30/5/1964
Record updated 30-May-07
Andrea Montermini finished 2nd in the 1992 Formula 3000 series before he participated in 28 Grands Prix, debuting on May 29, 1994 for Simtek, replacing Roland Ratzenberger who had been killed during practice for the San Marino Grand Prix. He competed in the American Champ Cars in 1993, 1994 and 1999, finishing 6th at Detroit in his first season. He then raced in the FIA GT Championship, mostly in Ferrari.
Andrea Montermini was born in Sassuolo, Italy. He started racing in 1987 in Italian Formula Alfa Boxer. Fourth place in the 1988 Italian F3 standings was supplemented by second place in the Monaco F5 race the following year.
Montermini then spent three seasons in European F3000 between 1990 and 1992: his first year, with Madgwick, was promising, the second, in a difficult-to-tame Ralt, perhaps less so. However, the Italian's final season in the formula, though beset by financial problems which saw him swap teams, brought him second place in the championship with three wins.
In 1993 Andrea caused a stir in Indy Car circles when he arrived in Detroit to drive a year-old Lola for the Euromotorsports team. Sixth place in practice was impressive, and fourth at the finish an outstanding achievement. He competed in the American Champ Cars in 1993, 1994 and 1999.
He made his F1 debut on May 29, 1994, driving for for Simtek in the Spanish Grand Prix, replacing Roland Ratzenberger who had been killed during practice for the San Marino Grand Prix. However Montermini crashed heavily in practice, breaking his left heel and his right foot putting him out for the rest of the season.
He returned to F1 in 1995 with the Pacific team. 9th in Brazil 6 laps down on winner, Michael Schumacher, he didn't see the chequered flag again until the ninth round in Germany, where he finished 8th just three laps behind Michael Schumacher. 12th in Hungary was followed by seven retirements.
In 1996 he drove for Forti alongside countryman Luca Badoer until the team folded after the British Grand Prix. That spelled the end of his F1 career.
After the collapse of Forti Montermini pursued a career in sports cars, initially impressing with Gianpiero Moretti's Ferrari in 1997. Wins in the Professional Racing Series at Lime Rock, Pikes Peak Raceway and Sebring led to a Nissan works drive at Le Mans in 1998, where, teamed with Lammers and Comas, he took sixth place, a feat which he repeated a year later at the wheel of a Courage-Nissan in company with fellow countrymen Caffi and Schiattarella.
The diminutive Italian joined Dan Gurney's underperforming CART team for a four-race spell towards the end of 1999, scoring a couple of points on his debut in Vancouver.
Between 1997 and 1999 he drove in the IMSA Championship USA with Ferrari a 333 SP. Winning 3 times and collecting 5 pole positions and 8 fastest laps.
He raced in the 2001 Daytona 24 hour race. In 2006 he occasionally raced alongside Jarek Janis and Sascha Bert in a Saleen run by the Zakspeed team.
2000 - 2001
- Fed Ex Championship
- Tester Team Betthenhausen
- 24h of Daytona with Ferrari
- 6h of Vallelunga: 3rd in GT
- FIA GT Championship with Ferrari 360GT 3rd Overall
- 1st at G.P France, G.P. Great Britain
- 2nd at G.P. Czech Republic, G.P. Spain, G.P. Belgium (24h of Spa) 3rd at G.P. Italy
- 24h of Daytona with Ferrari 360
- 24h of Le Mans (1000 Km) Winner in GT with Ferrari
- GT Italian Championship: 4 Times Winner.
- 24h of Daytona with Ferrari 360: 3rd in GT
- Porsche Supercup Intl 4th in Final Championship
- 2nd at G.P. Belgium with Pole Position
- 3rd at G.P. Germany, G.P. France, G.P. Europe
- Petit Le Mans with Ferrari 360 GT
- Daytona Prototype with Lexus-Doran.
- Campionato Italiano GT with Ferrari 575 Gtc TeamRock Media
- FIA GT with Ferrari 575 Gtc Team GPC 11°Round 5° Ass.
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