Ralph Firman

Last updated

Ralph Firman
Ralph Firman 2008 Super GT.jpg
Firman in 2008
Nationality Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British
Flag of Ireland.svg Irish
BornRalph David Firman Jr.
(1975-05-20) 20 May 1975 (age 49)
Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom
Formula One World Championship career
Active years 2003
Teams Jordan
Entries15 (14 starts)
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podiums0
Career points1
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First entry 2003 Australian Grand Prix
Last entry 2003 Japanese Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years 2004
Teams Racing for Holland
Best finishNC
Class wins0

Ralph David Firman Jr. (born 20 May 1975) is a British-born former racing driver who raced under Irish citizenship (his mother Angela is from Ireland) and an Irish-issued racing licence. Earlier in his career he raced under a British licence. His father, Ralph Firman Sr., co-founded the Van Diemen [1] racecar constructor with Ross Ambrose, father of V8 Supercars champion Marcos, then more recently founded RFR. He is married to Aldís Kristín Árnadóttir, an Icelandic UK-educated lawyer. Ralph's sister, Natasha, is also a racing driver.

Contents

Career

Formula Three

Firman driving for Paul Stewart Racing at Silverstone during the 1995 British Formula 3 Championship season. Ralph Firman British F3 1995 Silverstone.jpg
Firman driving for Paul Stewart Racing at Silverstone during the 1995 British Formula 3 Championship season.

Educated at Gresham's School between 1988 and 1993, Firman went straight into motor racing on leaving school. Despite leading much of the 1995 British F3 championship, he lost the title at the final round to Oliver Gavin. However, he continued in the championship in 1996 and captured the title at his second attempt.

Macau Grand Prix controversy

Firman won the prestigious Macau Grand Prix in 1996 under controversial circumstances. At the end of round 1, Firman finished ahead of German Formula 3 champion Jarno Trulli. In round 2, he was overtaken by Trulli on the last lap. Firman was running with a broken front wing. Just as Jarno Trulli was on the way to victory, Firman crashed at the hairpin corner, blocked the track and caused a red flag. The race officials counted the results to the previous lap when Firman was ahead of Trulli, thus giving him the win.

Formula Nippon

Firman then moved to Japan, culminating in the 2002 Formula Nippon championship, before returning to Europe.

Formula One

Firman driving for Jordan at the 2003 French GP. Ralph Firman 2003.JPG
Firman driving for Jordan at the 2003 French GP.

Firman secured a seat in Formula One for the 2003 season at the Jordan team, [2] alongside Giancarlo Fisichella. He participated in 14 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting at the 2003 Australian Grand Prix. He scored one championship point, in the 2003 Spanish Grand Prix. This point was the first for a Republic of Ireland driver since Derek Daly in 1982. He was injured in a huge crash during practice for the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix which forced him to sit out that and the next race, in which he was replaced by Zsolt Baumgartner.

In November 2003, Firman drove a Jordan-Ford EJ13 at Macau's Guia Circuit as part of the Macau Grand Prix's 50th anniversary celebrations, the first time that a contemporary F1 machine had been seen in action around the tight and tricky Guia circuit. Firman clocked an impressive 1:59.4 seconds lap, 13 seconds quicker than F3 poleman Fabio Carbone managed on the same day. [3]

Post-Formula One

Firman driving the Honda HSV-010 GT for ARTA at the 2010 Super GT Fuji 400km race. Ralph Firman 2010 Super GT Fuji 400km qualify Super Lap.jpg
Firman driving the Honda HSV-010 GT for ARTA at the 2010 Super GT Fuji 400km race.

Firman has also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and was an official test driver for the A1 Grand Prix series in August 2004.

In August 2005, it was announced that he would be the driver for A1 Team Ireland. He had previously been seen to be in competition for the Great Britain seat.

In 2007, Firman, along with Daisuke Ito, won the Japan Super GT GT500 class championship with the Aguri Suzuki co-owned ARTA team. Firman and Ito won the championship before the final race of the season, a first in the series' competitive history.

Retirement from racing

Firman retired from racing in 2013, and now runs a British engineering company. [4]

