Tomáš Enge

Former F1 driver
Name = Tomáš Enge

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Caption = Tomáš Enge in 2007.
Nationality = flagicon|Czech Republic Czech
Years = F1|2001
Team(s) = Prost
Races = 3
Championships = 0
Wins = 0
Podiums = 0
Points = 0
Poles = 0
Fastest laps = 0
First race = 2001 Italian Grand Prix
First win =
Last win =
Last race = 2001 Japanese Grand Prix
Le Mans drivers
Years = 2002 - 2006
Team(s) = Prodrive, Aston Martin Racing
Best Finish = 6 (2006)
Class Wins = 1 (2003)

Tomáš Enge (IPA2|ˈtomaːʃ ˈɛŋɡɛ) (born September 11, 1976 in Liberec) is a motor racing driver from the Czech Republic, who has competed in many classes of motorsport, including three races in Formula One.

Career

He started his career at the age of 16, entering a Ford Fiesta he bought with his own money in the Czechoslovakian Ford Fiesta Cup. He participated in the final three races of the F1|2001 F1 season, debuting on September 16 at the Italian Grand Prix. Enge was brought in as a replacement for Luciano Burti after the latter's crash in the Belgian race, becoming his country's first F1 driver. The Prost team folded before the start of the 2002 season, leaving Enge without a drive.

He obtained his F1 break using the sponsorship from the local Coca-Cola subsidiary, which had also funded the Nordic Racing F3000 team he raced for that year. He finished 3rd in the 2001 standings despite missing the final race, and was stripped of the 2002 title due to a positive marijuana test [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/2253687.stm] . He returned to F3000 in 2004, and then headed to America for 2005, driving for Panther Racing in the IRL, with modest success. Among his 17 career IRL starts was his rookie start in the 2005 Indianapolis 500. He then drove for Team Czech Republic in the 2005-2006 A1GP season. Enge has also been a frequent driver for Prodrive's sportscar teams, driving both their Ferrari 550 Maranellos and Aston Martin DBR9s in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2006 he was driver of the #007 Aston Martin Racing entry in the American Le Mans Series, but for 2007 will switch to the Petersen/White Lightning Ferrari F430.

On March 31 2007, Enge was injured whilst driving his F430 at the ALMS St. Petersburg race. The car crashed whilst leading the GT2 class, suffering heavy damage to the driver's side and a brief fire. Enge was removed under medical supervision and transported to the local medical centre. [cite news| title =Enge in stable condition after crash| publisher =autosport.com| url =http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57730| date =2007-04-01| accessdate =2007-04-01] He was later revealed to have suffered a shattered elbow, cracked ribs, a partially collapsed lung and a potentially broken ankle, but not to be in any serious danger. [cite news| title =Tomas Enge medical update| publisher =motorsport.com| url =http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=247466&FS=ALMS-LEMANS| date =2007-04-01| accessdate =2007-04-01]

On July 21 2007, Enge was released from his contract with Peterson Motorsports/White Lightning Racing due to a penalty incurred after crashing into Mika Salo during the Acura Sports Car Challenge ALMS race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course [http://www.petersenmotorsports.com/singleItem.asp?ID=366] .

Racing record

Complete Formula 3000 results

() (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in "italics" indicate fastest lap.)
*(1) = Team standings.

ee also

*Formula One
*24 Hours of Le Mans 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
*IRL IndyCar Series

References

ee also

*List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

External links

* [http://www.tomas-enge.com Official site]
* [http://www.funof1.com.ar/tx/pi200115023_eng_enge_.htm Biography of Tomáš Enge (Driver's life)]