2/7/1975
Record updated 02-Jul-07
A Belgium karting champion, David Saelens then won the Formula Renault Benelux Championship in 1995. In 1998 he won the French F3 title by winning 14 out of 18 races and won the Marlboro Formula 3 Masters at Zandvoort. Rookie of the Year in F3000 in 1999. He raced for AMG Mercedes in the DTM series as well as F3000 in 2001 and became a Minardi F1 test driver in 2002. Now racing in the Porsche supercup.
David Saelens was a karting champion in his native Belgium, winning five national championships and several major international kart events from 1988 to 94.
He graduated from karts to cars in 1995 with instant success, winning the Formula Renault Benelux Championship and made further progress in 1996 by taking the runner-up spot in the European Formula Renault Championship. Saelens also contested the fabled Spa 24 Hours event - finishing 3rd aboard a BMW.
The success continued in Formula 3 with third place in the 1997 French title. 1998 was a brilliant year for Saelens, taking the French title by winning 14 out of 18 races and claiming victory at the prestigious Marlboro Formula 3 Masters at Zandvoort in Holland - beating the best Formula 3 drivers from throughout the world.
Saelens earned the Rookie of the Year award in the International Formula 3000 Championship in 1999, taking one podium finish at Magny-Cours in France. He also made his sports car debut that year - teaming up with fellow Belgian Eric van de Poole at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
His success continued in 2000 in Formula 3000 with Team Super Nova. Saelens took three pole positions including Monaco and also clinched three podium finishes.
He was an official works driver in the German DTM touring car series in 2001 for AMG Mercedes as well as contesting the Formula 3000 for Minardi. He graduated to become the Minardi F1 test driver in 2002.
In 2003 he was a works driver for the JML Team Panoz with Olivier Berretta.
From 2004 he has been driving for Kadach Racing in the Porsche supercup.
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