Emilio Zapico was a journeyman driver who entered one Grand Prix when in no way quick enough to justify that opportunity.
A graduate of Spanish national racing, he competed in the European Touring Car Championship from 1972. Success was limited – fifth in the 1973 Tourist Trophy at Silverstone and fourth at Járama two years later were rare results. With backing from local sponsor Mapfre, Zapico hired Frank Williams’s year-old third car for the 1976 Spanish GP but failed to qualify by some margin.
Zapico occasionally raced in touring cars thereafter, enjoying a season in the Alfasud one-make series in 1982. He was 10th at Járama in a one-off 1984 return to European Formula 3 with Trivellato Racing and finished fifth in the Estoril ETCC race a year later. He died in a road accident in 1996.
