Franck Montagny

Biography

Beginnings

Franck Montagny began his career by the Karting in 1988. Champion of France junior by karting in 1992, it passes to the sport-car in 1994, year when it gains the championship of Formule Campus. The following year, it integrates the rows of the championship of France of Formule Renault. 4th and the best beginning from the year in 1995, it aims at the title in 1996 but a serious accident at the time of a race in Mans obliges it to draw a feature on the major part of its season.

In 1997, it passes in the Championnat of France of Formula 3. Again shining fourth for its first season, it is beaten for the title in 1998 by the Belgian pilot David Saelens. Montagny is also pointed out with the international level by signing the pole-position of the Masters de Zandvoort de Formule 3.

Montagny logically continues its rise by taking part as from 1999 in the international championship of Formule 3000. But within a stable PREJUDICES far from its level of antan, Montagny hardly on the occasion to be emphasized. After two years very disappointing which put its career in danger, it rebounds in Spain. Winner of the Formule Nissan in 2001, it is as from 2002 one of the tenors of a championship become international and at the equivalent level if it is not higher than that of F3000 international.

2003-2005: pilot tester Renault

At the end of 2002, and at the conclusion of a comparative test with three others pilot (Sebastien Bourdais, Tiago Monteiro and Romain Dumas), Montagny is selected to become pilot tester of the Renault stable in Formule 1. In 2003, parallel to its victory in the championship of Nissan World Series, he is thus the fourth pilot of Renault (Allan McNish being the third pilot), then becomes pilot full-time tester in 2004 and 2005. To Renault, Montagny with satisfaction to take part in the world titles of the mark to the rhombus, but does not manage to reach a post of titular pilot, that it is at Renault or elsewhere (in 2005, Montagny also took part in a meeting of tests on behalf of the stable Jordan at the time of the GP of Europe)

2006: first Grand Prix with Super Aguri

For 2006, Renault does not renew its contract of third pilot, preferring miser on the young Finnish hope Heikki Kovalainen. After having tried without success to turn to the Field Because (Franck carries out promising tests on behalf of the Rocketsports stables and PKV Racing, but does not manage to bring the necessary budgetary complement), Montagny seems to be solved to be satisfied with a program in Endurance. Thus, it signs with the stable Pescarolo Sport to dispute in June the 24 hours of Mans (test in which it already took part in 6 recoveries) at the sides of Sebastien Loeb and Eric Hélary.

Montagny does not completely lose contact with Formula 1 since it is engaged at the beginning of year 2006 by the new stable Super Aguri as a third pilot for the first GP of the year. The small Japanese team not having third car, it actually acts more than one role of consultant that of test pilot itself. Its collaboration with Super Aguri seems without a future until a few days before the GP of Europe 2006, it TRUSTED does not advise with the Japanese stable not to more make roll Yuji Ide, its convincing not very second pilot. Super Aguri turns then to Franck Montagny to replace it.

The May 7th 2006 with the Nurburgring, Franck takes part thus in his very first GP, while leaving in penultimate position on the grid departure (but while signing last time) at the wheel the Super Aguri - Honda. Author of a solid beginning of race, near to his fellow-member Takuma Sato, he is finally victim of a driving break-in to the 35e turn. May 10th, 2006, whereas TRUSTED it decides to suspend until the end of season the super-license of Ide, the presence of Montagny is confirmed for the two following tests: the GP of Spain (after hard tests, Montagny is begun again in race by signing a superb departure, but is again betrayed in race by its mechanics) and the prestigious GP of Monaco (which it finishes last classified). Then, on May 23rd, 2006, little before the GP Monaco, Super Aguri announces the establishment of Franck Montagny for the automobile Grand Prix of Great Britain, the Canada and the the United States. But in spite of very satisfactory performances, and after an ultimate appearance in race at the time of the GP of France, Montagny is constrained to yield its place to the Japanese pilot Sakon Yamamoto, of which the presence at the sides of Sato was sincerely hoped by the sponsors of the team, very attached to the idea of a duet of pilots 100% Japanese. It is thus in the capacity as third pilot (with the possibility of rolling during the tests of Friday) that it finishes the season.

2007: pilot tester Toyota

Sportivement frustrating taking into account the low level of competitiveness of its material, season 2006 of Montagny at Super Aguri does not sully its reputation, but confirms on the contrary its qualities of adjuster. That enables him to be recruited by Toyota to become the pilot tester of the Japanese stable for the season 2007.

When it does not take part has races, it replaces Bas Leinders as consultant and F1 commentator with RTBF with dimensions of Gaëtan Vigneron.

Career

1997: Formulate 3 Frenchwoman (4th championship)
1998: Formulate 3 Frenchwoman (vice-champion)
1999: F3000 at PREJUDICES - Winner of Masters Elf of karting in Bercy, Paris
2000: F3000 at PREJUDICES (9th of the championship)
2001: Open Telefonica Nissan (Champion)
2002: Nissan World Series (vice-champion) - F1 Tests with Minardi and Renault - 6th of the 24 hours of Mans
2003: Nissan World Series (Champion) - Fourth pilot Renault F1
2004: Third pilot Renault F1
2005: Third pilot Renault F1 - 4th of the 24 hours of Mans
2006: Third pilot Super Aguri during the first Grand Prix
2006: Second pilot Super Aguri since the Grand Prix of Europe, Franck having replaced the Japanese pilot Yuji Ide, considered to be too dangerous.
2006: Second of the 24 hours of Mans on the Pescarolo - Judd n°17, with dimensions of Eric Hélary and Sebastien Loeb.
2007: Third pilot Toyota F1

Statistics Formulates 1 of them

After the Grand Prix of Monaco 2006

disputed Grands Prix : 7
Victories : 0
marked Points : 0
Pole Positions : 0
Records of the turn : 0
Podiums : 0
Abandonments : 2 (that is to say 28,57%)
Beginnings in F1 : Grand Prix of Europe, on the circuit of Nürburgring, with Nürburg (Germany), the May 7th 2006 ( Result: Abandonment ).

External bonds

Official site
Site of fans
Blog of fan

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