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Date of Birth: 14 Jan 1973
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Marital status: Married to Luna, 1 child
Height: 170cm
Weight: 75kg
Wins: 0
Points Score: 81
Number of GP: 101
Pole Positions: 1
Podiums: 0
First GP: 1996 (Melbourne)
Best Result: 2nd
Current Team: Jordan |
History:
| 84/88 : |
Karting. |
| 1989 : |
European Kart Championship, 2nd. Karting World Championship, 4th. |
| 1990 : |
Karting 100cc Italy, 5th. |
| 1991 : |
Formula Alfa-Boxer. |
| 1992 : |
Formula 3 Italy, 8th. |
| 1993 : |
Formula 3 Italy, 2nd. |
| 1994 : |
Formula 3 Italy, Champion. |
| 1995 : |
DTM, 15th |
| 1996 : |
Formula 1 (Minardi), 17th. |
| 1997 : |
Formula 1 (Jordan), 9th with 20 points. |
| 1998 : |
Formula 1 (Benetton), 8th with 16 points. |
| 1999 : |
Formula 1 (Benetton), 9th with 13 points. |
| 2000 : |
Formula 1 (Benetton), 6th with 18 points. |
| 2001 : |
Formula 1 (Benetton), 11th with 8 points. |
| 2002 : |
Formula 1 (Jordan), 11th with 7 points. |
Career:
Giancarlo was runner up in karts before joining
his first car racing team, Formula Alfa Boxer, in 1991. He then competed for
three seasons in the Italian Formula Three series, racing for RC Motorsport. He
was runner up in 1993, but he clinched the title in 94, the same year he won the
Monaco Formula Three race, as well as one of the two heats of the international
invitation race at Macau.
Switching to the International Touring Car
Championship as a driver for Alfa Romeo in 95 and 96 didn't mean that his love
for open wheelers had diminished, and he made his Formula One debut in 1996,
with Minardi, until he was replaced with Giovanni Lavaggi. Giancarlo thrived
when he moved to Jordan in 1997, taking a second place in the Belgian Grand
Prix, even leading the German Grand Prix before retiring with mechanical
problems. Finishing the 97 season, 8th place overall, he moved to the Benetton
team for 1998, where he still remains. Here he achieved the first pole position
of his career, as well as two second places, finishing the season 9th overall,
with 16 points.
The Italian appeared to be one of Formula Ones rising new
stars, but the 99 season didn't turn out the way the young driver had hoped.
Finishing the season in ninth with only thirteen points, he was hoping for a
turn around in 2000, something that failed to eventuate. 2001 saw him partnered
with Jenson Button after his long-term partner, Alexander Wurz was dropped from
the team. Team boss Flavio Briatore announced late in 2000 that Giancarlo
wouldn't be starting 2002 with the team when it made the switch to Renault and
he was true to his word.
After a dismal year the Italian driver switched places with Jarno Trulli at
Jordan where he started 2002 alongside Japanese rising star, Takuma Sato. It
wasn't the season he was hoping for and when the Japanese GP came to a close in
October, Giancarlo had just seven points to his name, courtesy of three fifth
placed finishes and a sixth. Now with Ford power behind the EJ13, the Italian
driver is hoping for a much better 2003.