From: speednut@csource.oz.au (mark jose)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport
Subject: Driver's origins
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 92 14:05:57 +1000
Reply-To: speednut@csource.oz.au
Organization: Unique Computing Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia

I recently decided to make a list of all "qualified" drivers, their teams and
their place of origin just to see where drivers come from and other trivial
matters. Here is the compilation:
 
                       Place of     Team
Driver's Name          Origin       Proprietor         Chassis Maker       
%Pine
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
%P--------------
Alboreto, Michele      Italy        Jackie Oliver      Footwork FA13       
%Pen V10
Alesi, Jean            France       Luca Montezemolo   Ferrari F92A        
%Prari V12
Amati, Giovanna        Italy        Dennis Nursey      Brabham BT60B       
%Pd V10
Belmondo, Paul         France       Robin Herd         March CG911B        
%Por V10
Berger, Gerhard        Austria      Ron Dennis         McLaren MP4/7       
%Pda V12
Bertaggia, Enrico      Italy        ?????              Andrea Moda         
%Pd V10
Boutsen, Thierry       Belgium      Guy Ligier         Ligier JS37         
%Pault V10
Brundle, Martin        England      Tom Walkinshaw     Benetton B192       
%Pd V12
Caffi, Alex            Italy        ?????              Andrea Moda         
%Pd V10
Capelli, Ivan          Italy        Luca Montezemolo   Ferrari F92A        
%Prari V12
Chiesa, Andrea         Switzerland  Gabriel Rumi       Fondmetal GR01      
%Pd HB V8
Comas, Erik            France       Guy Ligier         Ligier JS37         
%Pault V10
de Cesaris, Andrea     Italy        Ken Tyrell         Tyrell 020B         
%Por V10
Fittipaldi, Christian  Brazil       Giancarla Minardi  Minardi M192        
%Pborghini V12
Gachot, Bertrand       Belgium      Eric Guilloud      Venturi Larrouss LC9
%Pborghini V12
Grouillard, Olivier    France       Ken Tyrell         Tyrell 020B         
%Por V10
Gugelmin, Mauricio     Brazil       Eddie Jordan       Jordan 192          
%Paha V12
Hakkinen, Mika         Finland      Peter Schubel      Lotus 102D          
%Pworth V8
Herbert, Johnny        England      Peter Schubel      Lotus 102D          
%Pworth V8
Katayama, Ukyo         Japan        Eric Guilloud      Venturi Larrouss LC9
%Pborghini V12
Lehto, J J             Finland      Giuseppe Lucchini  Dallara BMS192      
%Prari V12
Mansell, Nigel         England      Frank Williams     Williams FW14B      
%Pault V10
Martini, Pierluigi     Italy        Giuseppe Lucchini  Dallara BMS192      
%Prari V12
Modena, Stefano        Italy        Eddie Jordan       Jordan 192          
%Paha V12
Morbidelli, Gianni     Italy        Giancarla Minardi  Minardi M192        
%Pborghini V12
Patrese, Ricardo       Italy        Frank Williams     Williams FW14B      
%Pault V10
Schumacher, Michael    Germany      Tom Walkinshaw     Benetton B192       
%Pd V12
Senna, Ayrton          Brazil       Ron Dennis         McLaren MP4/7       
%Pda V12
Suzuki, Aguri          Japan        Jackie Oliver      Footwork FA13       
%Pen V10
Tarquini, Gabriele     Italy        Gabriel Rumi       Fondmetal GR01      
%Pd HB V8
van de Poele, Eric     Belgium      Dennis Nursey      Brabham BT60B       
%Pd V10
Wendlinger, Karl       Austria      Robin Herd         March CG911B        
%Por V10
 
 
The break-up by country of origin is:
 
        Austria        2
        Belgium        3
        Brazil         3
        England        3
        Finland        1
        France         4
        Germany        1
        Italy          11      <- Do the Italians love their racing or what?
        Japan          1
        Switzerland    1
 
 
It seems to me that there is a decided bias towards Europeans with the only
exceptions being the drivers from Brazil and Japan.
 
What is glaringly obvious is the lack of a North American driver from either
Canada or U.S.A. The same can also be said for Australia.
 
I can understand the lack of participation by the U.S.A. because they have
their own type of Formula car but what surprises me is the lack of a Canadian
driver. Perhaps our Canadian friends can fill me in on what type of auto racing
they have and whether it is a good grounding for Formula 1, given the fact that
unless you come through the Formula 3000 ranks or bring a swag of American
dollars, you find it hard to break into Formula 1.
 
 
It is also interesting to the note the ABSOLUTE dominance of the teams by
English owners or management.
 
 
Regards to you all.
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proud owner of a 1972 Ford XA Fairmont - 167 MPH of rev-limited thrills!!
The World's Fastest Four Door Production Sedan!   ** Carn the Hawks **
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.........................................................
mark jose
speednut@csource.oz.au  Unique Computing Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
The opinions expressed above are that of the author only.
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport