3 engine programme. Toto divested his stake in HWA AG in 2015.
In 2002, Toto started a new venture, co-owning a racing driver management company alongside two-time Formula One World Champion Mika Häkkinen. The same year, Toto returned to racing, winning once on route to sixth in the FIA GT World Championship. Further success followed in 2006, when Toto claimed top overall honours at the 24 Hours of Bahrain.
In November 2009, Toto merged his passion for racing and investment by investing in the Williams F1 Team. By July 2012, Toto was the Executive Director of the team, playing a key leadership role as Williams scored its first win in eight years at the Spanish Grand Prix that season.
Less than a year later, Toto was announced as an Executive Director and managing partner of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in January 2013 after purchasing a 30 per cent stake of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Subsequently appointed Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport at the end of 2013, Toto went on to assume full responsibility for the entire Mercedes-Benz motorsport programme – from Formula One to DTM, sports cars and the Formula 3 engine programme.
An entrepreneur, an investor and a racer, motorsport runs in Toto Wolff’s blood. Under his leadership, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport has clinched a hat-trick of Formula One World Championships, winning a total of six titles and more than 50 Grands Prix since 2014.
COURTESY OF Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport