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Norberto Fontana

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Norberto Fontana
Born (1975-01-20) 20 January 1975 (age 49)
Arrecifes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityArgentina Argentine
Active years1997
TeamsSauber
Entries4
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1997 French Grand Prix
Last entry1997 European Grand Prix

Norberto Edgardo Fontana (born 20 January 1975) is an Argentine racing driver. He participated in four Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 29 June 1997 but scoring no championship points.

His opportunity to race came as a result of two separate injuries sustained by regular Sauber driver Gianni Morbidelli during the 1997 season. During the 1997 European Grand Prix, Fontana had gained attention for apparently blocking Jacques Villeneuve to let rival Michael Schumacher pull away from the Canadian. He attempted to enter with the Tyrrell team for 1998 but was dropped in favour for Brazilian Ricardo Rosset and with Minardi for 2000. In between his time in F1, Fontana raced in Formula Nippon. In 2010 he won the Konex Award as one of the five best Racing Drivers of the last decade in Argentina.

Early career

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Fontana was born in Arrecifies, Buenos Aires as the son of Hector and Clara Fontana. He started racing at the age of 8 at the Summer Night Championship in Lujan. In 1989, he began a full season of karting and finished 2nd in the Youth Kart Championship of Buenos Aires Province. The following year, Fontana progressed to a higher level of championship and finished 4th. In 1992, he moved into car racing and competed in the Formula Renault Argentina series before moving into the European series events in 1993.[1]

Fontana raced in the German Formula Three Championship series in 1994 and 1995, winning the 1995 title as well as that year's Marlboro Masters event at Zandvoort circuit.[2] He claimed the title ahead of drivers including Ralf Schumacher, Alexander Wurz, Jarno Trulli and Jan Magnussen.[citation needed]

In 1996, Fontana entered Formula Nippon for the Nova Engineering team driving a Lola T96/51 Mugen. His highlights were finishing 2nd twice in Fuji in a season that included multiple accidents, mechanical failures and poor results. For 1997, he drove for the Le Mans team in their Reynard 97D Mugen. The season started badly but made a comeback to finish 5th in Fuji, a win at Mine and 3rd in Motegi.[1]

Formula One

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Fontana joined the Sauber test team in 1995 when Peter Sauber approached him for a test session that took place at Barcelona in late 1994. He retained this role throughout 1995 and 1996.[1]

1997

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Fontana made his Formula One debut at the 1997 French Grand Prix replacing Gianni Morbidelli who had broken his arm prior to the race. He qualified 20th and retired when he understeered and ended up in a gravel trap. Prior to the British GP, team principal Peter Sauber looked for replacements to take Fontana's seat but eventually decided to keep Fontana on board. During qualifying, he missed a red light indicating that the car must come in for a mandatory weight check. Fontana drove past the light and was forced to start at the back of the grid. In the race, Fontana finished 9th despite his right leg becoming numb. At Hockenheim, he started 18th and finished 9th despite spinning early on.[3]

At the 1997 European Grand Prix in Jerez, Fontana received a $5,000 fine for speeding in the pitlane and eventually qualified 18th. During the race, Fontana appeared to block Jacques Villeneuve, who was the direct rival of Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher at the time. ITV commentator Martin Brundle pointed out that the Sauber team used Ferrari engines at the time.[4] Fontana eventually finished 14th with his highlight being overtaking Jos Verstappen with two wheels on the grass.[3]

Attempted comebacks

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Fontana was considered as a driver for the dying Tyrrell team for 1998 with team principal Ken Tyrrell negotiating with the Argentine. Fontana signed a draft contract, but did not sign the final contract as the owners British American Tobacco had vetoed the suggestion and Tyrrell was forced to sign Brazilian Ricardo Rosset who had more sponsorship brought to the team. In 1999, Fontana tested with Minardi for a seat that would partner Marc Gené. However, sponsorship once again caused the Argentine to lose the seat for a possible comeback.[3]

Post-Formula One

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Fontana decided to return to Formula Nippon and finished 4th in the series which included a win in Fuji. He also competed in the Japanese GT Championship and was paired with Masanori Sekiya. The pair finished 6th in Suzuka, 3rd at Sendai and Motegi. The pair finished 7th in the championship.[5]

Touring car racing

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Fontana driving a Toyota Corolla in the TC2000 Championship.

