David Mrázek

Mrázek in 1998.

Brno, Czechoslovakia

**David Lukáš Mrázek** (born 21 October 1968) is a retired Czech racing driver, most famously known for being a 2-time International Formula Series champion in 1996 and 1998. A fierce fighter and rival to many, Mrázek is also remembered for his title battles with fellow world champions Carlos Oliveira, Matteo Russo and Anton Hackl throughout the 1990s. He is also the team principal of Formula B team Mrázek Racing.

## **Career**

David Mrázek began his career in karting before moving up to single-seaters in the Czech Formula C Championship. Aged 20, Mrázek would go on to win the Formula C title on his debut before moving onto International Formula Junior in 1989.

Mrázek would endure a trial of fire in International Formula Juniors, as he signed with Eurotechnica Junior Team for the 1990 season, alongside fellow future IFS driver Theo Huisman. He went on to record his first podium finish at the Spanish Grand Prix and would go on to take his first win at the European Grand Prix 6 rounds later, however he failed to achieve much apart from that in the season. He'd finish P8 in the championship, just 3 points shy of teammate Huisman. A solid first season for Mrázek, however a lack of consistency saw him fall short of his rivals.

1991 would fare much better for Mrázek in International Formula Juniors, continuing on with the Eurotechnica Junior Team. Mrázek proved to the field that he is a force to be reckoned with, and won the first round of the season at the Nürburgring. This started a streak of podiums which put him 26 points ahead of closest championship rival Patrick Jensen, however the Czech man would pick up a race ban after the following round at Magny-Cours due to intentionally crashing into a lapped car. Jensen would go on to win the race which Mrázek was banned from, effectively nullifying the gains of Mrázek throughout the first races of the season.

Mrázek continued his charge throughout the season however, and he would clinch the title at the final round of the season in Monza, 28 points clear of P2 to become the 1991 International Formula Junior champion.

Many people were expecting for Mrázek to join Eurotechnica's IFS team for 1992, but to the shock of many, Mrázek was turned down by Eurotechnica, and instead joined Italian team Cattolica Racing, alongside IFS race winner Katsuhiro Arai. He had a decent first outing for Cattolica, finishing in the points on his IFS debut and outqualifying more experienced teammate Arai. He would outqualify Arai in 3 out of the first 6 races of the season, but ultimately fell short towards the later end of the season. The season ended with Mrázek P13 in the championship, with teammate Arai in P11 and 6 points ahead. His best recorded finish in 1992 would be a fifth-place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix. A decent first IFS season for Mrázek, however critics were doubting the Czech man's abilities.

1993 would be a steady second season for Mrázek as he continued with Cattolica Racing, however it would be marred with highs and lows. Once again paired with Katsuhito Arai, Mrázek finished P9 at the opening round in Argentina, and followed it up with an even better P8 finish at the Spanish Grand Prix. The rest of the season wouldn't go as smoothly, as Mrázek suffered a string of DNFs throughout the mid-season, but his moment of glory would come at the Belgian Grand Prix that season, when a chaotic rainy race and a well-timed strategy would put Mrázek P4 on track with two laps to go. He'd go on to claim P3 at the chequered flag after Patrick Williams spun at Pouhon, which netted Mrázek and Cattolica their first ever IFS podiums.

This podium turned into incredible momentum for Mrázek, who went on to finish in the points in all but one of the last 7 races of the season, out-driving the car on many occasions and proving himself to the IFS paddock. He finished the season P9 in the championship, a whopping 21 points clear of more experienced teammate Arai.

Mrázek was starting to show signs of greatness in the Cattolica car. Noticing the traction of the young Czech driver, and being in need of a second driver after the departure of Thierry Collin, Mrázek was signed by Scuderia Barzetti for the 1994 season.

Mrázek's move to Scuderia Barzetti in 1994 would prove to be the start of his championship-winning run. The team, which had won the Constructors' Championship in 1993, was looking for a driver who could help them defend their title. Mrázek was the perfect choice, and he quickly showed his talent by winning the opening round of the season in Brazil. He would go on to win four more races that season, and although he suffered a few retirements, he finished on the podium in six of the nine races he finished. He finished the season fourth in the championship, just one point behind Carlos Oliveira.

The 1995 season saw Mrázek and Scuderia Barzetti take the fight to Oliveira and to SAMB. Mrázek won four races that season, including a hat-trick of wins in the middle of the season, and he finished on the podium in all but four of the races he finished. He was unable to clinch the championship after Carlos Oliveira took a dominant victory in the final round of the season in Japan, with Mrázek losing out by only 4 points to the championship.

The following year, Mrázek faced a tougher challenge from his rivals. Matteo Russo, who had won the championship in 1994, was back with a vengeance, and Carlos Oliveira was once again, also in the mix. Mrázek started the season strongly, winning two of the first three races, but he suffered a mid-season slump with three consecutive retirements. He bounced back with a win in Canada, but it was his consistency that ultimately won him the championship. He finished on the podium in six of the nine races he finished, including a vital second-place finish in the final race of the season in Spain, which was enough to secure the title by just two points from Oliveira.

Throughout his championship-winning years, Mrázek was known for his fierce driving style and his ability to push the limits of his car. He was also known for his intense rivalries with his fellow competitors, particularly Oliveira, Russo, and Hackl. These battles added to the excitement of the championship and helped to cement Mrázek's status as one of the all-time greats of the International Formula Series.

After his championship-winning years, Mrázek continued to compete in the IFS for several more seasons, but he never again challenged for the title. He retired from racing in 2002 with a total of 16 race wins and 30 podium finishes in the International Formula Series. Today, he is remembered as one of the most talented and intense drivers to have ever competed in the series.