Martin Brundle

Brundle in his Benetton overalls

**Martin John Brundle** (born 1 June 1959) is a British racing driver, currently driving for Benetton in Formula One. Brundle contested the 1983 British Formula Three Championship, finishing a close second to Ayrton Senna, and the two progressed to Formula One the next year. Brundle has now raced in Formula One for nine years, racing for a host of teams.

## Early racing career

Brundle had an unorthodox route to Formula One. He began his racing career at the age of 12, competing in grass track racing, in the Norfolk village of Pott Row. In 1975, he moved to Hot Rod racing and received 'Star grade' status. In 1979, he started single seater racing in Formula Ford. During this time he also raced Tom Walkinshaw's BMW touring cars, during which he finished second against a field of international drivers at Snetterton. He won the BMW championship in 1980, and partnered Stirling Moss in the TWR-run BP/Audi team during the 1981 British Saloon Car Championship season. In 1982, he moved up to Formula Three achieving five pole positions and two wins in his debut season. He won the Grovewood Award as the most promising Commonwealth driver. The next year, he competed with Ayrton Senna for the Formula Three championship, which Brundle lost on the final laps of the last race. In 1984, he was offered a Formula One entry.

## Formula One

### Tyrrell (1984–1986)

His Formula One career began with the Tyrrell Racing Organisation in 1984. He put in a number of aggressive and fast drives, finishing fifth in his first race in Brazil and then second in Detroit before being disqualified. At the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix, Brundle broke his ankles and both feet in a crash during a practice session, and was forced to miss the rest of the season while he recuperated; the severity of the damage to Brundle's left ankle initially led doctors to consider amputating his left foot. While Brundle did recover, the damage would leave him with permanent injuries, preventing him from running and left-foot braking. Later in the year Tyrrell were disqualified from the World Championship due to a technical infringement and Brundle's achievements for that season were wiped from the record books.

For the next two seasons he remained with Tyrrell, and despite the team's switch from the Cosworth DFV to the turbocharged Renault engines in mid-1985, the team struggled against the works teams. He scored only eight points in his time with Tyrrell, all in the 1986 season.

### Zakspeed (1987)

In 1987 he left Tyrrell and moved to the struggling West German team Zakspeed, but he would fail to secure a top-ten position all season. The Zakspeed 871 car was unable to compete with the front runners. Brundle would not stay with Zakspeed for 1988 and would instead have the opportunity to sign for 1987 World Champions, Williams.

### Williams (1988)

Following Honda leaving for McLaren, Williams were without an engine deal for 1988 and had to rely on naturally aspirated Judd engines, and Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell would leave for Lotus and Ferrari respectively. Williams would turn to Brundle and Riccardo Patrese to mount their title defense. However, without turbo power Williams would have a deficit to their competitors and Brundle would not be able to achieve the results the team enjoyed the year before. He would score a handful of points this season, with season best results of 4th place at the Hungarian Grand Prix and Mexican Grand Prix. Brundle would finish the season in 9th in the Championship with 8 points; the same points as his team mate Patrese, but one place higher in the standings. Despite outperforming his team mate Williams were not satisfied with Brundle's performance and he was replaced by Joey Davies for 1989.

### Brabham (1989)

Brundle would next turn to the newly returned Brabham team for 1989, partnering Stefano Modena in the BT58 challenger. The Brabham would use Judd engines, but with the ban of turbo engines, the naturally aspirated Judd engines looked a more promising option for the season. The return of Brabham did not see a return to their former glory and the highlight of Brundle's season was a handful of top ten finishes mid-season. There was reliability in the car as Brundle had only 3 retirements that season. Brundle also comfortably outperformed Modena, who rarely matched the performance of his more experienced team mate.

### Arrows/Footwork (1990–1991)

For 1990, Brundle would get an opportunity to drive for Arrows-Ilmor for 1990 and there was talk the team may even secure wins in 1990. As it transpired, 1990 would be the pinnacle of Brundle's career. He immediately showed promise, gaining his first podium finish with 2nd at the season opening United States Grand Prix, just behind Alain Prost. Brundle would once again be on the podium with another 2nd at the next round at Brazil, being denied a maiden win by a stellar performance by Senna at his home grand prix. Brundle wouldn't have to wait long for his first win, securing his maiden victory with an outstanding performance at the Monaco Grand Prix, leading the World Drivers' Championship for the first time.

