Heinz-Harald Frentzen

Heinz-Harald Frentzen is a pilot German Automobile born the May 18th 1967 with Mönchengladbach (Germany). Present in Formula 1 of 1994 to 2003, it there in particular gained 3 GP and finished 2nd of the championship of the world 1997.

Biography

Born from a German father and a Spanish mother, Frentzen began in a traditional way by the Karting, before starting at 18 years its career in automobile sport. After two seasons in the German championship of Formula Ford 2000, it passes in 1988 in Opel Formula. It gains the championship of Germany then and finishes 6th championship of Europe, gained by Mika Hakkinen). In 1989, it is registered in German Formule 3 and finishes 2nd ex-aequo championship with Michael Schumacher, behind the Austrian Karl Wendlinger. In 1990, the three men (and Fritz Kreuzpointer) are enlisted by the Junior TEAM Sauber-Mercedes in the championship of the world of Sport-Prototypes, with the prospect for a fast accession in Formule 1. But at the beginning of 1991, Frentzen prefers to take again its freedom and leaves the Mercedes bosom. It disputes the championship of international Formule 3000 in 1991, before having to exile itself in F3000 Japanese woman, for lack of interesting opportunities in Europe.

Forgotten amateurs of European automobile races, Frentzen carries out a return by the large door at the beginning of 1994, when it is called by Sauber - Mercedes to run in Formula 1. It carries out so impressive beginnings in the discipline queen that after only three races, Franck Williams invites it to replace Ayrton Senna after his death. But it declines the offer by honesty towards Peter Sauber. At the end three seasons during which it will have multiplied the blows of glare at the wheel of a fairly powerful car, Frentzen joined finally Williams-Renault at the beginning of 1997. But the German quickly will disappoint. In spite of the chance to have the most competitive car of the plate, it gains only one race (GP of San Marino) and finishes far from its fellow-member Jacques Villeneuve with the championship. The downgrading at the end of the season of Michael Schumacher enables him nevertheless to be vice-champion of the world 1997. In 1998, Williams is private official support of Renault and Frentzen is hardly able to make display of its talent, even if its performance level seems slightly with the rise (especially compared to Villeneuve).

Not retained by the Williams stable in 1999, Frentzen finds refuge at Jordan - Mugen Honda. Very regular, it finds the ease of its Sauber years, and thanks to two victories (in France under the rain, and in Italy), it arrives even a time to fight for the world title. Frentzen finishes finally the most beautiful season of its career in the third place of the championship. In 2000 and 2001, Frentzen is put in difficulty by a single-seater at the capricious behavior and sorrow to republish its exploits of 1999. He also suffers from the competition of his swift fellow-member Jarno Trulli. In disgrace within the stable, he is dismissed in the middle of the season 2001 and is replaced by Ricardo Zonta then by Jean Alesi. Frentzen makes the way then reverses and finishes the season at Prost Grand Prix in the place of the pilot inhabitant of Avignon.

The Prost stable having gone bankrupt at the beginning of 2002, Frentzen joined Arrows then - Cosworth. In spite of some pretty services of the German pilot, Arrows closes his doors in the middle of the summer, leaving Frentzen without wheel again. It carries out a return surprised to the GP of the United States at Sauber (to replace Felipe Massa, under the blow of a penalty), return which precedes a full-time engagement in 2003 in the stable of its beginnings. At the end of an ultimate season of quality (marked in particular by a podium in Indianapolis on wet track), it leaves Formula 1 the following year, in the absence of serious offers.

In 2004, Frentzen is reconverted into the very popular championship DTM. But after three overall disappointing seasons at Opel then Audi (not of victory and an irregular presence with the outposts), he announces fine 2006 qu ' he leaves the discipline.

Career

1986: Championship of Germany de Formule Ford 2000
1987: Championship of Germany de Formule Ford 2000
1988: Championship of Germany (1st) and Europe (6th) of Formula Opel
1989: Championship of Germany de Formule 3 - 2nd
1990: Championship of the world of Sport-Prototypes at Sauber-Mercedes
1991: Championship of F3000 international
1992: Championship of F3000 Japanese woman
1993: Championship of F3000 Japanese woman
1994: Formulate 1 at Sauber-Mercedes
1995: Formulate 1 at Sauber-Ford
1996: Formulate 1 at Sauber-Ford
1997: Formulate 1 at Williams-Renault
1998: Formulate 1 at Williams-Mécachrome
1999: Formulate 1 at Jordan-Mugen Honda
2000: Formulate 1 at Jordan-Mugen Honda
2001: Formulate 1 at Jordan-Honda and Prost-Acer
2002: Formulate 1 at Arrows-Cosworth and Sauber-Petronas
2003: Formulate 1 at Sauber-Petronas
2004: DTM at Opel ( 14th of the championship )
2005: DTM at Opel ( 8th of the championship )
2006: DTM at Audi ( 7th of the championship )

See too

List of German sportsmen by discipline

External bonds

'' Heinz-Harald Frentzen '' on its official site
'' Biographie of Heinz-Harald Frentzen '' on a site of F1

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