Gianni Morbidelli

Gianni Morbidelli, born on January 13, 1968, is a versatile Italian racing driver with a career spanning several disciplines, from Formula One to touring cars and even NASCAR. Morbidelli's journey began in karting in 1980, progressing to win the EUR-AM championship in 1986. He then conquered the Italian Formula Three Championship and the Formula 3 European Cup in 1989, showcasing his talent early on.

His Formula One debut came in 1990 with Scuderia Italia, filling in for Emanuele Pirro. Throughout the nineties, Morbidelli participated in 70 Grands Prix, driving for teams like Minardi, Ferrari, Footwork, and Sauber. While a consistent points-scorer was elusive, he achieved a memorable podium finish, a third place at the dramatic 1995 Australian Grand Prix for Footwork, a race of high attrition. That result, combined with a sixth place in Canada, helped Footwork secure eighth in the Constructors' Championship. In 1991, he even had a brief stint with Ferrari, replacing Alain Prost for one race in Australia, earning half a point in a rain-shortened event.

After his Formula One career, Morbidelli transitioned to touring cars, achieving success in the Italian Superstars Championship, winning the title three years in a row with both Audi and BMW cars from 2007. He also competed in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). In 2020, he expanded his horizons further by making his debut in the NASCAR Euro Series. Morbidelli's diverse career reflects his adaptability and passion for racing across various forms of motorsport.