Racing career

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesPolesWinsFLapsPodiumsPointsPosition
1995 British Formula Three Championship Paul Stewart Racing 1896491762nd
Masters of Formula 3 Paul Stewart Racing 10000N/A10th
Macau Grand Prix San Miguel Paul Stewart Racing 10000N/ANC
Formula One Marlboro McLaren Mercedes Test driver
1996 British Formula Three Championship Paul Stewart Racing 1543481881st
Macau Grand Prix San Miguel Paul Stewart Racing 10101N/A1st
Masters of Formula 3 Paul Stewart Racing 10000N/ANC
1997 Formula Nippon Championship Team TMS100001128th
All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship Team TMS40000424th
Macau Grand Prix San Miguel Paul Stewart Racing 10000N/ANC
1998 Formula Nippon Championship Team Nova90002138th
1999 Formula Nippon Championship Team Nova101123214th
All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship Team Taeivon Ralliart70002426th
2000 Formula Nippon Championship Team Taeivon Ralliart10000199th
All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship Toyota Team Sard 700012512th
2001 Formula Nippon Championship Nakajima Racing 101213294th
2002 Formula Nippon Championship Nakajima Racing 102418621st
All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship Nakajima Racing 80303742nd
2003 Formula One Jordan 140000119th
2004 24 Hours of Le Mans Racing for Holland 10000N/ANC
2005 Super GT Autobacs Racing Team Aguri 80201612nd
2005-06 A1 Grand Prix Ireland 160021688th
2006 Super GT Autobacs Racing Team Aguri 90102687th
2007 Super GT Autobacs Racing Team Aguri 90304911st
2007-08 A1 Grand Prix Ireland 2000086th
2008 Super GT Autobacs Racing Team Aguri 90003498th
2009 Super GT Autobacs Racing Team Aguri 90205812nd
2010 Super GT Autobacs Racing Team Aguri 701012911th
2012 Super GT Autobacs Racing Team Aguri 800001216th
2013 Super GT Autobacs Racing Team Aguri 801013111th
Sources: [4] [5] [6]

Complete British Formula 3 results

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

YearEntrantEngine123456789101112131415161718DCPts
1995 Paul Stewart Racing Mugen SIL
1
1		 SIL
2
1		 THR
1
Ret		 THR
2
2		 DON
Ret		 SIL
2		 SIL
3		 DON
1
Ret		 DON
2
1		 OUL
9		 BRH
1
1		 BRH
2
1		 SNE
Ret		 PEM
1
1		 PEM
2
7		 SIL
1
DSQ		 SIL
2
12		 THR
7		2nd176
1996 Paul Stewart Racing Mugen SIL
1
4		 SIL
2
2		 THR
3		 DON
DNS		 BRH
1
1		 BRH
2
1		 OUL
1		 DON
2		 SIL
2		 THR
2		 SNE
1
6		 SNE
2
C		 PEM
1
13		 PEM
2
5		 ZAN
1
5		 ZAN
2
4		 SIL
4		1st188

Complete Formula Nippon results

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

YearEntrant12345678910DCPoints
1997 Team TMS SUZ
Ret		 MIN
4		 FUJ
15		 SUZ
6		 SUG
2		 FUJ
13		 MIN
Ret		 MOT
5		 FUJ
Ret		 SUZ
11		8th12
1998 Team Nova SUZ
12		 MIN
Ret		 FUJ
Ret		 MOT
14		 SUZ
Ret		 SUG
2		 FUJ
C		 MIN
4		 FUJ
3		 SUZ
7		7th13
1999 Team Nova SUZ
Ret		 MOT
3		 MIN
2		 FUJ
9		 SUZ
Ret		 SUG
6		 FUJ
10		 MIN
9		 MOT
8		 SUZ
1		4th21
2000 Team Nova SUZ
Ret		 MOT
11		 MIN
Ret		 FUJ
6		 SUZ
7		 SUG
2		 MOT
10		 FUJ
13		 MIN
5		 SUZ
Ret		9th9
2001 Nakajima Racing SUZ
5		 MOT
Ret		 MIN
2		 FUJ
6		 SUZ
Ret		 SUG
Ret		 FUJ
7		 MIN
8		 MOT
1		 SUZ
1		4th29
2002 Nakajima Racing SUZ
1		 FUJ
2		 MIN
Ret		 SUZ
1		 MOT
9		 SUG
1		 FUJ
2		 MIN
2		 MOT
1		 SUZ
3		1st62
Source: [4]

