Marco Apicella

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Marco Apicella
Born (1965-10-07) 7 October 1965 (age 58)
near Bologna, Italy
Racing licence FIA Bronze
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityItaly Italian
Active years1993
TeamsJordan
Entries1
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1993 Italian Grand Prix
Last entry1993 Italian Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1995, 1999, 2006–2007, 2009
TeamsSARD Co. Ltd., Riley & Scott Europe, JLOC Isao Noritake
Best finish14 (1995)
Class wins0

Marco Apicella (born 7 October 1965 near Bologna) is an Italian former professional racing driver. He competed in one Formula One Grand Prix for the Jordan team in the 1993 Italian Grand Prix. He later won the 1994 Japanese Formula 3000 Championship driving for Dome.

Career[edit]

Marco Apicella was born in Bologna on 7 October 1965. He began competing in Formula Three racing in 1984, and took victory for Scuderia Coloni in the first two rounds of the 1986 Italian Formula Three season.[1] Apicella competed in the 1985 Macau Grand Prix, where he failed to finish.[2]

International Formula 3000 (1987–1991)[edit]

Apicella's first season in International Formula 3000, 1987, was uncompetitive in the EuroVenturini Dallara car, only scoring one point thanks to a fifth place at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.[3] During the same year, he tested the Minardi Formula One car at the Autódromo do Estoril circuit.[4] Apicella moved to the FIRST team for the 1988 season and was a title favourite for the season.[5] He bought the March Engineering car to a second-place finish in the Monza race, but was not as competitive as teammate Pierluigi Martini.[6] The team underperformed,[5] but in 1989, again with FIRST (who had made a change to Reynard Motorsport cars),[6] Apicella achieved several podium finishes on his way to finishing fourth overall in the Drivers' Championship. Apicella looked like a championship contender for the 1990 season and continued with the FIRST team, but his performances worsened as the season progressed, ending with a disqualification in the Brands Hatch round.[5] A crash at the Pau Grand Prix prevented him from claiming his first win.[6] Despite a poor 1990 season, Apicella had the chance to test drive with the Modena and Minardi teams. Late in the year, he went to Japan and did some tests for Bridgestone in a Reynard-Mugen Formula One prototype car.[4] Apicella chose to change teams for the 1991 season, moving to Paul Stewart Racing, teaming up with Stewart himself. He was classified fifth overall at the end of the season.[4] Apicella was able to score podiums, but not victories, in the Lola car.[6] Apicella started more International F3000 races than any other winless driver.[1]

Japanese Formula 3000 (1992–1993)[edit]

With no offers for a drive in International F3000 for 1992, Apicella went to Japan to drive in the Japanese Formula 3000 series, setting up a relationship with the Dome team.[3] Apicella came tenth in the standings, the best of any Dome driver.[6] Apicella, driving the Dome F103 won the fifth round of the championship that year. He continued to improve, finishing fourth in the 1993 season, winning at the Sugo race circuit.[3]

Formula One[edit]

Apicella's good performances in Japan during 1992 and early 1993 gave him a drive at the Jordan Formula One team for his home race in the 1993 season, with team boss Eddie Jordan wanting to try out up-and-coming Formula 3000 drivers.[7] He replaced Thierry Boutsen. Apicella tested the Jordan 193 car at Imola before the race weekend. During practice for the race he spun on the moist tarmac at the second Lesmo corner.[6] He qualified in 23rd position, half a second behind teammate Barrichello, who set his times later in the session after the circuit had become less damp. It was the first time Apicella had driven a racing car with a semi-automatic gearbox.[6] Apicella retired at the first corner of the first lap of the race after a multi-car collision.[4] He was replaced by Emanuele Naspetti for the following round in Portugal.[7] As a result of this, he is falsely considered to have had the shortest Formula 1 career out of any driver, a record held by Ernst Loof.[8] Apicella retired after driving 800 metres, while Loof's car broke down as it was pulling away from the starting grid.[6]

Japanese Formula 3000/Formula Nippon (1994–1996)[edit]

For 1994, Apicella continued with Dome in Japanese Formula 3000, winning at the Mine, Suzuka and Fuji circuits on his way to winning the title. He continued in Japanese F3000 for 1995 and 1996 (the series being renamed Formula Nippon for 1996), this time with Team 5Zigen, but his activities were limited, as he chose to do other motor sport activities such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.[3]

