Jolyon Palmer
Jolyon Palmer | |
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![]() Jolyon Palmer at Abu Dhabi in March 2014 | |
Nationality | British |
Born |
Horsham (United Kingdom) | 20 January 1991
Related to | Jonathan Palmer (father) |
GP2 Series career | |
Debut season | 2011 |
Current team | DAMS |
Car no. | 7 |
Former teams |
iSport International Arden International Carlin |
Starts | 84 |
Wins | 7 |
Poles | 4 |
Fastest laps | 9 |
Best finish | 1st in 2014 |
Previous series | |
2011 2009–2011 2008 2007–08 2006–07 2005–06 |
GP2 Asia Series FIA Formula Two FPA Autumn Trophy Formula Palmer Audi T Cars T Cars Autumn Trophy |
Championship titles | |
2014 2006 |
GP2 Series T Cars Autumn Trophy |
Jolyon Carlyle Palmer (born 20 January 1991 in Horsham) is a British professional racing driver and the 2014 GP2 Series champion. Palmer was educated at Cranleigh School and the University of Nottingham.
Career
T Cars (2005–2007)
Having spent 2004 racing in MiniMax karts, Palmer moved up to cars in 2005 and specifically the T Cars championship's Autumn Trophy – a racing series for drivers between the ages of fourteen and seventeen years old. Palmer finished fifth in that championship, with a grand total of 92 points, 46 behind championship winner Adrian Quaife-Hobbs. He moved up to the main championship in 2006, earning one pole position and four podiums, and again finished fifth in the championship with 101 points, 69 behind champion Luciano Bacheta. Palmer also took part in a second Autumn Trophy, and dominated the championship by winning four of the six races. He took part in two races of the 2007 season, winning both but decided to concentrate on Formula Palmer Audi.
Formula Palmer Audi (2007–2008)
In 2007, Palmer moved to the series which his father, Jonathan, created nine years before. He finished 12th on debut at Silverstone, and his results gradually improved with him taking two wins (one at Brands Hatch[1] and one at Oulton Park[2]) and two pole positions at Brands,[3][4] on his way to tenth in the championship. He missed the final two rounds of the championship, due to an abdominal injury suffered in a quad bike accident at his home in West Sussex.[5]
He recovered in time for the start of the 2008 season, in which he was a championship challenger right up until the last few races of the season. Consistency was the key for Palmer, with one win (at the overseas race at Spa) and 11 podiums along with three pole positions (amazingly, all at Brands Hatch – meaning all five of his FPA poles came at the circuit) and ended up just 22 points behind Jason Moore, in third place. The Autumn Trophy and the FPA Shootout also brought third places for Palmer, taking three podiums from the six races.
FIA Formula Two (2009–2010)
2009 saw Palmer move up to the FIA Formula Two Championship, driving car number three.[6] His best result was a sixth-place finish at Imola. He returned to the series in 2010, winning the opening race of the season at Silverstone,[7] taking the first F2 win by a British driver since his father did so at Mugello in 1983.[8] Palmer picked up one fifth place finish in the next round at Marrakech, but bounced back to take both wins and the championship lead in the third round at Monza.[9] He eventually finished 2nd behind fellow Briton Dean Stoneman.
Palmer made a one-off return to F2 during the 2011 season at the Nürburgring, but was a non-starter in both races.
GP2 Series (2011–2014)
2011 season
![](../I/m/J_Palmer_Monza_2011.jpg)
Palmer made his GP2 Series main season debut in 2011, driving for the Arden International team alongside Josef Král.[10] He scored a top ten finish on his debut weekend at Abu Dhabi and more top ten finishes followed at Istanbul and Valencia. A move to the Barwa Addax team for the non-championship GP2 Finals saw a breakthrough on his return to Abu Dhabi, with third and fourth places to end his debut year in the category on a high.
