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Stefano Modena

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Stefano Modena
Born (1963-05-12) 12 May 1963 (age 61)
Modena, Italy
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityItaly Italian
Active years19871992
TeamsBrabham, EuroBrun, Tyrrell, Jordan
Entries81 (70 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums2
Career points17
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1987 Australian Grand Prix
Last entry1992 Australian Grand Prix

Stefano Modena (born 12 May 1963)[1] is a former racing driver from Italy. He participated in 81 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 15 November 1987. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 17 championship points.

Career

[edit]

Modena was born in Modena. A former 125cc Junior Karting Champion in Italy, he spent two seasons in the Italian Formula Ford national series before joining Euroracing in his domestic Formula 3 series in 1985, placing 15th in an Alfa Romeo engined Ralt. For 1986 he switched to Team Seresina's Reynard chassis and scored three wins to finish 4th overall, also placing 2nd at the Monaco support race and winning a round of the European series at Imola. In 1987 he joined Onyx for the Formula 3000 series, winning three rounds and being crowned as champion.[2]

His raw speed saw many mark him as a future champion, resulting in Modena being offered a one-off drive for Brabham in the final race of the 1987 Formula One season. While he impressed by qualifying 15th at the 1987 Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide, his inexperience with the turbo charged BMW engine saw him stop three times to replace flat-spotted tyres before retiring with exhaustion before mid-distance. Modena was intent on becoming a full-time Grand Prix driver for 1988, testing for Benetton before the season.[2] However, for a full-time drive he had to join the new EuroBrun team, who included many of the same Euroracing mechanics Modena had worked with in 1985. The EuroBrun ER188 with its 3.5 litre Ford Cosworth V8 engine was not competitive however, and Modena was consigned to run near the rear of the field for the year. He did however prove to be faster than his teammate, fellow F1 rookie and former Brun Motorsport sportscar driver, Argentina's Oscar Larrauri.

1989 saw Brabham reform after a sabbatical in 1988, now owned by Swiss businessman Joachim Luthi (who had bought the team from Walter Brun, the owner of EuroBrun), but featuring a lot of the same staff as in 1987. Modena was offered one of the seats, driving alongside Martin Brundle. Equipped with Pirelli qualifying tyres Modena frequently qualified well, starting inside the top 10 on eight occasions despite using the Judd V8 engine. However, the car wasn't reliable - though Modena's sole points finish would come with his 3rd place at the Monaco Grand Prix, his first of two F1 podiums. Before the 1990 season Luthi would be imprisoned for fraud and Brabham endured a difficult year with ownership problems. Modena raised the team's spirits by finishing 5th at the season-opening United States Grand Prix but after that results were rare.[3]

He finally got his big break in 1991 when he was signed as replacement for Ferrari-bound Tyrrell team leader Jean Alesi. With a healthy group of sponsors, 1990 spec Honda engines, Pirelli tyres and a development of the successful 020 chassis much was expected of the combination, with some predicting race wins. While his season started off with 4th place at Phoenix many of the front runners had retired without Modena getting near them. The wet conditions at Imola saw similar attrition allowing Modena to reach 3rd place before transmission failure. The following race at Monaco saw an even better performance as he qualified on the front row alongside his friend and World Champion Ayrton Senna, harrying the McLaren driver until being held up in traffic and suffering a violent engine failure. A steadier run in Canada was rewarded with 2nd place after Nigel Mansell retired on the final lap. After that Modena's form dropped off badly as Pirelli struggled to develop a consistent race tyre while the heavy Honda engines made the 020 chassis (originally designed for the Cosworth DFR V8) difficult to balance. While Modena continued to qualify frequently in the top half of the grid he struggled in races, only scoring one more point for 6th place at the Japanese Grand Prix.[4]

The season was considered a huge disappointment, and Modena left Tyrrell for Jordan the following season.[2] The team had made a strong debut in 1991 and many considered Modena was lucky to land a drive with them. However, their car was hindered by the underpowered Yamaha V12 engine and Modena struggled all season. He failed to qualify for four races and became unpopular with his team for his lack of mechanical sympathy and moody behaviour compared to teammate Maurício Gugelmin. This was confirmed by Gary Anderson, who had designed the 1992 car. Anderson said of Modena that the failures to qualify took his motivation away from him, and, due to his temper, he accumulated disappointments without being able to get over them. Despite scoring the team's only point of the year at the final round in Australia he was unable to find a drive in Grand Prix racing for 1993.

Modena drove instead for Alfa Romeo in the Italian and German touring categories from 1993 to 1999, winning occasional races but never looking like a serious contender for the title. After a year with Opel in 2000, he retired from motorsport.[2]

After retiring he participated to some twenty-four hours karting races and in 2003 he was hired by Bridgestone, to test first racing tires and then road tires. Over the years he has conducted hundreds of tests in every geographical and climatic condition, including France, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Belgium and Japan. Always for the Asian company he dedicated himself to the promotion, marketing and development of new road tires, travelling to Turkey, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, the United States and Dubai.

