Norberto Fontana

Norberto Fontana
Born (1975-01-20) 20 January 1975
Arrecifes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality Argentina Argentine
Active years 1997
Teams Sauber
Entries 4
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podiums 0
Career points 0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First entry 1997 French Grand Prix
Last entry 1997 European Grand Prix

Norberto Edgardo Fontana (born 20 January 1975) is an Argentine racing driver. He participated in four Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 29 June 1997 but scoring no championship points.

His opportunity to race came as a result of two separate injuries sustained by regular Sauber driver Gianni Morbidelli during the 1997 season. During the 1997 European Grand Prix, Fontana had gained attention for apparently blocking Jacques Villeneuve to let rival Michael Schumacher pull away from the Canadian. He attempted to enter with the Tyrrell team for 1998 but was dropped in favour for Brazilian Ricardo Rosset and with Minardi for 2000. In between his time in F1, Fontana raced in Formula Nippon.

Early career

Fontana was born in Arrecifies, Buenos Aires as the son of Hector and Clara Fontana. He started racing at the age of 8 at the Summer Night Championship in Lujan. In 1989, he began a full season of karting and finished 2nd in the Youth Kart Championship of Buenos Aires Province. The following year, Fontana progressed to a higher level of championship and finished 4th. In 1992, he moved into car racing and competed in the Formula Renault Argentina series before moving into the European series events in 1993.[1]

Fontana raced in the German Formula Three Championship series in 1994 and 1995, winning the 1995 title as well as that year's Marlboro Masters event at Zandvoort circuit.[2] He claimed the title ahead of drivers including Ralf Schumacher, Alexander Wurz, Jarno Trulli and Jan Magnussen.

In 1996, Fontana entered Formula Nippon for the Nova Engineering team driving a Lola T96/51 Mugen. His highlights were finishing 2nd twice in Fuji in a season that included multiple accidents, mechanical failures and poor results. For 1997, he drove for the Le Mans team in their Reynard 97D Mugen. The season started badly but made a comeback to finish 5th in Fuji, a win at Mine and 3rd in Motegi.[1]

Formula One

Fontana joined the Sauber test team in 1995 when Peter Sauber approached him for a test session that took place at Barcelona in late 1994. He retained this role throughout 1995 and 1996.[1]

1997

Fontana made his Formula One debut at the 1997 French Grand Prix replacing Gianni Morbidelli who had broken his arm prior to the race. He qualified 20th and retired when he understeered and ended up in a gravel trap. Prior to the British GP, team principal Peter Sauber looked for replacements to take Fontana's seat but eventually decided to keep Fontana on board. During qualifying, he missed a red light indicating that the car must come in for a mandatory weight check. Fontana drove past the light and was forced to start at the back of the grid. In the race, Fontana finished 9th despite his right leg becoming numb. At Hockenheim, he started 18th and finished 9th despite spinning early on.[3]

At the 1997 European Grand Prix in Jerez, Fontana received a $5,000 fine for speeding in the pitlane and eventually qualified 18th. During the race, Fontana appeared to block Jacques Villeneuve, who was the direct rival of Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher at the time. ITV commentator Martin Brundle pointed out that the Sauber team used Ferrari engines at the time. Fontana eventually finished 14th with his highlight being overtaking Jos Verstappen with two wheels on the grass.[3]

Attempted comebacks

Fontana was considered as a driver for the dying Tyrrell team for 1998 with team principal Ken Tyrrell negotiating with the Argentine. Fontana signed a draft contract, but did not sign the final contract as the owners British American Tobacco had vetoed the suggestion and Tyrrell was forced to sign Brazilian Ricardo Rosset who had more sponsorship brought to the team. In 1999, Fontana tested with Minardi for a seat that would partner Marc Gené. However, sponsorship once again caused the Argentine to lose the seat for a possible comeback.[3]

Post-Formula One

Fontana decided to return to Formula Nippon and finished 4th in the series which included a win in Fuji. He also competed in the Japanese GT Championship and was paired with Masanori Sekiya. The pair finished 6th in Suzuka, 3rd at Sendai and Motegi. The pair finished 7th in the championship.[4]

Touring car racing

Fontana driving a Toyota Corolla touring car during a TC 2000 race at the Curitiba circuit in 2006.

