Alessandro Zanardi

Date of Birth:  23 October 1966
Born:           Bologna, Italy
Lives:          Bologna, Italy & Monte Carlo, Monaco

Career To Date

Alessandro Zanardi started his motorsport career in karts at the age of 14, having been encouraged to race by his father. He won many National and International races during his seven year karting career, progressing to single seaters in 1988.

1988

Italian Formula 3 Championship - 12th
TEAM: Team Coperchini e Guareschi

1989

Italian Formula 3 Championship - 7th
TEAM: Team Racing for Italy

1990

Italian Formula 3 Championship - 2nd
TEAM: RC Motorsport

European Championship 'Europe Cup', Le Mans - 1st
Monaco F3 race - pole position

1991

European Formula 3000 Championship - 2nd
TEAM: Il Barone Rampante

Along with two victories, Alessandro's qualifiying performance during the season was outstanding. He qualified on the front row of the grid on all but one occasion, when he qualified third.

FIA Formula One World Championship debut
TEAM: Jordan Grand Prix

Alessandro ran 3 races for Jordan, replacing Bertrand Gachot and Roberto Moreno 

Spanish Grand Prix          9th
Japanese Grand Prix         retired - gearbox
Australian Grand Prix       9th
For his determination and competitiveness he won the prestigious Casco d'Oro Tricolore, voted by Italy's top motorsports journalists.

1992

FIA Formula One World Championship
TEAM: Minardi

Alessandro raced in the British, German and Hungarian Grands Prix for Minardi, replacing the injured Christian Fittipaldi

In 1992 Alessandro's role as official test and development driver for Benetton Formula also enabled him to gain further Formula One experience.

1993

FIA Formula One World Championship
TEAM: Team Lotus

Alessandro displayed mature and confident driving ability during the season, highlighted by an excellent sixth place in Brazil and a fine drive in the Monaco Grand Prix for seventh place. Along with his racing commitments, he was fundamental in solving the problems with the 107B's Active System and developing Team Lotus's traction control system.

Due to injuries sustained during an accident at the Belgium Grand Prix, Alessandro was unable to compete in the last four races of the season. 

Grand Prix         Qualifying  Race result

South Africa       16th        retired - accident
Brazil             15th        6th
Europe (Donington) 13th        8th
San Marino         20th        retired - accident
Spain              14th        retired - engine
Monaco             20th        7th
Canada             21st        11th
France             17th        retired - active problem
Britain            14th        retired - active problem
Germany            15th        retired - spin
Hungary            21st        retired - gearbox
Belgium            accident    did not start

1994

After his most valuable input during 1993, Alessandro has been retained for 1994, to provide test experience and back-up to the team's regular drivers.

He has spent the winter working with the team's engineers to develop the Mugen-Honda powered 107C in preparation for the arrival of the Type 109.

After Pedro Lamy's injuries in testing, Alessandro started deputising for him at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Team Lotus