Apicella was appointed Chief Test Driver with Dome for 1996, testing the Dome F105 car alongside Shinji Nakano and Katsumi Yamamoto from April to June 1996 at the Suzuka Circuit.[3][9] The aim was for the car to produce a base for them to mount a challenge into Formula One, but the project was shelved after the car was substantially damaged in an accident.[3]

Apicella's last season in the Formula Nippon series was in 1997, driving for the Stellar International team. His best result for the team was a fourth place at the Mine circuit.[3]

Other series (1999–2009)[edit]

Apicella moved back to Italy for 1999, competing in the Italian Formula 3000 championship. He scored two wins during the season on his way to third place in the championship. Apicella also tried to qualify for the Spa round of the International Formula 3000 championship in 1999 for Monaco Motorsport, but failed to do so due to adverse weather conditions. Apicella has since gone back to Japan, to compete in touring cars with the All Japan GT Championship.[3]

Apicella has also competed in several 24 Hours of Le Mans races. He was scheduled to compete in the 2007 event with the JLOC Isao Noritake team, but on the first day of practice he was involved in an accident on the Mulsanne Straight, which heavily damaged his Lamborghini Murciélago car.[10] Apicella competed in the 2009 event, again with the JLOC team.[11] This and a start for JLOC in the 2009 Super GT Series saw the end of Apicella's professional racing career.[2]

Racing record[edit]

Complete International Formula 3000 results[edit]

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

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Points
1987 EuroVenturini SIL
15 		VAL
Ret 		SPA
5 		PAU
Ret 		DON
7 		PER
Ret 		BRH
DNQ 		BIR
13 		IMO
13 		BUG
15 		JAR
7 		19th 1
1988 First Racing JER
13 		VAL
7 		PAU
5 		SIL
6 		MNZ
2 		PER
Ret 		BRH
Ret 		BIR
Ret 		BUG
Ret 		ZOL
Ret 		DIJ
Ret 		11th 9
1989 First Racing SIL
8 		VAL
Ret 		PAU
2 		JER
3 		PER
4 		BRH
Ret 		BIR
2 		SPA
3 		BUG
Ret 		DIJ
Ret 		4th 23
1990 First Racing DON
13 		SIL
3 		PAU
Ret 		JER
2 		MNZ
5 		PER
Ret 		HOC
2 		BRH
DSQ 		BIR
Ret 		BUG
Ret 		NOG
5 		6th 20
1991 Paul Stewart Racing VAL
Ret 		PAU
4 		JER
Ret 		MUG
2 		PER
2 		HOC
Ret 		BRH
4 		SPA
Ret 		BUG
Ret 		NOG
11 		5th 18
1999 Monaco Motorsport IMO MON CAT MAG SIL A1R HOC HUN SPA
DNQ 		NÜR NC 0
Sources:[1][12]

Complete Japanese Formula 3000/Formula Nippon results[edit]

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

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Points
1989 Team LeMans SUZ FUJ MIN SUZ SUG FUJ SUZ SUZ
4 		16th 3
1992 Dome SUZ
9 		FUJ
Ret 		MIN
6 		SUZ
11 		AUT
1 		SUG
5 		FUJ
8 		FUJ
6 		SUZ
Ret 		FUJ
18† 		SUZ
Ret 		10th 13
1993 Dome SUZ
7 		FUJ
2 		MIN
Ret 		SUZ
5 		AUT
C 		SUG
1 		FUJ
C 		FUJ
Ret 		SUZ
4 		FUJ
4 		SUZ
9 		4th 23
1994 Dome SUZ
2 		FUJ
4 		MIN
1 		SUZ
1 		SUG
6 		FUJ
4 		SUZ
2 		FUJ
1 		FUJ
2 		SUZ
Ret 		1st 48
1995 Team 5ZIGEN SUZ
Ret 		FUJ
C 		MIN
Ret 		SUZ
8 		SUG
Ret 		FUJ
8 		TOK
Ret 		FUJ
Ret 		SUZ
10 		NC 0
1996 Team 5ZIGEN SUZ
12 		MIN
4 		FUJ
8 		TOK
8 		SUZ
14 		SUG
13 		FUJ
12 		MIN
Ret 		SUZ
10 		FUJ
Ret 		16th 3
1997 STP Stellar SUZ MIN FUJ SUZ
8 		SUG
5 		FUJ
8 		MIN
4 		MOT
Ret 		FUJ
6 		SUZ
8 		12th 6
Source:[1]

† Did not finish, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.

