Pastor Maldonado
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| Pastor Maldonado | |
|---|---|
| 2007 GP2 Series driver | |
| Nationality |  Venezuelan |
| Current team | Trident Racing |
| Car No. | TBC |
| Starts | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podium finishes | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Debut season | 2007 |
| Best season | N/A |
| 2006 position | N/A |
Pastor Maldonado (born March 9, 1985 in Maracay) is a 21-year old racing driver from Venezuela, whose career has thus far centred around formula single-seaters. He is a former champion of Italian Formula Renault.
Contents |
[edit] Career path
[edit] Formula Renault
Maldonado's first experience of formula racing began in Italy in 2003. He competed in the Italian Formula Renault Championship with Cram Competition, and was classified seventh in the drivers' championship. His notable results included three podium finishes and one pole position.[1] Cram Competition also entered one round of the German Formula Renault Championship at Oschersleben.[2]
In 2004, Maldonado ran a dual programme in Italian and European Formula Renault with Cram Competition. He won the Italian title, with eight wins and six pole positions from seventeen starts,[3]. In the European championship, he was classified eighth overall, with two wins.[4] Maldonado also found the time to enter one round of the now defunct Formula Renault V6 Eurocup at Spa-Francorchamps, with a best finish of fifth place.[5]
In November 2004, Maldonado was given an opportunity to test with the Minardi Formula One team at Misano in Italy.[6] The team's former owner, Giancarlo Minardi, was present at the test and commented positively about Maldonado's performance.[7]
[edit] Italian F3000
In 2005, Maldonado progressed out of Formula Renault, but did not get the opportunity to complete a full season in any one series. He made four starts in the Italian F3000 Championship with Sighinolfi Auto Racing, in which one race win was enough to finish ninth overall.[8] He also entered nine races (and made seven starts) in the Spanish-based World Series by Renault, with a best finish of seventh.[9] However, his participation in the WSR was marred by a four-race ban for dangerous driving. He failed to slow down at the scene of an accident at Monaco, despite the presence of warning flags, and struck and seriously injured a marshal.[10]
[edit] World Series by Renault
Maldonado secured a full-time drive in the World Series by Renault with Draco Racing in 2006. He was classified third overall, with three race wins, six further podium finishes, and five pole positions.[11][12]
[edit] Controversy
However, in a season that was marked by controversy, Maldonado could have won the title were it not for a disqualification from first place at Misano for a technical infringement.[13] Draco Racing lodged an appeal and the results of the championship remained provisional until Italy's National Court of Appeal for Motorsport upheld the stewards' decision at a hearing in January 2007.[14] The lost fifteen points would have been enough to move him up from third to first in the standings, ahead of Alx Danielsson and Borja García.
[edit] GP2 Series
Maldonado's performances in the WSR were enough to attract the interest of GP2 teams, and he has signed a contract to drive for Trident Racing in 2007 after a successful test late last year.[15]
[edit] References
- ^ Italian Formula Renault Championship, 2003 Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ 2003 Participations in German Formula Renault Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ 2004 Participations Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ 2004 European Formula Renault standings Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ 2004 Participations Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ Minardi tests Maldonado at Misano Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ Albers quick at Misano Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ 2005 F3000 Participations Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ 2005 WSR Participations Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ Maldonado handed ban after crash, news.bbc.co.uk, May 25, 2005. Retrieved on February 2, 2007.
- ^ 2006 WSR Participations Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ WSR 2006 Drivers' Championship Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ Penalties hand victory to Vettel Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ Danielsson confirmed as champion Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ Maldonado confirmed at Trident Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
