Pedro Couceiro (born 23 March 1970) is a Portuguese former racing driver. In the late 1970s Couceiro became better known as a child singer and at 12 years old he started his career in Karting.
Early years
Couceiro was born in Angola and remained there until 1974, when his parents moved to Portugal. Couceiro followed in the footsteps of his older brother Nuno in Karting and, helped by the funds that he earned with his successes as a singer, he bought his first Kart and started racing.
Musical career
It is with his entrance to primary school that he realizes his musical talent. With only seven years old, he took up piano. In a selection to find six kids who would be able to substitute “Os Meninos Rabinas” – a very successful young group in the 70s – Pedro became one of the chosen ones for the “Os Traquinas” group. With this group he records three albums and gets to know one of Valentim de Carvalho’s producers, he then stars his career as a young singer. The dream of participating in the Gala Internacional dos Pequenos Cantores – the most important contest for children during the 70s/80s – come true when the discographic producer chooses him to compete in the contest, taking the songs “Eu já namoro” and “O meu Avôzinho”, composed by Carlos Paião. Between 1980 and 1983, he records four solo albums and established himself as one of the young successes of juvenile national music. Couceiro travels the country during there three years, performing in the most diverse stages and is a common presence in the most important television programs of that time. Around 1983 (when he was preparing his 5th album), the vocals deepening and the excess obligations as a singer, forced him to make some choices. At this phase, he abandons his musical career and start fully dedicating himself to Karting.
Studies
Since his early life, he always wanted to follow his father’s footprints and become a Civil Engineer. His entry in Primary School was, without any doubt, one of the most important steps of his life. As a good pupil, the student life became harder right after taking up motorsports. However, his parents imposed that he would have to keep up the good results, and even with ups and downs, he was able to reconcile his to objectives: the sports; and the licentiate degree in Master Civil Engineering in the specialty of Vias of Communication and Transport in the Instituto Superior Técnico de Lisboa (in Lisbon). Additionally during his youth he also studied English in the British Council and got the First Certificate of English Language.
Social Activity
Outside his professional and competitive life, Pedro Couceiro has had intense activity in the social sphere with interventions in the most diverse areas. Undoubtedly, his most prominent role is as UNICEF Ambassador in Portugal UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador: a role he has been playing since 1995, having it shared since 2001 with the football player Luís Figo and more recently with the Fado singer Mariza and TV presenter Bárbara Guimarães. In the last recent years, he has managed to achieve two more of his dreams: in 2006 he became a father of a girl named Inês and in 2009 he launched his comic book biography under the title of - Sonho Sem Fim – (Endless Dream), along with the illustrator Rui Ricardo and writer Hugo de Jesus, with all profits reverting to the Portuguese institution Aldeias SOS - SOS Children's Villages International. At this point he claims to have achieved the stereotyped peak: Plant a tree, have a child and write a book. The pilot also has as occupation of the free time playing golf, video games and playing the piano. Already in 2016, he became father of a second girl, named Caetana, the fruit of his marriage with Mariana Gaspar, with whom he married in 2015.