Since the late nineties he has been living permanently in Rome with his wife and former actress Sveva Altieri, with whom he had two children: Ascanio, an archaeologist and journalist, and Vittoria, a jurisconsult.

Modena was known for being an eccentric character with bizarre habits verging on the obsessive, including not wanting to have his car parked on the left side of the team garage, and not allowing anyone to touch his race car once he was inside other than the team member who helped him with his safety belts. During his F1 career it was not unusual to see Modena get out of his car after being strapped and get back in before the warm-up lap if he had seen someone else touch the car. Modena was also known to race with his gloves inside out. However, as he has claimed, this wasn't due to superstition.

Racing record

[edit]

Career summary

[edit]
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1985 Italian Formula Three Euroteam 13 0 0 1 0 5 15th
1986 Italian Formula Three Euroteam 13 3 1 4 5 38 4th
Macau Grand Prix 1 0 1 0 0 N/A 13th
1987 International Formula 3000 Onyx Racing 11 3 0 1 4 41 1st
Macau Grand Prix Euroteam 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 15th
Formula One Motor Racing Developments 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1988 Formula One EuroBrun Racing 10 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1989 Formula One Motor Racing Developments 15 0 0 0 1 4 16th
1990 Formula One Motor Racing Developments 16 0 0 0 0 2 16th
1991 Formula One Braun Tyrrell Honda 16 0 0 0 1 10 8th
1992 Formula One Sasol Jordan Yamaha 12 0 0 0 0 1 17th
1993 Italian Superturismo Championship Euroteam 20 0 0 0 0 46 11th
FIA Touring Car Challenge 2 0 0 0 0 14 13th
1994 Italian Superturismo Championship Euroteam 13 3 3 6 5 116 6th
Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft Alfa Corse 6 1 1 2 2 74 12th
FIA Touring Car World Cup 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1995 Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft Euroteam 11 0 0 1 1 26 16th
International Touring Car Series 10 0 0 2 1 49 7th
1996 International Touring Car Championship JAS Motorsport Alfa Corse 25 0 0 0 3 92 12th
1997 Super Tourenwagen Cup JAS Engineering 20 0 0 0 0 129 20th
1998 Super Tourenwagen Cup Euroteam 18 0 0 0 0 146 18th
Italian Superturismo Championship Nordauto Engineering 2 0 0 1 1 32 15th
1999 Super Tourenwagen Cup Euroteam 19 0 0 0 0 271 13th
2000 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Euroteam 14 0 0 0 0 15 15th
Sources:[5][6][7]

Complete International Formula 3000 results

[edit]

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos. Pts
1987 Onyx Racing SIL
4
VAL
1
SPA
Ret
PAU
Ret
DON
2
PER
6
BRH
4
BIR
1
IMO
1
BUG
Ret
JAR
6
1st 40
Sources:[5][6]

Complete Formula One results

[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Pts
1987 Motor Racing Developments Brabham BT56 BMW
Str-4
BRA SMR BEL MON DET FRA GBR GER HUN AUT ITA POR ESP MEX JPN AUS
Ret
NC 0
1988 EuroBrun Racing EuroBrun ER188 Cosworth V8 BRA
Ret
SMR
NC
MON
EX
MEX
EX
CAN
12
DET
Ret
FRA
14
GBR
12
GER
Ret
HUN
11
BEL
DNQ
ITA
DNQ
POR
DNQ
ESP
13
JPN
DNQ
AUS
Ret
NC 0
1989 Motor Racing Developments Brabham BT58 Judd V8 BRA
Ret
SMR
Ret
MON
3
MEX
10
USA
Ret
CAN
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
HUN
11
BEL
Ret
ITA
EX
POR
14
ESP
Ret
JPN
Ret
AUS
8
16th 4
1990 Motor Racing Developments Brabham BT58 Judd V8 USA
5
BRA
Ret
16th 2
Brabham BT59 SMR
Ret
MON
Ret
CAN
7
MEX
11
FRA
13
GBR
9
GER
Ret
HUN
Ret
BEL
17
ITA
Ret
POR
Ret
ESP
Ret
JPN
Ret
AUS
12
1991 Braun Tyrrell Honda Tyrrell 020 Honda V10 USA
4
BRA
Ret
SMR
Ret
MON
Ret
CAN
2
MEX
11
FRA
Ret
GBR
7
GER
13
HUN
12
BEL
Ret
ITA
Ret
POR
Ret
ESP
16
JPN
6
AUS
10
8th 10
1992 Sasol Jordan Yamaha Jordan 192 Yamaha V12 RSA
DNQ
MEX
Ret
BRA
Ret
ESP
DNQ
SMR
Ret
MON
Ret
CAN
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
DNQ
HUN
Ret
BEL
15
ITA
DNQ
POR
13
JPN
7
AUS
6
17th 1
Sources:[5][8]

Complete Italian Superturismo Championship results

[edit]
Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Pts
1993 Euroteam BMW 318i MNZ
1

