Robert Doornbos

Robert Michael Doornbos (born the September 23rd 1981, with Rotterdam, Netherlands) is a racing driver Dutch, which began the automobile sport on late (17 years), and which took part in 11 GP of championship of the world of Formule 1 in 2005 and 2006.

Biography

Before Formula 1

Tennis player semi-professional in Holland, Robert Doornbos discovered the automobile sport tardily, while being invited in 1998 by the stable Williams to follow one weekend of Grand Prix since the stands. Impassioned by this discipline of which he was unaware of all, he decided to arrange his racket and asked council Jacques Villeneuve to begin in the automobile sport.

For its beginnings, in 1999, it disputes the championship Opel Lotus the U.K. Winter Series with the stable JR racing. It is immediately pointed out, since with 4 pole-positions, 4 victories and 4 better turns, it finishes vice-champion. In 2000, he is again vice-champion, but this time of the championship of Formule Ford Benelux (with 6 podiums, 1 pole-position and 3 better turns). In 2001, it disputes, for the stable FGR Racing, very raised championship of Formule 3 British, whom it finishes in the 5th place, with 2 pole-positions, 2 victories and 9 podiums. At the time of the season 2002, it takes part in the championship of Formule 3 allemande, in the team Ghinzani. It does not gain any victory, but finishes nevertheless 4 times on the podium. It is classified 6th Grand Prix of Macao. In 2003, always with Ghinzani, it takes part in the European championship of Formula 3, in which it obtains 7 podiums and a second place with the Grand Prix of Korea. Into 2004, it changes category and runs in Formule 3000 international for the stable Arden. It is indicated, at the end of the season, Rookie off the year (better beginning) and finishes the championship in the 3rd place. It gains a victory (with Spa-Francorchamps), assembles 4 times on the podium and produces a better turn.

The beginnings Formulates 1 of them

This same year 2004, Robert Doornbos makes his beginnings of pilot of Formula 1 as and reserve test pilot of the stable Jordan, at the time of the Grand Prix of China. It still fulfills this role during first half of the season 2005, until the stable Minardi calls upon him and allows him to carry out its beginnings in race, at the time of the Grand Prix of Germany, that it finishes in honourable a 13th place. It disputes the eight last race of the season and if it does not mark points, because of the weakness of the material of which it lays out, it is sufficiently pointed out to sign, at 24 years, a contract of test pilot and pilot of reserve with the ambitious stable Red Bull. The September 11th 2006, it is indicated as titular pilot of the stable Red Bull for the last three Grands Prix of the season, to replace Christian Klien, is évincé for lack of results and to have refused the offer of Red Bull to continue its career in DTM or Champ Because. Rather with its advantage at the time of these three tests, in particular in qualifications where it twice takes the best on its fellow-member David Coulthard, it is not able to preserve its wheel for the season 2007, Australian the Mark Webber having already been recruited.

Exile in Field Because

In 2007, it finds its wheel of pilot tester at Red Bull Racing, while disputing in parallel the championship Champ Because within the stable Minardi TEAM the USA of Paul Stoddart. With its third place at the time of the sleeve of opening to Las Vegas, he became the first pilot since Nigel Mansell in 1993 to sign a podium as of his first participation in the discipline. Regularly with the first cabins of the group, it gains its first race in the discipline on July 1st over the circuit of Mount-Trembling in Quebec and is affirmed like a serious candidate with the championship. The title returns finally to French Sebastien Bourdais on October 21st, 2007.

Results Formulates 1 of them

External bonds

Official site of Robert Doornbos

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