Gabriele Tarquini

Gabriele Tarquini (2 March 1962 - Present): Italian racing driver from Giulianova, Abruzzo, who competed in Formula One from 1987 to 1995 before becoming one of the most successful touring car drivers in motorsport history. Made his Formula One debut at the 1987 San Marino Grand Prix with Osella-Alfa Romeo. Participated in 78 Formula One Grands Prix across eight seasons, competing for Osella, Coloni, AGS, Fondmetal, and Tyrrell. Embarked on his first full Formula One season in 1988 with Coloni, spending the following three seasons with French squad AGS from 1989 to 1991.

Late in the 1991 season, the cash-strapped AGS team sold his contract to Gabriele Rumi's ambitious Fondmetal outfit in time for the Spanish Grand Prix. Signed for a full year with Fondmetal in 1992, struggling with an uncompetitive chassis. His final Formula One season came in 1995 with Tyrrell, competing in the European Grand Prix, the last occasion a reigning BTCC Champion has competed in Formula One. Scored a single World Championship point at the 1989 Mexican Grand Prix with sixth place for AGS, his only points finish in F1.

Holds the unfortunate record for the most failed pre-qualification attempts with 40, highlighting the challenges faced by backmarker teams during the pre-qualifying era. After leaving Formula One, Tarquini found extraordinary success in touring car racing. Won the 1994 British Touring Car Championship driving an Alfa Romeo 155TS, winning the opening five races of the season and surviving a spectacular barrel-roll at Knockhill to claim the title at his first attempt. Won the 2003 European Touring Car Championship, demonstrating his continued competitiveness.

Achieved his greatest success by winning the 2009 World Touring Car Championship with SEAT and the 2018 World Touring Car Cup, becoming world champion in his fifties. In a 2005 Motor Sport magazine poll, Tarquini was voted the 11th greatest touring car driver ever. Announced his retirement from racing in 2021 at age 59, ending one of the longest and most successful touring car careers in motorsport history. Known for his aggressive driving style, racecraft, and ability to extract maximum performance from touring cars, Tarquini's touring car achievements far exceeded his limited Formula One success, proving that F1 is not the only path to motorsport greatness.