Eric van de Poele

Eric van de Poele, born on September 30, 1961, is a Belgian racing driver with a diverse and successful career spanning various motorsport disciplines. He is most notably recognized for his participation in 29 Formula One Grands Prix in the early 1990s.

Van de Poele's racing journey began in French Formula Three before he clinched the Belgian and Benelux Formula Ford titles. Transitioning to German Touring Cars, he remarkably won the 1987 championship without securing a single race victory. That same year, he achieved a significant milestone by winning the Spa 24 Hours, sharing the winning car with Didier Theys and Jean-Michel Martin. Progressing to Formula 3000, he finished fourth in 1989 and runner-up in 1990, setting the stage for his entry into Formula One.

His Formula One career included stints with the Modena Lamborghini team in 1991 and Brabham and Fondmetal in 1992. While points eluded him in F1, Van de Poele demonstrated his talent with a strong showing at the 1991 San Marino Grand Prix, where he briefly ran in fifth place. Following his F1 career, he found considerable success in touring car and sports car racing, including multiple wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, and further victories at the Spa 24 Hours, bringing his total to a record-setting five wins.