2012 season
![](../I/m/Jolyon_Palmer_Monaco_win.jpg)
For the 2012 season, Jolyon switched to the iSport International team, alongside Marcus Ericsson. Despite topping the first practice session of the year in Malaysia, persistent electrical problems blighted the early part of his season, precipitating a change of chassis. Results immediately improved and a sixth place at Monaco was followed by his maiden GP2 victory in the sprint race there.[11] This was followed by a podium position at Silverstone, putting Palmer into the top ten of the leaderboard as the season entered its second half, although he ultimately slipped to 11th despite another podium finish at Monza.
2013 season
For the 2013 GP2 Series season Palmer drove for Carlin, partnering Brazilian 2011 British F3 Champion Felipe Nasr. Scoring regular points throughout the year as well as demonstrating excellent overtaking prowess, Palmer scored his first win of the year in the Feature Race at the Hungaroring and then dominated on the streets of Singapore, taking pole, fastest lap and the Feature Race win, ending 13 seconds ahead of team-mate Nasr. Jolyon qualified in the top three in each of the final three events and finished 7th overall in the points table.
2014 season
Palmer switched to DAMS for the 2014 GP2 Series season and topped the opening day of pre-season testing at Abu Dhabi.[12] He qualified on pole for the first race of the season in Bahrain and finished on the podium. He won the Sprint Race the following day to lead the championship, a lead he held for the rest of the year and added another win in the feature race at Monaco.
![](../I/m/Jolyon_Palmer_Silverstone.jpg)
At Hungary he prevailed in thrilling wheel-to-wheel contests with Felipe Nasr in both races, and tensions boiled over during the Sprint Race podium ceremony.[13]
At Monza, Palmer was forced to start at the back of the grid for the Feature Race, after his DAMS car was found to have less than the mandatory one litre of fuel remaining, having originally qualified fourth. Despite this, he finished eighth in the Feature Race, securing reverse grid pole for the Sprint Race, which he won to further extend his championship lead.[14]
Palmer clinched the championship at the first possible attempt, with a fourth win of the year at the new Sochi circuit in Russia. Jolyon won the title with three races to spare, and achieved an all-time points record in the series.
Speaking just after clinching the title he said: "It wasn't going to be easy to win the championship this weekend, especially today after missing out on pole yesterday. I can't thank the team enough, they've done an incredible job all year, we've been fighting for pretty much every Feature Race win and every pole with almost no mistakes. It feels amazing to be champion!
"The pressure is off us now and we've got another race tomorrow and another round at Abu Dhabi. We can go out now, enjoy it and have some fun!
"Looking through the list of previous GP2 Champions, they're all unbelievable drivers, and to be on that list is something which can't be taken away from me, it's an incredible feeling."[15]
On 19 November it was announced that Palmer would drive for the Sahara Force India F1 team at the Abu Dhabi post-season test on 25 November.[16]
Other racing activities
Following his GP2 success, Palmer was invited to take part in the 2014 Race of Champions held at the Bushy Park circuit in Barbados. The Race of Champions is an international motorsport event held at the end of each year featuring the world's best racing and rally drivers.
Palmer competed in the Race of Champions Nations Cup event for Team Young Stars, with DTM race-winner Pascal Wehrlein as his team-mate. The pair narrowly missed out on progressing from the group stages, with Palmer losing in close races to Robby Gordon and nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen but defeating European F3 Champion Esteban Ocon.[17]
In the actual Race of Champions event, Palmer put on an attacking display and just fell short of progressing to the quarter-final stage. Facing one of the toughest groups in the competition, Palmer narrowly lost to Tom Kristensen, Pascal Wehrlein and Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan-Hunter Reay.[18]
Formula One
Palmer got his first taste of a Formula One car at the end of season test at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit on 25 November 2014.[19] Driving for the Force India team, he acquitted himself well and ended the day in fourth place, just 0.004s behind 2014 championship runner-up Nico Rosberg, despite technical gremlins interrupting his running.
On 20 January 2015 it was announced that Palmer had signed as test and reserve driver for the Lotus F1 Formula One team for 2015.[20] With 2010 champion Pastor Maldonado and 2011 champion Romain Grosjean as their official drivers, it is the first time that three GP2 champions have been together on the same team.
