Tomáš Enge

Tomáš Enge (11 September 1976 - Present): Czech racing driver who competed in the final three Formula One Grands Prix of the 2001 season for Prost Grand Prix, becoming the first and only driver from the Czech Republic to compete in Formula One, before the team's collapse ended his F1 career. Born in the Czech Republic, Enge progressed through European junior formulae with considerable success. He won the 1998 Italian Formula 3000 Championship and finished runner-up in the 1999 International Formula 3000 Championship, demonstrating speed and consistency that marked him as a driver deserving of Formula One opportunities. For the final three races of the 2001 Formula One season, Prost Grand Prix signed Enge as a replacement for Luciano Burti, who was recovering from his massive crash at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Enge made his Formula One debut at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on 16 September 2001, qualifying 12th and finishing in the same position despite struggling with brake issues throughout the race. This creditable debut suggested promise. At the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, Enge again qualified 12th and ran as high as eighth in the early stages, demonstrating competitive pace. Unfortunately, his race ended on lap 31 when he spun into the gravel trap while trying to overtake Jean Alesi.

The spin resulted from attempting an ambitious overtaking maneuver that went wrong, ending what had been a promising performance. For the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Enge's weekend was again compromised by brake problems. The persistent brake issues meant he was forced out of the race on lap 42, unable to continue. His three-race Formula One career ended with one finish in 12th place, one spin into gravel, and one mechanical retirement—results that provided insufficient evidence to judge his true potential at the highest level.

Enge left Prost Grand Prix before the team folded for the 2002 season, unable to secure alternative Formula One drives. His brief three-race stint marked the only time a Czech driver has competed in Formula One, making him a unique figure in his country's motorsport history. After Formula One, Enge competed in various racing categories including sports cars and touring cars, achieving success in GT racing and endurance events. He continued racing professionally for many years, demonstrating that his abilities extended beyond his limited Formula One opportunities.

Enge's Formula One career exemplifies promising drivers whose opportunities came with struggling teams at the wrong time, preventing them from demonstrating their full capabilities. Known for: Being the first and only Czech driver to compete in Formula One, racing for Prost Grand Prix in the final three races of 2001, qualifying 12th and finishing 12th on his F1 debut at the 2001 Italian Grand Prix, spinning out while attempting to overtake Jean Alesi at Indianapolis, and leaving before Prost Grand Prix folded.