Driver In Focus: Rubens Barrichello

The Development Years

Rubens Gonçalves “Rubinho” Barrichello (born May 23, 1972 in São Paulo) is a Brazilian Formula One racing driver.

Both his father and paternal grandfather are also named Rubens, and Barrichello shares his father’s birthday: May 23. Therefore, Rubens Barrichello was known as Rubinho (Portuguese for “little Rubens”), which has become his nickname.

Barrichello won five karting titles in Brazil before going to Europe to race in the Formula Vauxhall Lotus series in 1990. In his first year, he won the championship, a feat he replicated the following year in the British Formula 3 Championship, beating David Coulthard. He very nearly joined Formula One, the highest category of single seater racing, at just 19 years of age. Instead he competed in Formula 3000 in 1992. He finished third in the championship, and joined the Jordan Formula One team for the 1993 Formula One season. During this time, and also early in his Formula One career, Barrichello lived in Banbury & Cumnor, Oxfordshire, UK.

Driver In Focus: Fernando Alonso

The Development Years

Fernando Alonso was born on the 29^th of July 1981 in Oviedo, Spain. When he was young, Alonso often participated in karting competitions around Spain, supported by his father, who also doubled as his mechanic. His family lacked the financial resources needed to develop a career in motorsport, but his victories attracted sponsorship and the required funds to advance his career. Alonso won four Spanish championships back-to-back in the junior category, between 1993 and 1996 and the Junior World Cup in 1996. He won the Spanish and Italian Inter-A titles in 1997 and in 1998 won the Spanish Inter-A title again as well as finishing second in the European Championship.

In view of his success and performance, former Minardi F1 driver Adrián Campos gave Alonso his first test in a race car in October 1998. Just after three days of testing at the Albacete circuit, Alonso had managed tmatched the lap times of Campos’ previous driver Marc Gené. Campos signed Alonso to race for him in the 1999 Spanish Euro Open MoviStar by Nissan series. In his second race, again at Albacete, Alonso won for the first time. He took the championship by one point from championship rival Manuel Giao by winning and setting fastest lap at the last race of the season.

Driver In Focus: Jensen Button

Tuesday, 19th May 2009

The Development Years

Jensen Alexander Lyons Button was born on the 19th of January 1980 in Frome, Somerset.

The 29 year old Jenson Button is the son of a former racecar driver himself, John Button. Jensen Button started out racing like every other F1 driver, which was karting. He began training at the age of eight. In a kart bought by his father, Button was a natural talent. In his maiden debut in karting, he won the 1991 British Cadet Kart Championship. He did it amazingly by winning straight all the 34 races.

Jensen Button continued to race in the karting circle for a few more years before winning the European Super A Championship in 1997 which got him noticed and earned a place in the British Formula Ford Championship with Haywood Racing.