He subsequently moved into Argentine touring car racing, driving in the Turismo Carretera,. TC2000 and Top Race V6. In the TC2000 he was seventh in 2001, champion in 2002, third in 2003, seventh in 2006, eighth in 2008, fourth in 2009 and champion again in 2010. Until 2009 he drove for Toyota, given the relationship he had with the brand when he raced in Japan. Since 2010 he drives a works Ford. Fontana also competed at the 2011 Dakar Rally in a buggy.

Racing record

Complete Formula Nippon 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 DC Points
1996 Shionogi Team Nova SUZ
14		 MIN
2		 FUJ
1		 TOK
Ret		 SUZ
8		 SUG
Ret		 FUJ
2		 MIN
Ret		 SUZ
11		 FUJ
Ret		 5th 22
1997 Team LeMans SUZ
9		 MIN
8		 FUJ
6		 SUZ
Ret		 SUG
7		 FUJ
2		 MIN
1		 MOT
3		 FUJ
Ret		 SUZ
Ret		 3rd 21
1998 LEMONed Racing
Team LeMans		 SUZ
3		 MIN
Ret		 FUJ
6		 MOT
Ret		 SUZ
Ret		 SUG
Ret		 FUJ
C		 MIN
2		 FUJ
1		 SUZ
8		 4th 21

Complete International Formula 3000 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 DC Points
1996 Edenbridge Racing NÜR PAU PER HOC SIL SPA MAG EST
Ret		 MUG HOC NC 0
1999 Fortec Motorsport IMO
Ret		 MON
5		 CAT
Ret		 MAG
Ret		 SIL
5		 A1R
8		 HOC
Ret		 HUN
Ret		 SPA
14		 NÜR
10		 15th 4
2001 F3000 Prost Junior Team INT IMO CAT A1R MON NÜR MAG SIL HOC HUN
14		 SPA
Ret		 MNZ
Ret		 32nd 0

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Points
1997 Red Bull Sauber Petronas Sauber C16 Petronas V10 AUS BRA ARG SMR MON ESP CAN FRA
Ret		 GBR
9		 GER
9		 HUN BEL ITA AUT LUX JPN EUR
14		 NC 0

Complete CART results

(key)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Rank Points
2000 Della Penna MIA
15		 LBH
Ret		 RIO
Ret		 MOT
DNS		 NZR
Ret		 MIL
Wth		 DET
Ret		 POR
Ret		 CLE
11		 TOR
Ret		 MIS CHI MDO ROA VAN LS STL HOU SRF FON 28th 2

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Noberto Fontana - Before Formula One". F1 Rejects. 21 January 2005. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "August 1995 Data". Teamdan.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "Noberto Fontana - Formula One". F1 Rejects. 21 January 2005. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Norberto Fontana - After Formula One". F1 Rejects. 21 January 2005. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Gareth Rees		 Formula Three Masters
Winner
1995 		Succeeded by
Kurt Mollekens
Preceded by
Jörg Müller		 German Formula Three champion
1995 		Succeeded by
Jarno Trulli
Preceded by
Gabriel Ponce de León		 TC2000 champion
2002 		Succeeded by
Gabriel Ponce de León
Preceded by
Juan Manuel Silva		 Turismo Carretera champion
2006 		Succeeded by
Christian Ledesma
Preceded by
José María López
Anthony Reid		 Winner of the 200 km de Buenos Aires
2009
(with Ricardo Mauricio) 		Succeeded by
Bernardo Llaver
Mauro Giallombardo
Preceded by
José María López		 TC 2000 Championship
Champion
2010 		Succeeded by
Matías Rossi
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