Stefano Modena

Former F1 driver


image-size = 150
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Name = Stefano Modena


Nationality = flagicon|ITA Italian
Years = F1|1987 – F1|1992
Team(s) = Brabham, EuroBrun, Tyrrell, Jordan
Races = 81 (70 starts)
Championships = 0
Wins = 0
Podiums = 2
Points = 17
Poles = 0
Fastest laps = 0
First race = 1987 Australian Grand Prix
First win =
Last win =
Last race = 1992 Australian Grand Prix

Stefano Modena (born May 12, 1963 in Modena cite web |url=http://www.oldracingcars.com/bydriver/watn.asp?letter=M |title= The World Championship drivers - Where are they now? |accessdate=2007-07-29 |last=Jenkins |first=Richard |publisher=OldRacingCars.com] ) is a former racing driver from Italy. He participated in 81 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on November 15, 1987. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 17 championship points.

Modena first came to attention in 1986, ranking 4th in the Italian Formula Three series with the Milan-based Euroteam. The following season he moved up to Formula 3000, winning the championship for Onyx, and making his Formula 1 debut at the season-ending Australian Grand Prix for Brabham-BMW.

For 1988, Modena signed up for the new EuroBrun team, but found the car uncompetitive. He qualified for 12 out of 16 races, with a best result of 11th at the Hungarian Grand Prix. For 1989 he returned to Brabham. There he regularly matched his more experienced team-mate Martin Brundle, scoring points at the Monaco Grand Prix, where he finished 3rd, which was the last podium finish for the Brabham team.

Modena stayed on at Brabham for 1990, but the team were low on funds. Aside from 5th place at the opening United States Grand Prix the year was something of a non-event, though he would sign for the resurgent Tyrrell team, to replace Jean Alesi in 1991.

He started the year well, coming 4th at the United States Grand Prix, running 3rd at the San Marino Grand Prix before his engine failed, holding a close 2nd behind Ayrton Senna at the Monaco Grand Prix until another engine breakage, and finishing 2nd at the Canadian Grand Prix, the penultimate podium for Tyrrell, because Mark Blundell finished third in the 1994 Spanish Grand Prix. However, the Tyrrell team fell away as the season went on, and Modena went largely into his shell, unable to change anything.

For 1992, he signed for Jordan, but the Irish team had underpowered, unreliable Yamaha engines. Modena struggled all year, failing to qualify four times and becoming unpopular among the team for his unsympathetic treatment of his machinery, and increasingly introspective personality. He scored a point for 6th place at the Australian Grand Prix, which was his last Grand Prix.

From 1993 to 2000, he drove almost exclusively in the Italian and German touring car series, with mixed results.

Complete Formula One results

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References