# Pierluigi Martini

Pierluigi Martini (born 23 April 1961) is an Italian former racing driver. He won the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans and participated in 124 Formula One Grands Prix (with 119 starts) between 1984 and 1995.

## Early life

Martini's uncle, Giancarlo Martini, raced during the 1970s, including some non-championship races in a Ferrari 312T entered by Scuderia Everest, a team owned by Giancarlo Minardi. Pierluigi's younger brother, Oliver, is also a racing driver.

## Formula One

Martini participated in 124 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 9 September 1984, driving for Toleman in place of suspended Ayrton Senna at the 1984 Italian Grand Prix. He scored a total of 18 championship points and was synonymous with the Minardi team (run by the same Giancarlo Minardi who had previously owned Scuderia Everest).
Indeed, aside from a single outing with Toleman and a one-season dalliance with Scuderia Italia in 1992, Martini's entire Formula One career was spent with the Italian outfit. He raced with the minnow team in three different stints, drove for them on their debut in 1985, scored their first point in the 1988 Detroit Grand Prix, and their only front-row start at the 1990 United States Grand Prix (where unexpected rain on Saturday meant that the grid was decided entirely by times from Friday's session. Pirelli's soft qualifying tyres caught Goodyear off guard, and the Italian manufacturer put five of its teams in the top ten positions). Both Martini and Minardi led a race for a single lap at the 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix, and their joint-best finish was 4th at the 1991 San Marino Grand Prix and 1991 Portuguese Grand Prix, the latter being Martini's single finish on the lead lap. Initially out of a drive for 1993, he was recalled back to the little Italian team midway through the season in place of Fabrizio Barbazza, Martini impressed by outpacing his young teammate Christian Fittipaldi.
Martini was also one of the drivers with a reputation for ignoring blue flags. Examples given are the 1991 Monaco Grand Prix when he held up Emanuele Pirro in the Dallara, Stefano Modena in the Tyrrell, and Riccardo Patrese in the Williams for several laps despite running towards the back of the field, and the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix where he blocked Gerhard Berger in the Ferrari when the Austrian tried to lap him. On both occasions Martini was called in for a 10-second stop and go penalty for ignoring blue flags.
Quizzed about this attitude on the occasion of the 1995 San Marino Grand Prix, where he held up winner Damon Hill, Martini replied: 'What should I exactly apologise for? My trajectories are always clean. Should I just park the car on the grass? I'm here to do my race like anybody else. I've always been correct. Those who complain about my conduct should explain why they cannot overtake me when their car has at least 150 hp more than mine'.

## Sportscars

Prior to commencing his Formula One career, Martini drove a Lancia LC2 in the 1984 24 Hours of Le Mans. After leaving Formula One, he began a successful career in sportscar racing. He contested the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche run by Joest Racing. 1997 brought a fourth-place finish in a Porsche 911 GT1 which he also raced in the FIA GT Championship that year. In 1998, he joined the brand new Le Mans program of BMW Motorsports.
In 1999, Martini, Yannick Dalmas and Joachim Winkelhock won the Le Mans 24 Hours. The trio drove for BMW. The team had to fight both Toyota and Mercedes works cars and won the race by a lap from the runner-up Toyota.
Martini returned to motorsports in 2006, competing in the Grand Prix Masters series for retired Formula One drivers.