Palmer made his debut in the team's 2015 challenger, the E23 Hybrid, on day two of the official pre-season test in Barcelona.[21] Completing 77 laps, he ran a programme focused on data gathering and development work. He finished the day in eighth place, just 0.319s shy of two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso. Lotus F1 Team's Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane said: "Today was about data accumulation and Jolyon did a great job in his first time in the car, especially with the particularly cold conditions to start the session in the morning."[22]
He went on to make his Formula One debut on a Grand Prix weekend as he took to the track in Free Practice One at the third round of the 2015 season in China. Palmer impressed at the wheel of the E23 Hybrid as he completed a packed schedule of aerodynamic and set-up work to finish in 15th place overall on his first visit to the Shanghai circuit.[23]
Palmer impressed further in his next outing at the Bahrain International Circuit as he ended the session in 14th position, just 0.441s shy of his more experienced team-mate Pastor Maldonado.[24]
Awards
On 4 December 2014, Jolyon was announced as the winner of the Guild of Motoring Writers Driver of the Year Award at a prize gala in London.[25] Each year, the trophy is awarded to the leading driver as chosen by a panel of leading motorsport journalists. Previous winners have included Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark and Michael Schumacher.
Palmer was nominated for the Autosport Awards British Competition Driver of the Year, losing out to Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton.[26]
He collected the British Racing Drivers' Club's Fairfield Trophy, which is awarded to a BRDC member for outstanding performance throughout the year. The ceremony was attended by Lewis Hamilton, 1996 World Champion Damon Hill and BRDC President Derek Warwick.[27]
Media work
Palmer has written for Sky Sports F1, with a GP2 Diary posted after each event during his time in the series.[28]
Personal life
Palmer is the son of former F1 driver and major UK race circuit owner Jonathan Palmer. His younger brother, Will, is a frontrunner in the British BRDC Formula 4 Championship.
Palmer told the Daily Express newspaper in July 2014 that "I am giving everything I can to win the (GP2) series this year and that includes more work, no social life, strict diet — no girlfriend."
Racing record
Career summary
Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | T Cars Autumn Trophy | 6 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 92 | 5th | |
2006 | T Cars | PalmerSport Junior | 20 | 0 | 1 | ? | 4 | 92 | 5th |
T Cars Autumn Trophy | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 61 | 1st | ||
2007 | Formula Palmer Audi | 15 | 2 | 2 | ? | 4 | 187 | 10th | |
T Cars | PalmerSport Junior | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 11th | |
2008 | Formula Palmer Audi | 20 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 338 | 3rd | |
Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 89 | 3rd | ||
Formula Palmer Audi Shootout | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 3rd | ||
2009 | Formula Palmer Audi | PalmerSport | 8 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 70 | 16th |
FIA Formula Two Championship | MotorSport Vision | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 21st | |
2010 | FIA Formula Two Championship | MotorSport Vision | 18 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 242 | 2nd |
2011 | GP2 Series | Arden International | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28th |
GP2 Asia Series | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19th | ||
GP2 Final | Barwa Addax Team | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4th | |
FIA Formula Two Championship | PalmerSport | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
2012 | GP2 Series | iSport International | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 78 | 11th |
