F1 Test Drivers that never had an F1 race? Who was there that tested in only Official FIA Testing and didn't race, espicially Test Drivers from the 1990's would be much appreciated.
Example:- 2007 S Buemi, J Rossiter, N Piquet, K Hirate etc
Thanks
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F1 Test Drivers that never had an F1 race? Who was there that tested in only Official FIA Testing and didn't race, espicially Test Drivers from the 1990's would be much appreciated.
Example:- 2007 S Buemi, J Rossiter, N Piquet, K Hirate etc
Thanks
Benetton: Jason Watt, Oliver Gavin (1998), Laurent Redon (1999), some Japanese bloke whose name I can't recall and who I never heard of ever again (2000)
McLaren: Paffett (2006/07), Turner (2001/02), Oliver Gavin (1997)
Williams: Andy Priaulx (2005), Junqueira (2000), Max Wilson (1998), Alain Menu (1995), Jörg Müller (1999 in preparation for BMW, 2000 for Michelin)
Prost: Jonathan Cochet (2001), Emanuel Collard (1997)
Jordan/Midland: Nicky Pastorelli (2005), Marcel Lassée (2002), Kelvin Burt (1994), Ferdinando Monfardini (2006), Alexandre Prémat (2006), Fabrio del Monte (2006), Ernesto Viso (2006), Thomas Biagi (2005), Jeffrey Van Hooydonk (2005)
(BAR-)Honda: James Rossiter (2006/07), Alan Van der Merwe (2005/06), Patrick LeMarié (1998-2002), Ryo Fukuda (2002), Darren Manning (2000/01)
Toyota: Ryan Briscoe (2002-2005), Takeru Kobayashi (2006/07)
Jaguar: James Courtney & André Lotterer (2002), Tomas Scheckter (2000/01)
Minardi: Sergei Zlobin (who survived a bomb attack on his car earlier this week; 2002), Chanoch Nissany (2005), Matteo Bobbi (2003), Andrea Piccini (2001), Bas Leinders (2004)
Sauber: Jörg Müller (1998), Neel Jani (2004)
I'll add a few ones
BAR: Tony Kanaan
Jaguar: Towsend Bell
Minardi: Katherine Legge
Williams: Scott Dixon
Renault: Jose Maria Lopez
Arrows: Sebastien Bourdais(erase that one in a few months)
Amazing how many names from those lists are doing incredibly well in other forms of racing!
I forgot a few Americans (and American-based ones):
Bryan Herta (Minardi 2002)
Sarah Fisher had a run in the McLaren (2001?)
Jeff Gordon did a few laps in Montoya's Williams in 2003 or 2004.
Dario Franchitti had a one-off test for Jaguar in 2001 or 2002.
Al Unser Jr. of course tested the Williams in the early 1990s, and Paul Tracy did likewise for Benetton in 1994.
I am pretty sure Gil de Ferran tested an F1 car before heading to the States in 1995 as well, but I'm not sure which (Benetton perhaps?).
"some Japanese bloke whose name I can't recall and who I never heard of ever again (2000)"
His name was Hidetoshi Mitsusada he was in F3000 an Champ Car (or IRL)
You're right - Mitsusada was the Benetton test-driver (and F3000 driver) whose name I couldn't recall.Quote:
Originally Posted by FIA
However, the IRL driver was called Hideshi Matsuda and I don't think he's the same person (he would have been in his late forties in 2000).
I think we need to differentiate between "One off try-out and or reward tests" and "actual official team testing".
