Gianni Morbidelli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gianni Morbidelli
Morbidelli at the 2014 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium.
Nationality	Italian
Born	(1968-01-13) 13 January 1968 (age 57) Pesaro, Italy
World Touring Car Championship career
Debut season	2006
Current team	ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport
Car no.	10
Former teams	N. Technology
Starts	42
Wins	1
Poles	1
Fastest laps	0
Best finish	9th in 2014
Previous series
2017 2016 2015 2014 2010–2012 2009–2013 2006 2002 2001 2000 1998 1996 1995 1993 1990–1997	TCR TCR TCR WTCC V8 Supercars Superstars Series WTCC ETCC Euro STC Euro STC BTCC Italian Superturismo Italian Superturismo Italian Superturismo Formula One

Gianni Morbidelli, born on January 13, 1968, is a famous Italian racing driver. He competed in many different types of races, including the exciting world of Formula One. He took part in 70 Formula One races and even finished on the podium once, which means he was one of the top three drivers in that race! More recently, he raced in the TCR International Series.

Racing Career

Starting Out in Racing

Gianni Morbidelli was born in Pesaro, Italy. His dad, Giancarlo Morbidelli, started a motorcycle company called Morbidelli. This company was very successful in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. Gianni began his own racing journey in 1980 by competing in karting, which is racing small, open-wheel vehicles.

In 1986, he won the EUR-AM championship in karting. After that, he moved on to Italian Formula Three, a type of racing for young drivers hoping to reach Formula One. He became the Italian Formula 3 and Formula 3 European Cup champion in 1989. That same year, he also won two races in Italian Touring Cars.

Formula One Adventures

Gianni first joined Formula One in 1990 with the Scuderia Italia team. He raced in the first two events of the season. After that, he focused on International Formula 3000, another step towards F1. He won one race and finished fifth in the 1990 championship. He also worked as a test driver for Scuderia Ferrari that year.

Morbidelli driving his Footwork FA15 during the 1994 British Grand Prix.

Gianni returned to F1 at the end of 1990 with the Minardi team. He stayed with them until the end of 1992. For one race, the 1991 Australian Grand Prix, he even filled in for Alain Prost at Ferrari. In that race, which was shortened due to rain, Gianni earned his first F1 points by finishing sixth.

After leaving Minardi, he raced in Italian Touring Cars in 1993. He drove an Alfa Romeo 155 and won two races. Then, in 1994, he joined the Footwork Arrows F1 team. Over two years with them, he scored points four times. His best result was a third-place finish at the 1995 Australian Grand Prix. This was his only podium finish in F1! He scored a total of eight points for Footwork Arrows, becoming their most successful driver.

In 1995, Gianni also raced in the Italian Superturismo Championship again, winning two races. After a year of testing for Jordan in 1996, he got another podium finish. He returned to Formula One in 1997, racing for Sauber in some mid-season events. However, he didn't score any points that year. After an unlucky season and two injuries from testing accidents, Gianni decided to retire from Formula One.

Life After Formula One

Morbidelli driving for Volvo in the 1998 British Touring Car Championship.

In 1998, Gianni raced for Volvo in the British Touring Car Championship. He wasn't as successful as his teammate, Rickard Rydell, who won the championship that year. His best race was at Thruxton, where he drove from near the back to finish fourth.

After that, Gianni spent several years racing in different European touring car series. A highlight was in 2001, when he raced a BMW 320i in the European Touring Car Championship and finished fifth overall. He even won the last race of the season at Estoril.

Morbidelli competing in the 2014 World Touring Car Championship.

In 2005, Gianni raced a Lamborghini in some grand tourer races. Then, in 2006, he returned to touring cars. He competed in the World Touring Car Championship for N-Technology and achieved two second-place finishes in an Alfa Romeo 156.

He then moved back to GT racing in 2007, winning two races in the ADAC GT Masters series. Gianni had great success in the Italian Superstars Championship. He won the title three years in a row from 2007, driving both an Audi RS4 and a BMW M3. He also won another championship title in the short-lived Speedcar Series in 2008–09. He had a close battle with the defending champion, Johnny Herbert, and won the title in the final race.

Gianni returned to the WTCC in 2014, driving a Chevrolet Cruze for Münnich Motorsport. In 2015, he also made his first appearance in the FIA World Rallycross Championship at his home race in Italy, with the same team.

Racing Record

Career Summary

^† Not eligible for points.

Images for kids

• 

  Morbidelli at the 2014 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium.

• 

  Morbidelli driving his Footwork FA15 during the 1994 British Grand Prix.

• 

  Morbidelli driving for Volvo in the 1998 British Touring Car Championship.

• 

  Morbidelli competing in the 2014 World Touring Car Championship.

See also

In Spanish: Gianni Morbidelli para niños