2013 | GP2 Series | Carlin Motorsport | 22 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 119 | 7th |
2014 | GP2 Series | DAMS | 22 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 276 | 1st |
Formula One | Sahara Force India F1 Team | Test driver | |||||||
2015 | Formula One | Lotus F1 Team | Test driver |
Complete Formula Two results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | 3 | VAL 1 21 |
VAL 2 Ret |
BRN 1 10 |
BRN 2 14 |
SPA 1 16 |
SPA 2 Ret |
BRH 1 12 |
BRH 2 16 |
DON 1 16 |
DON 2 12 |
OSC 1 15 |
OSC 2 19 |
IMO 1 12 |
IMO 2 6 |
CAT 1 13 |
CAT 2 11 |
21st | 3 | ||
2010 | 3 | SIL 1 1 |
SIL 2 2 |
MAR 1 Ret |
MAR 2 5 |
MNZ 1 1 |
MNZ 2 1 |
ZOL 1 2 |
ZOL 2 2 |
ALG 1 1 |
ALG 2 2 |
BRH 1 8 |
BRH 2 Ret |
BRN 1 5 |
BRN 2 1 |
OSC 1 3 |
OSC 2 12 |
VAL 1 7 |
VAL 2 13 |
2nd | 242 |
2011 | 14 | SIL 1 |
SIL 2 |
MAG 1 |
MAG 2 |
SPA 1 |
SPA 2 |
NÜR 1 DNS |
NÜR 2 DNS |
BRH 1 |
BRH 2 |
SPL 1 |
SPL 2 |
MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
CAT 1 |
CAT 2 |
NC | 0 |
Complete GP2 Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Arden International | TUR FEA 17 |
TUR SPR 9 |
ESP FEA 18 |
ESP SPR 17 |
MON FEA NC |
MON SPR 11 |
VAL FEA 9 |
VAL SPR Ret |
GBR FEA 20 |
GBR SPR 16 |
GER FEA 19 |
GER SPR Ret |
HUN FEA 22 |
HUN SPR 18 |
BEL FEA Ret |
BEL SPR 14 |
ITA FEA Ret |
ITA SPR 19 |
28th | 0 | ||||||
2012 | iSport International | MYS FEA 17 |
MYS SPR 12 |
BHR1 FEA DNS |
BHR1 SPR 7 |
BHR2 FEA 24 |
BHR2 SPR 22 |
ESP FEA 9 |
ESP SPR DNS |
MON FEA 6 |
MON SPR 1 |
VAL FEA Ret |
VAL SPR Ret |
GBR FEA 3 |
GBR SPR 5 |
GER FEA 18 |
GER SPR 18 |
HUN FEA 6 |
HUN SPR 5 |
BEL FEA Ret |
BEL SPR 10 |
ITA FEA 7 |
ITA SPR 3 |
SGP FEA Ret |
SGP SPR Ret |
11th | 78 |
2013 | Carlin | MYS FEA 6 |
MYS SPR 9 |
BHR FEA 5 |
BHR SPR 6 |
ESP FEA 10 |
ESP SPR 4 |
MON FEA Ret |
MON SPR 12 |
GBR FEA 6 |
GBR SPR Ret |
GER FEA 24 |
GER SPR 11 |
HUN FEA 1 |
HUN SPR 12 |
BEL FEA 15 |
BEL SPR 6 |
ITA FEA Ret |
ITA SPR 10 |
SGP FEA 1 |
SGP SPR 17 |
ABU FEA 2 |
ABU SPR Ret |
7th | 119 | ||
2014 | DAMS | BHR FEA 3 |
BHR SPR 1 |
ESP FEA 2 |
ESP SPR 2 |
MON FEA 1 |
MON SPR 7 |
AUT FEA 5 |
AUT SPR 6 |
GBR FEA 2 |
GBR SPR 4 |
GER FEA 3 |
GER SPR 6 |
HUN FEA 4 |
HUN SPR 2 |
BEL FEA 6 |
BEL SPR 3 |
ITA FEA 8 |
ITA SPR 1 |
RUS FEA 1 |
RUS SPR 10 |
ABU FEA 2 |
ABU SPR Ret |
1st | 276 |
Complete GP2 Asia Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Arden International | ABU FEA 14 |
ABU SPR 10 |
ITA FEA 19 |
ITA SPR Ret |
19th | 0 |
Complete Formula One participations
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | WDC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Lotus F1 Team | Lotus E23 Hybrid | Mercedes PU106B Hybrid 1.6 V6 t | AUS | MAL | CHN TD |
BHR TD |
ESP | MON | CAN | AUT | GBR | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | RUS | USA | MEX | BRA | ABU | – | – |
References
- ↑ "First FPA win for Palmer: Hamilton third on return". Formula Palmer Audi. 2007-06-09. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
- ↑ "Jolyon Palmer takes second FPA win of the year at Oulton Park: Tim Bridgman extends championship lead". Formula Palmer Audi. 2007-08-12. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
- ↑ "Palmer takes stunning pole: Jolyon remains on top". Formula Palmer Audi. 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
- ↑ "Palmer powers onto Round 9 pole: Hamilton flies to third, Bacheta struggles". Formula Palmer Audi. 2007-06-09. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
- ↑ "FPA ace Jolyon Palmer to miss final two rounds: Quad bike accident thwarts rise up the standings". Formula Palmer Audi. 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
- ↑ "Jolyon Palmer graduates to Formula Two". FIA Formula Two Championship. 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
- ↑ "Jolyon Palmer to make Formula Two return". FIA Formula Two Championship (MotorSport Vision). 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
- ↑ English, Steven (2010-04-22). "Palmer shares the wins in Eng land". Autosport (Haymarket Publications) 200 (4): pp. 48–49.
