Fondmetal
Encyclopedia : F : FO : FON : Fondmetal
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| Full name | Fondmetal |
|---|---|
| Base | Bergamo, Italy |
| Team principal | Gabriele Rumi |
| Technical director | Sergio Rinland |
| Race drivers | Gabriele Tarquini Eric van de Poele |
| Test drivers | . . |
| Chassis | . |
| Engine | Cosworth HB |
| Tyres | Pirelli |
| Debut | 1991 United States Grand Prix |
| Races competed | 29 |
| Constructors' Championships | 0 (NC) |
| Drivers' Championships | 0 (NC) |
| Race victories | 0 (10th Belgium 1991, 1992) |
| Pole positions | 0 (10th Mexico 1991) |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| 1992 position | NC (0 points) |
Team Fondmetal
The team was spawned by Gabriele Rumi's Fondmetal alloy wheels company. Rumi, a motor racing enthusiast, sponsored the Osella team for the 1989 and 1990 seasons, before exercising an option to buy out Enzo Osella in 1991.Rumi transferred the team to his headquarter in Bergamo and ran it for one and a half years on his own. He initially persevered with Osella's driver, Olivier Grouillard, until he tired of the Frenchman's reckless side and attitude problem, replacing him with Gabriele Tarquini. The new team was no more successful than in the Osella days, sometimes the results being even worse than those of its fellow back row contenders Coloni or AGS.
Sergio Rinland designed a promising new car for 1992 for which Rumi secured Cosworth HB V8 engines. A second car was entered for Andrea Chiesa. Tarquini showed speed, but the car was fragile, very rarely finishing races. Chiesa never got going, however, usually failing to qualify, and was replaced by Eric van de Poele for the Hungarian Grand Prix. However, three races later in September 1992, the team folded, feeling the pinch of the worldwide recession and of scoring no results better than a pair of 10th places.
Fondmetal and Minardi
Rumi would return to Formula One in a more modest capacity in 1995, with Fondmetal sponsoring Tyrrell, and for 1996 would switch his support to Minardi. He would gradually increased his interest in the Faenza outfit, becoming co-owner and chairman. However, Rumi had contracted cancer, and was forced to withdraw his backing in 2000 when the team was sold to Paul Stoddart. Rumi eventually died in May 2001.Formula One results
| Year | Team | Driver | # of GPs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Fondmetal-Ford | Olivier Grouillard | 13 |
| 1991 | Fondmetal-Ford | Gabriele Tarquini | 3 |
| 1992 | Fondmetal-Ford | Gabriele Tarquini | 13 |
| 1992 | Fondmetal-Ford | Andrea Chiesa | 10 |
| 1992 | Fondmetal-Ford | Eric van de Poele | 3 |
| 2000 | Minardi-Fondmetal | Gaston Mazzacane | 17 |
| 2000 | Minardi-Fondmetal | Marc Gene | 17 |
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