That is because they never were good enough for F1.Quote:
Originally Posted by wmcot
Quote:
Originally Posted by luvracin
Yeah, I meant drivers that did proper testing, not one offs (like Gordon, Makkinen etc)
there are also some drivers that do proper testing without being proper F1 test drivers
for example for a straight line test a team may use a factory test driver.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gm99
To add to the American/Indy contigent:
- Marco Andretti (2007 Honda)
- Helio Castroneves (2004? Toyota)
Also;
- Andrea Bertolini (2005?/2006/2007 Ferrari)
- Adrian Zaugg (2007 Red Bull Racing)
- Felipe Alberquerqe (2007 Red Bull Racing)
- Michael Ammermuller (2006/07 Red Bull Racing)
- Pastor Maldonado (2004 Minardi - at this same end of year test, Minardi tested something like 15 drivers over a few days!)
- Norbert Seidler (2003 Minardi)
- Hirate (2007 Toyota)
- Frank Perera (2005/2006 Toyota)
- Richard Antinucci (2002 Williams BMW)
- Marko Asmer (2003 Williams BMW)
- Ho Pin Tung (2003 Williams BMW)
- Nicky Pastorelli (2005 Jordan)
- Alx Daniellson (2007 Renault)
- THE STIG - TOP GEAR TEST TRACK (2006 Renault!!!!!!!!!!!!!) :)
Few more...
- Fassler tested a McLaren-Mercedes in 2001/02 ish
- Coelho tested a Williams in 1998
- Plus the following McLaren Autosport Award Winners have all tested a McLaren (ive missed out those drivers who have already been mentioned):
(1990) Gareth Rees
(1994) Jamie Davies
(1995) Johnny Kane
(1997) Andrew Kirkaldy
(2001) Steven Kane
(2002) Jamie Green
(2003) Alex Lloyd
(2004) Paul Di Resta
(2005) Oliver Jarvis
(2006) Oliver Turvey
Also:
Rally Drivers:
- Tommi Makkinen (1999 Williams)
- Colin McRae (1996 Jordan)
- Carlos Sainz (1999 Williams and 2005?/06? Renault)
Bikers:
- Max Biaggi (1998 Ferrari and 2006 Midland)
- Valentino Rossi (2005/2006 Ferrari)
I have a weird feeling that Mick Doohan tested a Williams once circa 1998/1999??? Maybe wrong on that one
I thought Bell tested with BAR? To add to Giuseppe F1, The Stig tested a Toyota in 2006. In 2004-2005 BAR tested quit a few guys. Adam Carrol, is one that comes to mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by jso1985
I think Top Gear's stig was actually Kovalainen when he tested the Renault F1 and similarly a Toyota tester dressed as the Stig drove the Toyota F1
I know, Chris......im just playing buddy!! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisS
- Roman Rusinov (2006 Jordan/Midland)
It's either that or financial issues. Look at Rick Mears, for example.Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
Bjorn Wirdheim (Jaguar 2003 -2004)
Patrick Lemarie (BAR 1999? -2000? got the seat because he was a good friend of Villeneuve)
or they didnt have the sponsorshipQuote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
Ryan shoud of been given a chance - and I refuse to let anyone tell me otherwise :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire
This is great! You guys are the best, Tom Kristensen tested a Tyrrell in 1999.
Kazuki Nakajima- Williams (2007)
I don't think Marco Andretti ever got to test.
some more:
Toyota: Kohei Hirate(2007), Andy Soucek(2006)
Honda: Mike Conway(2007)
Spyker: Mohammed Fauzy, Adrian Vallés
Renault: Jonathan Cochet(2006)
Midland: Ronnie Quintarrelli, Giorgio Mondini
Quote:
Originally Posted by jso1985
Oh he did...but he was something like 2 -3 seconds off the pace.
2007 STR - Hopkins (bike rider) did a seat-swap with Liuzzi
That's not an official test, but interseting fact!Quote:
Originally Posted by Giuseppe F1
Jordan - Mexican CCWS driver David Martinez (2005)
My mistake; It is Mario Dominguez.Quote:
Originally Posted by Placid
Briscoe was a failure, in F1 terms. He was never going to cut it in F1, there are a hundred drivers better and more qualified than him at least.Quote:
Originally Posted by ozrevhead