8
MNZ
2

9
VAL
1

Ret
VAL
2

Ret
MIS
1

8
MIS
2

6
MAG
1

15
MAG
2

11
BIN
1

6
BIN
2

7
IMO
1

8
IMO
2

12
VAR
1

8
VAR
2

6
MIS
1

9
MIS
2

Ret
PER
1

10
PER
2

7
MUG
1

14
MUG
2

9
12th 45
1994 Euroteam Alfa Romeo 155 TS MNZ
1

15
MNZ
2

4
VAL
1

1
VAL
2

7
MAG
1

Ret
MAG
2

DNS
BIN
1

4
BIN
2

16
MIS
1

Ret
MIS
2

DNS
VAL
1

1
VAL
2

2
MUG
1

2
MUG
2

1
PER
1

PER
2

VAR
1

VAR
2

MUG
1

Ret
MUG
2

7
6th 116

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft/Masters results

[edit]

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pos. Pts
1994 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti ZOL
1
ZOL
2
HOC
1
HOC
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
MUG
1
MUG
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
NOR
1
NOR
2
DON
1
DON
2
DIE
1
DIE
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
AVU
1

1
AVU
2

1
ALE
1

2
ALE
2

2
HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

7
12th 74
1995 Euroteam Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

DNS
AVU
1

5
AVU
2

2
NOR
1

5
NOR
2

4
DIE
1

12
DIE
2

Ret
NÜR
1

Ret
NÜR
2

DNS
ALE
1

Ret
ALE
2

DNS
HOC
1

14
HOC
2

Ret
16th 26
2000 Euroteam Opel Astra V8 Coupé DTM 2000 HOC
1

13
HOC
2

10
OSC
1

12
OSC
2

Ret
NOR
1

10
NOR
2

10
SAC
1

14
SAC
2

Ret
NÜR
1

19
NÜR
2

15
LAU
1

C
LAU
2

C
OSC
1

Ret
OSC
2

DNS
NÜR
1

Ret
NÜR
2

DNS
HOC
1

9
HOC
2

4
15th 15
Sources:[5][7]

Complete International Touring Car Championship results

[edit]

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Pos. Pts
1995 Euroteam Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti MUG
1

6
MUG
2

11
HEL
1

2
HEL
2

Ret
DON
1

6
DON
2

13
EST
1

20
EST
2

5
MAG
1

5
MAG
2

6
7th 49
1996 JAS Motorsport Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

DNS
NÜR
1

17
NÜR
2

Ret
EST
1

DNS
EST
2

9
HEL
1

7
HEL
2

Ret
NOR
1

3
NOR
2

13
DIE
1

4
DIE
2

3
SIL
1

4
SIL
2

Ret
NÜR
1

13
NÜR
2

10
MAG
1

13
MAG
2

7
MUG
1

Ret
MUG
2

14
HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

10
INT
1

2
INT
2

8
SUZ
1

5
SUZ
2

4
12th 92
Sources:[5][7]

Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results

[edit]

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Pts
1997 JAS Engineering Alfa Romeo 155 TS HOC
1

10
HOC
2

17
ZOL
1

14
ZOL
2

27
NÜR
1

23
NÜR
2

20
SAC
1

23
SAC
2

Ret
NOR
1

27
NOR
2

7
WUN
1

14
WUN
2

Ret
ZWE
1

18
ZWE
2

20
SAL
1

19
SAL
2

17
REG
1

16
REG
2

10
NÜR
1

DNS
NÜR
2

Ret
20th 129
1998 Euroteam S.R.L. Alfa Romeo 156 HOC
1

18
HOC
2

18
NÜR
1

15
NÜR
2

12
SAC
1

10
SAC
2

17
NOR
1

Ret
NOR
2

DNS
REG
1

14
REG
2

Ret
WUN
1

Ret
WUN
2

9
ZWE
1

10
ZWE
2

10
SAL
1

16
SAL
2

Ret
OSC
1

18
OSC
2

15
NÜR
1

22
NÜR
2

17
18th 146
1999 Euroteam Alfa Romeo 156 SAC
1

7
SAC
2

11
ZWE
1

9
ZWE
2

10
OSC
1

10
OSC
2

Ret
NOR
1

12
NOR
2

13
MIS
1

6
MIS
2

Ret
NÜR
1

4
NÜR
2

4
SAL
1

7
SAL
2

4
OSC
1

Ret
OSC
2

DNS
HOC
1

7
HOC
2

Ret
NÜR
1

10
NÜR
2

7
13th 271

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d "DRIVERS: STEFANO MODENA". Grandprix.com. Inside F1. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  3. ^ "ROGUE PROFILE OF STEFANO MODENA". F1Rogues.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Stefano Modena: 1991 Formula One Results". racing-reference.info. Fantasy Sports Ventures. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Stefano Modena Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Stefano Modena". Motor Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Stefano Modena race results". TouringCars.net. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  8. ^ Small, Steve (2000). "Stefano Modena". Grand Prix Who's Who (Third ed.). Reading, Berkshire: Travel Publishing. pp. 386–387. ISBN 978-1-902007-46-5. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via Internet Archive.
Sporting positions
Preceded by FIA European Formula Three Cup
winner

1986
Succeeded by
Preceded by International Formula 3000
champion

1987
Succeeded by