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Special test drivers in lower formulae

Started by HistoryFan , Jan 11 2010 20:36

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9 replies to this topic

#1 HistoryFan

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Posted 11 January 2010 - 20:36

Hello!

Schumacher will test for Super Nova (in GP2) this week.

After reading that, there was a question for me: Were there some special, prominent drivers testing in lower Formula series?
I for example know that James Hunt tested for Pacific in F3000 International in 1989.
Or Mark Webber in Decembre in GP3 because he has a own team there next season.

Any more?
I think there might me more in F3 (Macau)...

In F2 there were much F1 drivers driving in races. They weren't allowed to score any points...

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#2 LittleChris

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Posted 11 January 2010 - 21:54

Stefan Johansson tested an F3 car at Silverstone ( & I believe set sub lap record times ) in late 1984 after driving in GP's that season for Tyrrell & Toleman, then went to Macau and finished 2nd to John Nielsen in the Macau F3 race. The same season he was also runner up in the Japan F2 series and won the Sebring 12 hours sportscar race, so a pretty wide ranging / diverse season !!

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#3 Risil

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Posted 12 January 2010 - 11:51

Stirling Moss tested Gordon Murray's new Brabham in 1979, did he not? For a man of his standing, F1 could be considered a 'lower formulae.' :stoned:

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#4 HistoryFan

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Posted 13 January 2010 - 16:47

Thank you very much. Perhaps we will find some more.

In Japanese F3000 there were a lot of former F1 driver driving, Takagi, Hoshino and many more...

But let's stay on the tests...
No more F3000 tests with former F1 drivers? (in race we have for example in GP2 Bruni, Pantano, Pizzonia, Glock)

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#5 HistoryFan

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Posted 19 January 2010 - 20:49

I've got a hazy memory of Nelson Piquet testing a F3000 car in about 1992, I think he tested a Ralt to see if his new F3000 team should use it, I think in the end they decided not to.

Are there pictures?

No more?

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#6 HistoryFan

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Posted 23 January 2010 - 11:16

I got a mail from Keith Wiggins, now HVM owner and former Pacific owner.

"In 1989 James Hunt did test our car, so he could get up to speed with a modern car, prior to his Williams F1 test. He was from a past generation and therefore had no real feel for the car. He was very surprised by it!! No it would did not benefit the team.

The gap in time between James and the F3000 and Michael and the GP2 is very different. Michael is up to date and will be able to analyse and perform in it.

I think a current GP2 driver would bring more benefit in setting up the car, in the short term. (...)"

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#7 unofficialf3000

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Posted 23 January 2010 - 12:34

Are there pictures?

No more?

There is a picture here of Piquet testing the Ralt at Albacete:

http://www.forix.com...et/albacete.jpg

Taken from:

http://www.forix.com/8w/piquet.html

The test must have been 1992, not 1993 as the article says, as Beretta moved from Piquet Racing to Forti Corse for '93.

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#8 unofficialf3000

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Posted 23 January 2010 - 12:45

Not a test as such, but Alex Caffi won the Trofeo Vallecamonica hill climb in 2005, in a GP Racing Lola B02/50.

Image: http://www.malegnobo...s/MB05Caffi.jpg

From: http://www.malegnoborno.it/MB2005.htm