Born in Curitiba, Brazil, Farfus began racing in minibike competitions as a child, winning local championships in 1991. He moved into karting from 1992 onward, claiming the Paraná state championship in the cadet class that year and competing in São Paulo state championships through 1998. In 1999 he won the Italian Winter Cup and finished runner-up in the North American karting championship.
In 2000, Farfus relocated to Italy to compete in the Formula Renault Italian championship and the Renault Eurocup series. He won the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2001, demonstrating the pace that would make him a factory touring car contender. For 2002 he moved to Euro Formula 3000 with Draco Racing, and in 2003 he clinched the Euro Formula 3000 Championship at just 20 years old.
Farfus joined the ETCC and then the WTCC as a factory Alfa Romeo driver for N.Technology from 2004 to 2006. In the 2006 season he mounted a serious title challenge against Andy Priaulx and Jörg Müller, fighting for the championship until the final round in Macau. A run of poor results and retirements late in the year left him third in the standings.
Before the 2007 season Farfus switched to Schnitzer Motorsport's BMW Team Germany, partnering Jörg Müller. He temporarily led the 2007 championship during the season before finishing fourth as Priaulx claimed his third consecutive title. Farfus remained with BMW through 2008 and into 2009, when he scored six race victories and came close to the title, ultimately missing out to SEAT's Gabriele Tarquini at the final meeting.
In 2010, BMW's WTCC programme was scaled back to a two-car effort with the Racing Bart Mampaey team, pairing Farfus with Andy Priaulx. Farfus crossed the line first in Race 2 at Okayama that year, but he and Priaulx were subsequently disqualified after their BMW 320TCs were found to be running a non-homologated gearbox that did not conform to the technical regulations. BMW withdrew from the WTCC at the end of 2010.
From 2011 onwards Farfus concentrated on endurance and GT racing with BMW Motorsport, competing in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup alongside former WTCC team-mates Priaulx, Müller, and Dirk Müller. He went on to accumulate a remarkable endurance record, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2019 and 2020, claiming the 24 Hours of Nürburgring four times across different classes, winning the 2018 FIA GT World Cup, and taking the 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge title alongside Nicky Catsburg.
In December 2018 it was announced that Farfus would join the Hyundai factory effort for the 2019 World Touring Car Cup season, partnering Gabriele Tarquini, Norbert Michelisz, and Nicky Catsburg.
Farfus is one of the most decorated Brazilian touring car and GT drivers of his generation. His WTCC years with both Alfa Romeo and BMW established him as a frontrunner capable of fighting for the world title, and his subsequent endurance career with BMW Motorsport confirmed his status as one of the most versatile and consistently successful drivers in international motorsport. He is based in Monaco and continues to represent BMW as a works driver.
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