- ↑ "Palmer clinches Monza double". Autosport. 2010-05-23.
- ↑ "Kral and Palmer join Arden for 2011 GP2 season". gp2series.com (GP2 Series). 2011-01-26. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
- ↑ "Palmer escapes first-lap carnage to take maiden GP2 win at Monaco". autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). 2012-05-26. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
- ↑ http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/307487/palmer-tops-first-day-of-gp2-test/
- ↑ GP2 Hungary — Palmer v Nasr: http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/9396529/gp2-hungary---palmer-v-nasr
- ↑ Jolyon Palmer won the GP2 Sprint Race at Monza in a remarkable turnaround: http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/29551/9359686/for-monday-palmer
- ↑ Palmer crowned GP2 champion after superb Sochi victory: http://www.jolyonpalmer.com/news/2014/october/race-1.aspx
- ↑ Jolyon Palmer and Spike Goddard to test for Sahara Force India in Abu Dhabi: http://www.forceindiaf1.com/news/detail/abu-dhabi-gp/2014-11-19-Jolyon-Palmer-and-Spike-Goddard-to-test-for-Sahara-Force-India-i
- ↑ http://www.jolyonpalmer.com/news/2014/december/jolyon-palmer-narrowly-misses-out-on-roc-nations-cup-semi-finals.aspx
- ↑ http://www.jolyonpalmer.com/news/2014/december/jolyon-misses-out-on-quarter-finals-in-tough-group-(2).aspx
- ↑ http://www.jolyonpalmer.com/news/2014/november/palmer-on-the-pace-in-abu-dhabi-f1-test.aspx
- ↑ "Jolyon Palmer named as Lotus reserve driver for 2015". BBC Sport. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ↑ http://www.jolyonpalmer.com/news/2015/february/palmer-makes-lotus-f1-debut.aspx
- ↑ http://www.jolyonpalmer.com/news/2015/february/jolyon-makes-great-debut-for-lotus-f1-team.aspx
- ↑ http://www.jolyonpalmer.com/news/2015/march/jolyon-makes-successful-free-practice-debut.aspx
- ↑ http://www.jolyonpalmer.com/news/2015/april/jolyon-impresses-with-strong-performance-in-bahrain.aspx
- ↑ http://www.jolyonpalmer.com/news/2014/december/jolyon-wins-prestigious-guild-of-motoring-writers-award.aspx
- ↑ http://awards.autosport.com/2014-winners/
- ↑ http://www.jolyonpalmer.com/news/2014/december/jolyon-receives-prestigious-brdc-fairfield-trophy.aspx
- ↑ Jolyon Palmer's GP2 Diary: http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/29551/9402769/jolyon-palmers-gp2-diary-hungary
External links
- Official website
- Jolyon Palmer career summary at DriverDB.com
Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by Fabio Leimer |
GP2 Series Champion 2014 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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