Complete Formula One results[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Points
1993 Sasol Jordan Jordan 193 Hart V10 RSA BRA EUR SMR ESP MON CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA
Ret 		POR JPN AUS NC 0
Sources:[12][13]

24 Hours of Le Mans results[edit]

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1995 Japan SARD Co. Ltd. United States Jeff Krosnoff
Italy Mauro Martini 		Toyota Supra LM GT1 264 14th 6th
1999 France Riley & Scott Europe
France Solution F 		Sweden Carl Rosenblad
United States Shane Lewis 		Riley & Scott Mk III/2-Ford LMP 67 DNF DNF
2006 Japan JLOC Isao Noritake Japan Koji Yamanishi
Japan Yasutaka Hinoi 		Lamborghini Murciélago RG-1LM GT1 283 DNF DNF
2007 Japan JLOC Isao Noritake Japan Atsushi Yogo
Japan Koji Yamanishi 		Lamborghini Murciélago RG-1LM GT1 1 DNF DNF
2009 Japan JLOC Japan Atsushi Yogo
Japan Yutaka Yamagishi 		Lamborghini Murciélago RG-1LM GT1 1 DNF DNF
Sources:[12][14]

Complete JGTC/Super GT results[edit]

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

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Pts
1997 Nismo Nissan Skyline GT-R GT500 SUZ FUJ
4 		SEN FUJ MIN SUG 17th 10
2000 MTCI Racing Team Porsche Boxster GT300 MOT
11 		FUJ
Ret 		SUG
5 		FUJ
13 		TAI
13 		MIN
8 		SUZ
9 		15th 13
2001 JLOC Lamborghini Diablo GT-1 GT500 TAI
DNQ 		FUJ
Ret 		SUG
Ret 		FUJ
Ret 		MOT
15 		SUZ
14 		MIN
15 		NC 0
2002 JLOC Lamborghini Diablo GT-1 GT500 TAI
DNQ 		FUJ
Ret 		SUG
15 		SEP
Ret 		FUJ
Ret 		MOT
18 		MIN
Ret 		SUZ
Ret 		NC 0
2003 Toyota Team TOM'S Toyota Supra GT500 TAI
Ret 		FUJ
8 		SUG
13 		FUJ
15 		FUJ
6 		MOT
10 		AUT
13 		SUZ
14 		18th 15
2004 Toyota Team TOM'S Toyota Supra GT500 TAI
7 		SUG
7 		SEP
10 		TOK
4 		MOT
5 		AUT
7 		SUZ
2 		7th 43
2005 JLOC Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT GT500 OKA FUJ SEP SUG
Ret 		MOT
17 		NC 0
GT300 FUJ
8 		AUT SUZ
Ret 		18th 3
2006 JLOC Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT GT300 SUZ
1 		OKA
6 		FUJ
Ret 		SEP SUG
15 		SUZ
Ret 		MOT
Ret 		AUT
8 		FUJ
5 		11th 40
2007 JLOC Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT GT300 SUZ
4 		OKA
Ret 		FUJ
2 		SEP SUG SUZ MOT AUT FUJ
Ret 		12th 27
2009 JLOC Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT GT300 OKA SUZ FUJ
18 		SEP SUG SUZ FUJ AUT MOT NC 0

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Marco Apicella". Motor Sport magazine. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Marco Apicella". Forix. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Nyberg, Rainer. "A stillborn GP project from Japan". 8W. Forix / Autosport. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  4. ^ a b c d "Drivers: Marco Apicella". GrandPrix.com. Inside F1. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  5. ^ a b c Diepraam, Mattijs (August 2000). "From zero to FIRST". 8W. Forix / Autosport. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "When a journeyman driver's F1 career lasted just 800m". Autosport. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b Diepraam, Mattijs (May 1998). "Marco Apicella's few yards as a Grand Prix driver". 8W. Forix / Autosport. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  8. ^ "Marco Apicella". F1 Rejects. 8 August 2001. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Dome to launch next week". GrandPrix.com. Inside F1. 1996-03-11. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  10. ^ Freeman, Glenn (2007-06-13). "Audi's Biela fastest in qualifying 1". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  11. ^ "List of the Competitors and Cars Invited to the Administrative Checking & Scrutineering" (PDF). Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 2009-06-09. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  12. ^ a b c "Marco Apicella Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Marco Apicella – Involvement". StatsF1. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Marco Apicella". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 31 August 2023.

External links[edit]

Sporting positions
Preceded by Japanese Formula 3000
Champion
1994 		Succeeded by
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