Bas Leinders

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Bas Leinders (born July 16, 1975 in Bree) is a racing driver from Belgium. He was a Formula 1 test and reserve driver in 2004 for the Minardi F1 team, taking part in the Friday practice sessions during Grand Prix weekends, making 17 appearances in all.

Leinders is one of the most successful Belgian racing drivers of the nineties and the beginning of the 21st century. He started his career in karting, winning his very first race. At the age of 14 he was already a European Champion beating Jarno Trulli, Ralph Firman and others. In 1992 Bas was an official works driver for the Italian Tony-Kart outfit.

Leinders started his automobile career with the Formula Ford. He was not only crowned Benelux Champion but he also obtained the pole position at the prestigious Formula Ford Festival at his first participation, later becoming European and British Formula Ford Champion. Not being able to gather enough money to make the step to Formula 3, Leinders decided on the European Formula Opel Championship (for Van Amersfoort Racing). With a record of 8 wins he secured the Championship several races before the end.

With some more backing he graduated to the German Formula 3 series with VAR. The Belgian finished 2nd in his maiden F3 weekend just behind Nick Heidfeld. In his second year, he won the Championship and was invited by the McLaren Junior team to partner Nick Heidfeld in the last race of the Formula 3000 season. Leinders obtained his best F3000 results in 2001, finishing second twice behind Tomáš Enge and Justin Wilson respectively.

In 2002 and 2003 Leinders competed in the World Series by Nissan, he finished third in the Championship on both occasions. His good performance in this series and especially winning the last race of the season gave him the opportunity to test with the Jordan F1 Team which resulted in a contract with the Minardi F1 Team as an official Friday Test and reserve driver in the 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Bas Leinders was pre-selected several times by journalists for the title “Belgian Sportsman of the Year”. Bas Leinders was crowned “Champion of Belgium” in 2001 by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium, the award presented by Crown-prince of Belgium, Prince Philippe. The Belgian also won the Golden Helmet in 2004 for his performances in Formula One with the Minardi F1 Team.

Currently Bas Leinders is also team-manager of the Bas Leinders Junior Racing Team in the Formula 3 Euroseries.

[edit] Career highlights

2006 FIA GT Championship -Gillet Vertigo
2005 FIA GT Championship - Gillet Vertigo - 3 class wins
2004 Formula 1 World Championship test driver in Minardi-Cosworth F1 Team. Did not participate in races
2003 3rd place- Superfund World Series - 2 wins.
2003 Winner TA Class 24 h of Zolder in a BMW M3 GTR
2002 24 h of Spa in a Chrysler Viper GTS-R
2002 3rd place - Telefonica World Series - 2 wins .
2002 4th in 24 h of Zolder in a BMW Z3
2001 Formula 3000 Championship - KTR 2 second places.
2000 Formula 3000 Championship - Kid Jensen Racing.
1999 Formula 3000 Championship - Witmeur Team KTR .
1999 3rd 24 h of SPA
1998 German Formula 3 Champion
1998 2nd 24 h of Zolder
1997 7th German Formula 3 Championship
1996 European Formula Opel Champion
1995 British and European Formula Ford Champion
1994 Benelux Formula Ford Champion
1992 Vice-European and Belgian Kart Champion
1991 Belgian Kart Champion
1990 European Kart Champion

[edit] Complete Formula One participations

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	WDC	Points
2004	Minardi Cosworth	Minardi PS04B	Cosworth V10	AUS *	MAL TD	BHR TD	SMR TD	ESP TD	MON TD	EUR TD	CAN TD	USA TD	FRA TD	GBR TD	GER TD	HUN TD	BEL TD	ITA TD	CHN TD	JPN TD	BRA TD	-	-

Leinders was entered as Third Driver for Australia '04 but was refused a superlicence until he completed the required mileage in an F1 car. He satisfied this requirement before the next race.