Complete JGTC/Super GT results

YearTeamCarClass123456789DCPoints
1997 Team TMS Porsche 911 GT2 GT500 SUZ
13		 FUJ
7		 SEN
13		 FUJ
13		 MIN SUG
DNQ		24th4
1999 Team Taeivon Ralliart Mitsubishi FTO GT300 SUZ
2		 FUJ
Ret		 SUG
5		 MIN
Ret		 FUJ
3		 TAI
8		 MOT
7		6th42
2000 Toyota Team SARD Toyota Supra GT500 MOT
10		 FUJ
Ret		 SUG
6		 FUJ
2		 TAI
Ret		 MIN
8		 SUZ
16		12th25
2002 Nakajima Racing Honda NSX GT500 TAI
1		 FUJ
11		 SUG
Ret		 SEP
1		 FUJ
12		 MOT
14		 MIN
6		 SUZ
1		2nd74
2005 Autobacs Racing Team Aguri Honda NSX GT500 OKA
4		 FUJ
12		 SEP
2		 SUG
6		 MOT
16		 FUJ
8		 AUT
1		 SUZ
12		2nd61
2006 Autobacs Racing Team Aguri Honda NSX GT500 SUZ
3		 OKA
7		 FUJ
8		 SEP
1		 SUG
8		 SUZ
6		 MOT
15		 AUT
11		 FUJ
14		7th68
2007 Autobacs Racing Team Aguri Honda NSX GT500 SUZ
12		 OKA
1		 FUJ
9		 SEP
6		 SUG
1		 SUZ
2		 MOT
12		 AUT
1		 FUJ
8		1st94
2008 Autobacs Racing Team Aguri Honda NSX GT500 SUZ
14		 OKA
3		 FUJ
Ret		 SEP
11		 SUG
15		 SUZ
13		 MOT
2		 AUT
3		 FUJ
12		8th49
2009 Autobacs Racing Team Aguri Honda NSX GT500 OKA
3		 SUZ
14		 FUJ
3		 SEP
3		 SUG
14		 SUZ
12		 FUJ
1		 AUT
4		 MOT
1		2nd81
2010 Autobacs Racing Team Aguri Honda HSV-010 GT GT500 SUZ
Ret		 OKA
6		 FUJ
11		 SEP
11		 SUG
12		 SUZ
1		 FUJ
C		 MOT
7		11th29
2012 Autobacs Racing Team Aguri Honda HSV-010 GT GT500 OKA
6		 FUJ
Ret		 SEP
12		 SUG
Ret		 SUZ
7		 FUJ
9		 AUT
11		 MOT
13		16th12
2013 Autobacs Racing Team Aguri Honda HSV-010 GT GT500 OKA
9		 FUJ
8		 SEP
8		 SUG
1		 SUZ
12		 FUJ
8		 AUT
14		 MOT
15		11th31
Sources: [6] [7]

Complete Formula One results

(key)

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910111213141516WDC Pts
2003 Jordan Ford Jordan EJ13 Ford V10 AUS
Ret		 MAL
10		 BRA
Ret		 SMR
Ret		 ESP
8		 AUT
11		 MON
12		 CAN
Ret		 EUR
11		 FRA
15		 GBR
13		 GER
Ret		 HUN
WD		 ITA USA
Ret		 JPN
14		19th1
Sources: [5] [8]

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2004 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Racing for Holland Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Coronel
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Wilson 		Dome S101-Judd LMP1313DNFDNF
Sources: [5] [9]

Complete A1 Grand Prix results

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

YearEntrant12345678910111213141516171819202122DCPointsRef
2005–06 Ireland GBR
SPR 		GBR
FEA 		GER
SPR
9		 GER
FEA
6		 POR
SPR
19		 POR
FEA
3		 AUS
SPR 		AUS
FEA 		MYS
SPR
7		 MYS
FEA
9		 UAE
SPR
4		 UAE
FEA
Ret		 RSA
SPR
4		 RSA
FEA
Ret		 IDN
SPR
6		 IDN
FEA
Ret		 MEX
SPR
Ret		 MEX
FEA
Ret		 USA
SPR
5		 USA
FEA
6		 CHN
SPR 		CHN
FEA 		8th68 [10]
2007–08 NED
SPR
8		 NED
FEA
6		 CZE
SPR 		CZE
FEA 		MYS
SPR 		MYS
FEA 		ZHU
SPR 		ZHU
FEA 		NZL
SPR 		NZL
FEA 		AUS
SPR 		AUS
FEA 		RSA
SPR 		RSA
FEA 		MEX
SPR 		MEX
FEA 		SHA
SPR 		SHA
FEA 		GBR
SPR 		GBR
SPR 		6th94 [11]
Source: [4]

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References

  1. ↑ RFR – In development: the 2010 RFR F2000/FC – Ralph Firman Racing
  2. ↑ "Firman set to join Jordan F1". Irish Examiner. 3 February 2003.
  3. ↑ "Firman breaks Macau lap record". Crash Net . 14 November 2003.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Ralph Firman". Motor Sport . Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Ralph Firman Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Ralph Firman jr". Driver Database. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Complete Archive of Ralph Firman". Racing Sports Cars. pp.  2, 3 . Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Ralph Firman – Involvement". StatsF1. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ralph Firman". Automobile Club de l'Ouest . Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Ralph Firman – 2005 A1 Grand Prix Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ralph Firman – 2007 A1 Grand Prix Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
Sporting positions
Preceded by British Formula 3 Championship
Champion
1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Macau Grand Prix
Winner
1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Formula Nippon
Champion
2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Super GT
GT500 Champion
2007
With: Daisuke Itō 		Succeeded by
Awards
Preceded by McLaren Autosport BRDC Award
1993		Succeeded by
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