## Racing record
### Career summary

| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
| 1981 | Italian Formula Three | Trivellato Racing | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 14th |
| 1981 | European Formula Three | Trivellato Racing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1982 | Italian Formula Three | Pavesi Racing | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 40.5 | 3rd |
| 1982 | European Formula Three | Pavesi Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1983 | European Formula Three | Pavesi Racing | 14 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 66 | 1st |
| 1983 | Macau Grand Prix | Pavesi Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1983 | European Formula Two | Minardi Team Srl | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 11th |
| 1984 | World Sportscar Championship | Martini Racing | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 44th |
| 1984 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | BP Résidences Malardeau, Scuderia Jolly Club | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1984 | Formula One | Toleman Group Motorsport | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1985 | Formula One | Minardi Team | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1986 | International Formula 3000 | Pavesi Racing | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 36 | 2nd |
| 1986 | Macau Grand Prix | Pavesi Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 10th |
| 1987 | International Formula 3000 | Pavesi Racing | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 11th |
| 1988 | International Formula 3000 | First Racing | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 4th |
| 1988 | Formula One | Lois Minardi Team | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17th |
| 1989 | Formula One | Minardi Team SpA | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 15th |
| 1989 | Italian Superturismo Championship | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1990 | Formula One | SCM Minardi Team | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1991 | Formula One | Minardi Team | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11th |
| 1992 | Formula One | Scuderia Italia SpA | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16th |
| 1993 | Formula One | Minardi Team | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1994 | Formula One | Minardi Scuderia Italia | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 21st |
| 1995 | Formula One | Minardi Scuderia Italia | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1996 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Joest Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1997 | FIA GT Championship | BMS Scuderia Italia | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33rd |
| 1997 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | BMS Scuderia Italia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 8th |
| 1997 | International Sports Racing Series | Joest Racing | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | N/A | NC |
| 1998 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Team BMW Motorsport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1998 | International Sports Racing Series | BMW Team Rafanelli | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/A | NC |
| 1999 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | BMW Motorsport | 1 | 1 | 0 | ? | 1 | N/A | 1st |
| 1999 | American Le Mans Series | Schnitzer Motorsport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 88th |
| 2000 | American Le Mans Series | Team Rafanelli | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | NC |
| 2006 | Grand Prix Masters | Team Global Logistics, Team Motorola | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8th |
| 2009 | Campionato Italiano Superstars | Zakspeed Team | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 114 | 5th |
| 2009 | International Superstars Series | Zakspeed Team | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 10th |

### Complete European Formula Two Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1983 | Minardi Team Srl | Minardi M283 | BMW | SIL | THR | HOC | NÜR | VAL | PAU | JAR | DON | MIS 2 | PER | ZOL | MUG | 11th | 6 |

### Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1986 | Pavesi Corse | Ralt RB20 | Cosworth | SIL 19 | VAL 10 | PAU DNQ | SPA 11 | | | | | | | | 2nd | 36 |
| 1986 | Pavesi Corse | Ralt RT20 | Cosworth | | | | | IMO 1 | MUG 1 | PER 2 | ÖST 7 | BIR 2 | BUG Ret | JAR 1 | 2nd | 36 |
| 1987 | Pavesi Racing | Ralt RT21 | Cosworth | SIL 5 | VAL Ret | SPA Ret | PAU 7 | DON 8 | | BRH 20 | BIR Ret | IMO Ret | BUG 7 | | 11th | 8 |
| 1987 | Pavesi Racing | Ralt RT20 | Cosworth | | | | | | PER 2 | | | | | JAR 9 | 11th | 8 |
| 1988 | First Racing | March 88B | Judd | JER 8 | VAL 11 | PAU 3 | SIL 10 | MNZ Ret | PER 1 | BRH 2 | BIR 3 | BUG | ZOL Ret | DIJ 10 | 4th | 23 |

