Sébastien Bourdais

From Freepedia

Sebastien Bourdais is a racing driver born on February 28, 1979 in Le Mans, France.

Bourdais is the son of Jocelyne and Patrick Bourdais, a French prototype driver. In 1991, he began racing in karts, winning the Maine Bretagne Kart Championiship. His biggest achievement to date is winning the 2004 Champ Car championship.

2005

Bourdais starts off his Champ Car title defense by winning the Long Beach Grand Prix. Five days later, Bourdais gets his first win in a stock car, winning round two of the International Race of Champions season at the Texas Motor Speedway. Competes in his first Indianapolis 500 (an IRL event) in May. Then on July 17, Bourdais gets his second win of the Champ Car season by winning the inaugural Grand Prix of Edmonton. On October 23rd, in Surfers Paradise, Australia, Bourdais seals the championship with a spectacular win.

2004

Won the Champ Car championiship, with 7 wins, 8 poles and 369 points, with the Newman/Haas Racing team, beating drivers like Bruno Junqueira, Paul Tracy and Patrick Carpentier.

2003

The 24-year-old Le Mans, France native came to the Newman/Haas Racing squad after winning the 2002 FIA International F3000 Championship. He claimed the pole for his very first race, pacing qualifying at St. Petersburg, where he became the first rookie in series history to lead the first lap of his initial Champ Car start. Backed that up with another pole in the year’s second event, leading Monterey qualifying with a track-record performance, becoming the first rookie since Nigel Mansell in 1993 to win the pole for each of his first two series starts.

Paced 95 laps at Brands Hatch, including the final 33, to claim the first win of his career, and then followed that up with a thrilling victory at Lausitz, leading 74 laps and surviving a short run through the infield grass to nip Mario Dominguez by 0.084 seconds for his second victory. Won from pole in Champ Car’s first-ever nighttime road-course event in Cleveland and would use that win as a springboard for a rookie-record five consecutive top-five finishes…Clinched the series "Rookie of the Year" title with a runner-up finish in Mexico City. Posted the best qualifying average (3.67) of any driver in the series. Became the first rookie to win the Greg Moore Legacy Award, which honors the memory of the late Champ Car star.

Teamed with Sarrazin and Lagorce in a Courage-Peugeot for Pescarolo Sport in November in the 1000 km pre-qualifying race for the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans.

2002

Won FIA International F3000 Championship, winning races at Imola, Monaco and Nurburgring as well as seven pole positions while driving for Super Nova Racing. Earned seven podiums and turned fastest race lap in three events. Won two races in FIA Sport competition and also co-drove the Team Labre machine to victory in the 24 Hours of Spa.

2001

Competed in FIA International F3000 Championship, winning at Silverstone and taking a pole at the A1 Ring. Earned podiums at Budapest and Hockenheim en route to a fourth-place finish in the championship with Team DAMS. Posted top-15 finishes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 12 Hours of Sebring.

2000

Finished ninth in FIA International F3000 Championship while competing with Prost Junior Team. Earned pole at Magny Cours and placed a season-high second at the French track. Finished fourth at 24 Hours of Le Mans.

1999

Won French Formula 3 Championship, winning eight races, three poles and setting four fastest race laps. Competed in his first 24 Hours of Le Mans.

1998

Rookie of the Year in French Formula 3 Championship, winning five races and four poles to finish sixth in the championship.

1997

Won four races and five poles in the French Formula Renault Championship. Earned 11 podium finishes in 16 races.

1996

Finished seventh in the French Formula Renault Championship, earning one podium finish. Won the 24 Hours of Le Mans karting event.

Early Career

Won Maine Bretagne League karting championship. Competed in French Formula Campus Championship.

Personal life

Bourdais currently resides in Saint Petersburg, Florida, with his girlfriend Claire.

External Links

Official website