He subsequently moved into Argentine touring car racing, driving in the Turismo Carretera, TC2000 and Top Race V6. In the TC2000 he was champion in 2002 (with Toyota) and 2010 (with Ford), and third in 2004 and 2014. In 2006, he was Turismo Carretera champion. Until 2009 he drove for Toyota, given the relationship he had with the brand when he raced in Japan.

In 2022, at the age of 49, Fontana joined TCR South America.[6]

Fontana also competed at the 2011 Dakar Rally in a buggy.

Racing record

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Complete German Formula Three results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Pts
1994 KMS Opel A ZOL
1

C
ZOL
2

15
HOC
1

11
HOC
2

8
NÜR
1

Ret
NÜR
2

9
WUN
1

1
WUN
2

8
NOR
1

5
NOR
2

20
DIE
1

Ret
DIE
2

13
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

1
AVU
1

3
AVU
2

2
ALE
1

Ret
ALE
2

DNS
HOC
1

2
HOC
2

Ret
6th 118
1995 KMS Opel A HOC
1

1
HOC
2

1
AVU
1

1
AVU
2

1
NOR
1

3
NOR
2

4
DIE
1

3
DIE
2

3
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

1
ALE
1

1
ALE
2

1
MAG
1

1
MAG
2

1
HOC
1

4
HOC
2

20
1st 256

Complete Formula Nippon results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Points
1996 Shionogi Team Nova SUZ
14
MIN
2
FUJ
1
TOK
Ret
SUZ
8
SUG
Ret
FUJ
2
MIN
Ret
SUZ
11
FUJ
Ret
5th 22
1997 Team LeMans SUZ
9
MIN
8
FUJ
6
SUZ
Ret
SUG
7
FUJ
2
MIN
1
MOT
3
FUJ
Ret
SUZ
Ret
3rd 21
1998 LEMONed Racing Team LeMans SUZ
3
MIN
Ret
FUJ
6
MOT
Ret
SUZ
Ret
SUG
Ret
FUJ
C
MIN
2
FUJ
1
SUZ
8
4th 21

Complete International Formula 3000 results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DC Points
1996 Edenbridge Racing NÜR PAU PER HOC SIL SPA MAG EST
Ret
MUG HOC NC 0
1999 Fortec Motorsport IMO
Ret
MON
5
CAT
Ret
MAG
Ret
SIL
5
A1R
8
HOC
Ret
HUN
Ret
SPA
14
NÜR
10
15th 4
2001 F3000 Prost Junior Team INT IMO CAT A1R MON NÜR MAG SIL HOC HUN
14
SPA
Ret
MNZ
Ret
32nd 0

Complete Formula One results

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(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Points
1997 Red Bull Sauber Petronas Sauber C16 Petronas V10 AUS BRA ARG SMR MON ESP CAN FRA
Ret
GBR
9
GER
9
HUN BEL ITA AUT LUX JPN EUR
14
NC 0

Complete JGTC results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 DC Pts
1998 Toyota Castrol Team Toyota Supra GT500 SUZ
6
FUJ
C
SEN
3
FUJ
8
MOT
3
MIN
16
SUG
Ret
7th 33

Complete CART results

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(key)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Rank Points Ref
2000 Della Penna MIA
15
LBH
15
RIO
23
MOT
DNS
NZR
20
MIL
Wth
DET
14
POR
21
CLE
11
TOR
20
MIS CHI MDO ROA VAN LS STL HOU SRF FON 28th 2 [7]

Complete TCR World Tour results

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(key)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DC Points
2024 Cobra Racing Team Toyota GR Corolla Sport TCR VAL
1
VAL
2
MRK
1
MRK
2
MDO
1
MDO
2
SAP
1

19
SAP
2

16
ELP
1

Ret
ELP
2

12
ZHZ
1

ZHZ
2

MAC
1

MAC
2

30th* 4*

* Season still in progress.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Noberto Fontana - Before Formula One". F1 Rejects. 21 January 2005. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008.
  2. ^ "August 1995 Data". Teamdan.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "Noberto Fontana - Formula One". F1 Rejects. 21 January 2005. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008.
  4. ^ "Sauber contradicts Fontana". grandprix.com. 21 September 2006. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  5. ^ "Norberto Fontana - After Formula One". F1 Rejects. 21 January 2005. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008.
  6. ^ "TCR South America | 2024". southamerica.tcr-series.com. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  7. ^ "Norberto Fontana – 2000 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
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