### Complete Formula One results

(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | WDC | Points |
| 1984 | Toleman Group Motorsport | Toleman TG184 | Hart Straight-4 | BRA | RSA | BEL | SMR | FRA | MON | CAN | DET | DAL | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA DNQ | EUR | POR | | NC | 0 |
| 1985 | Minardi Team | Minardi M185 | Cosworth V8 | BRA Ret | POR Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1985 | Minardi Team | Minardi M185 | MM V6 | | | SMR Ret | MON DNQ | CAN Ret | DET Ret | FRA Ret | GBR Ret | GER 11 | AUT Ret | NED Ret | ITA Ret | BEL 12 | EUR Ret | RSA Ret | AUS 8 | | NC | 0 |
| 1988 | Lois Minardi Team | Minardi M188 | Cosworth V8 | BRA | SMR | MON | MEX | CAN | DET 6 | FRA 15 | GBR 15 | GER DNQ | HUN Ret | BEL DNQ | ITA Ret | POR Ret | ESP Ret | JPN 13 | AUS 7 | | 17th | 1 |
| 1989 | Minardi Team SpA | Minardi M188B | Cosworth V8 | BRA Ret | SMR Ret | MON Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 5 |
| 1989 | Minardi Team SpA | Minardi M189 | Cosworth V8 | | | | MEX Ret | USA Ret | CAN Ret | FRA Ret | GBR 5 | GER 9 | HUN Ret | BEL 9 | ITA 7 | POR 5 | ESP Ret | JPN | AUS 6 | | 15th | 5 |
| 1990 | SCM Minardi Team | Minardi M189 | Cosworth V8 | USA 7 | BRA 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1990 | SCM Minardi Team | Minardi M190 | Cosworth V8 | | | SMR DNS | MON Ret | CAN Ret | MEX 12 | FRA Ret | GBR Ret | GER Ret | HUN Ret | BEL 15 | ITA Ret | POR 11 | ESP Ret | JPN 8 | AUS 9 | | NC | 0 |
| 1991 | Minardi Team | Minardi M191 | Ferrari V12 | USA 9 | BRA Ret | SMR 4 | MON 12 | CAN 7 | MEX Ret | FRA 9 | GBR 9 | GER Ret | HUN Ret | BEL 12 | ITA Ret | POR 4 | ESP 13 | JPN Ret | AUS Ret | | 11th | 6 |
| 1992 | Scuderia Italia SpA | BMS Dallara 192 | Ferrari V12 | RSA Ret | MEX Ret | BRA Ret | ESP 6 | SMR 6 | MON Ret | CAN 8 | FRA 10 | GBR 15 | GER 11 | HUN Ret | BEL Ret | ITA 8 | POR Ret | JPN 10 | AUS Ret | | 16th | 2 |
| 1993 | Minardi Team | Minardi M193 | Ford V8 | RSA | BRA | EUR | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR Ret | GER 14 | HUN Ret | BEL Ret | ITA 7 | POR 8 | JPN 10 | AUS Ret | | NC | 0 |
| 1994 | Minardi Scuderia Italia | Minardi M193B | Ford V8 | BRA 8 | PAC Ret | SMR Ret | MON Ret | ESP 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21st | 4 |
| 1994 | Minardi Scuderia Italia | Minardi M194 | Ford V8 | | | | | | CAN 9 | FRA 5 | GBR 10 | GER Ret | HUN Ret | BEL 8 | ITA Ret | POR 12 | EUR 15 | JPN Ret | AUS 9 | | 21st | 4 |
| 1995 | Minardi Scuderia Italia | Minardi M195 | Ford V8 | BRA DNS | ARG Ret | SMR 12 | ESP 14 | MON 7 | CAN Ret | FRA Ret | GBR 7 | GER Ret | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | EUR | PAC | JPN | AUS | NC | 0 |

### Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1984 | BP Résidences Malardeau Scuderia Jolly Club | Xavier Lapeyre Beppe Gabbiani | Lancia LC2 | C1 | 117 | DNF | DNF |
| 1996 | Joest Racing | Michele Alboreto Didier Theys | TWR Porsche WSC-95 | LMP1 | 300 | DNF | DNF |
| 1997 | BMS Scuderia Italia | Christian Pescatori Antônio Hermann de Azevedo | Porsche 911 GT1 | GT1 | 317 | 8th | 4th |
| 1998 | Team BMW Motorsport | Joachim Winkelhock Johnny Cecotto | BMW V12 LM | LMP1 | 43 | DNF | DNF |
| 1999 | BMW Motorsport | Joachim Winkelhock Yannick Dalmas | BMW V12 LMR | LMP | 365 | 1st | 1st |

### Complete Grand Prix Masters results

(key) Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap.
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 2006 | Team Global Logistics | Delta Motorsport GPM | Nicholson McLaren 3.5 V8 | QAT 6 | ITA C | | | |
| 2006 | Team Motorola | Delta Motorsport GPM | Nicholson McLaren 3.5 V8 | | | GBR 7 | MAL C | RSA C |

## Sources

* ^ DRIVERS: PIERLUIGI MARTINI, GrandPrix.com
* ↑ Nyberg, Rainer; Diepraam, Mattijs (2001). "Minardi's F1 debut was with a Ferrari!". 8w.forix.com. Autosport/FORIX. Retrieved 2011-02-02.
* ↑ Celebrating Winless Wonders: 20 F1 Drivers with the Most Starts without a Win - Mike Pryson, Autoweek, 9 June 2020
* ↑ "' COM' E' SCORRETTO QUEL COULTHARD'". repubblica.it (in Italian). May 1995. Retrieved 16 October 2018.