Brundle's next victory would not come in Formula One, but at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe. Qualifying for the 1990 edition of the race was dominated by Nissan, who took four of the first five grid slots, including pole position with fellow Brit Mark Blundell setting a sensational lap that was six seconds quicker than the Brun #16 Porsche 962C driven by Oscar Larrauri that would start second. Brundle was set to drive the #1 Silk Cut Jaguar, prepared by Tom Walkinshaw Racing, alongside David Leslie and Alain Ferté, but due to the rules regarding the number of drivers who could drive each car, Brundle had yet to step into the #1 car when a water leak proved terminal. Walkinshaw swapped out Eliseo Salazar (who had also yet to drive) from the leading Jaguar effort, the #3 car driven by John Nielsen and Price Cobb, with Brundle, and trusted him to bring the car, which had lost fourth gear, home. Brundle drove superbly and the Jaguar dominated the second half of the race, as the Nissans had either fallen apart or suffered severe issues, and the leading Porsche - the Brun Motorsport #16 - suffering a heart-breaking engine failure with fifteen laps to go. Failing to make the finish in his previous two appearances in TWR Jaguars, Brundle finally stood on the top step of the podium.

There was much promise of further wins in the rest of the season, but no further wins would come. At the British Grand Prix, hopes were high after Brundle secured his first pole position and fastest lap, but was only able to come home in 3rd, beaten by Senna and Davies. While there were no further wins it would be a tremendous performance in 1990, finishing the season 4th in the standings on 46 point and with 1 win and 8 podium finishes. As Arrows became Footwork in 1991, Brundle and team mate Johnny Herbert remained, and expectations were raised after the team's magnificent 1990. But, reliability for the Milton Keynes marque became a major concern. When Brundle saw the chequered flag in 1991, it was always a points finish, and there was one podium - a third place at the French Grand Prix. However, Brundle retired from 10 races, and fell from fourth in the 1990 standings to eighth, with 18 points. The Footwork team placed in the World Constructors' Championship in 1991 in the same position as Arrows' final season, fourth, but with less than half of Arrows' 1990 points total (82 in 1990 to 31 in 1991).

### Benetton (1992–present)

With the disappointing performance of the Footwork in 1991 and their loss of the Ilmor engines to McLaren, Brundle and team mate Herbert would move on to Benetton for 1992. The Benetton was a competitive package in 1992 and despite the dominance of the Williams and McLaren, Brundle would secure his second win in F1 at the Spanish Grand Prix. Brundle would also secure an impressive 3 fastest laps in the season. The season would be a successful one for Brundle, securing 5th in the championship with 34 points, 1 win and 4 podium finishes. Brundle would help Benetton secure 4th place in the Constructors Standings and when Michael Schumacher was signed to Benetton for 1993, Brundle would be retained over Herbert, who opted to join his mentor Peter Collins at Lotus.

## Personal life

The son of a motor car dealer, he is a shareholder in the family car dealership, a flagship Toyota dealer in Tottenhill, Norfolk. His brother, Robin, is also involved in the family business. Brundle is married to Liz and they have two children, Charlotte (b. 1988) and Alex (b. 1990).

## Formula One Statistical Overview

### Formula One Record

Notes
* ‡ – In 1984, Brundle's team, Tyrrell, were disqualified and banned from entering the remaining races that were left on the calendar, due to a technical infringement discovered at the race in Detroit. Brundle had scored 8 points until that point.
* \* – Season still in progress.

### Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in **bold** indicate pole position; races in *italics* indicate fastest lap)

Notes

* ‡ – In 1984, Brundle's team, Tyrrell, were disqualified and banned from entering the remaining races that were left on the calendar, due to a technical infringement discovered at the race in Detroit. Brundle had scored 8 points until that point.
* \* – Season still in progress.