Laurent Aïello Explained

Nationality: French
Birth Date:23 May 1969
Birth Place:Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
Retired:2005
Last Series:DTM
Years Active:20002005
Prev Series:BTCC
24 Hours of Le Mans
STW



International Formula 3000
French Formula 3
Volant Avia
French Karting Championship
Prev Series Years:1999
19982001
19961998
1996
1993
19931995
19911992
1989–1992
1988
1983-1985
Titles:DTM
BTCC
24 Hours of Le Mans
STW
French Supertouring Championship
French Formula 3
French Karting Championship
Title Years:2002
1999
1998
1997
1994
1992
1983–1985
Record Template1:
Embed:yes
Team:Nissan
Championships:1
Wins:10
Podiums:15
Poles:10
Fastest Laps:5
First Year:1999
First Win:1999
Best Position:1st
Last Season:1999
Last Position:1st (244 points)
Record Template2:
Embed:yes
Years: –
Teams:Porsche AG
Audi Sport Team Joest
Audi Sport North America
Best Finish:1st
Class Wins:1

Laurent Aïello (born 23 May 1969) is a French former race car driver, most notable for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in 1999, and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) series in 2002.

His racing career lasted from 1988 until 2005, and, in addition to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the BTCC and DTM, saw him enter the International Formula 3000, the French Supertouring Championship (CFS), the Italian Super Touring Championship (ISTC), and the Super Tourenwagen Cup (STW), in addition to several other series. He took the CFS title in 1994, and the STW title in 1997.

Career

Early career

Aïello won the French Karting Championship for three years in a row, in 1983, 1984, and 1985.[1] He made his car racing debut in 1988 in the Volant Avia,[2] and his professional racing debut in 1989, entering 11 rounds of the French Formula 3, driving for Daniel Gache Racing, with his best result being a solitary podium.[3] In 1990 Aïello won the Monaco Grand Prix Formula Three support race,[4] in addition to finishing fourth in the Macau GP for Bowman Racing, and fifth in the French F3 for Graff Racing, with four wins from 11 races.[3] He moved to the International Formula 3000 for 1991 and 1992 (for DAMS and Pacific Racing, respectively) but he was not successful, finishing 15th overall in both seasons.[5] He did, however, take the 1992 French Formula 3 title.[6]

1993-1996

In 1993, Aïello switched to touring car racing in the French Supertouring Championship (CFS), finishing runner up, whilst driving for the non-works team Oreca.[2] In 1993, he also entered the Italian Super Touring Championship, finishing 17th overall, with 11 points. His first title was the 1994 French Supertouring Championship, where he won five races driving for the works Peugeot team in their 405 MI-16 model.[3] Due to Peugeot's links with Jordan Grand Prix, he tested a Jordan 194 Formula 1 car in an Estoril test session, and set the tenth fastest time.[7] After a less-successful 1995 season, where he finished third overall, and won just one race, he made the switch to the Super Tourenwagen Cup (STW) in Germany for 1996, still driving for Peugeot, but in their new 406 model, following their withdrawal from the CFS.[2] He finished third overall in this first season, with 3 wins.[8] He also entered a round of the Porsche Carrera Cup France, winning the race.[2]

1997-1999

Aïello took the STW title for the first time in 1997, with 11 wins, finishing 52 points ahead of BMW's Joachim Winkelhock.[9] 1998 would be his third and final season in the STW, with 6 wins only being enough for a second place, with the Venezuelan driver Johnny Cecotto beating him by just 3 points.[10] During the 1998 season, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in a Porsche 911 GT1, his first attempt at the endurance race.[11]

For 1999, Aïello switched to the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), driving for the works Nissan team in their Primera model, replacing the outgoing Anthony Reid, who had moved to Ford.[12] He had initially been offered the drive at Renault, but rejected the offer as WilliamsF1, who ran the team, refused to allow him to enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans.[13] The season would prove to be highly successful, as he took the title in his one and only season in the series,[14] with 10 wins helping him finish 16 points ahead of teammate David Leslie, and Nissan taking a comfortable Manufacturer's and Team's championship victory.[15] [16] His performances in the BTCC saw him win the National Racing Driver of the Year award in the Autosport Awards.[17] He also entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999, this time for Audi in their Audi R8R, and he finished third in class.[18]

2000-2002

Following Nissan's withdrawal from the BTCC at the end of the 1999 season, a potential drive for Honda fell through (that spot being taken by Tom Kristensen),[19] he made the switch to the new Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters series, driving for the Abt Sportsline team in their Audi TT-R, a move that surprised some.[20] The first season was unsuccessful, with no victories, as the Audi TT proved to be uncompetitive against the faster Mercedes-Benz CLK and Opel Astra rivals, its best finish being Aïello's fifth place at the second Oschersleben sprint race.[21] He entered his third 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving for Audi, and finished second.[22]

Following heavy development on the car, 2001 would prove to be more successful: Aïello was the first member of the Abt team to win in the series, at the Nürburgring sprint race.[23] He would take 3 more victories that season, all 3 at the Nürburgring.[24] He once more returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Audi, and finished second once more.[25]

2002 would be an even more successful year — Aïello defeated reigning champion Bernd Schneider to take the title by six points,[26] winning 12 races in the process.[27] Although initially signed to drive once more for Audi in the 2002 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans,[28] he would not appear, with Christian Pescatori being entered instead.[29]

2003-2005

Abt Sportsline, and Aïello, would be much less successful in 2003, winning just one race,[30] and after switching to Opel[31] for the 2004 and 2005 seasons,[32] without any further victories (the firm's new Vectra GTS proved to be unsuccessful), Aïello announced his retirement from racing at the end of the season, aged 36,[33] finishing ninth in his final race at Hockenheim.[34] During his final season, he tested a "breathable overall" at the Nürburgring round.[35]

In a 2005 poll run by Motorsport Magazine, Aiello was voted the 13th best touring car driver of all time.[36]

Personal life

Aïello is married to Géraldine and has two children: a daughter named Marie, and a son named Tom. He has a passion for jetskis,[37] and enjoys DJing.[38]

Racing record

Complete International Formula 3000 results

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

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910DCPoints
1991DAMSLola T91/50MugenVAL
PAU
JER
MUG
PER
HOC
BRH
SPA
BUG
NOG
15th4
1992Pacific RacingReynard 92DMugenSIL
PAU
CAT
PER
HOC
NÜR
SPA
ALB
NOG
MAG
15th3

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLaps
Porsche AG Allan McNish
Stephane Ortelli
Porsche 911 GT1-98GT13511st1st
Audi Sport Team Joest Michele Alboreto
Rinaldo Capello
Audi R8RLMP3464th3rd
Audi Sport Team Joest Allan McNish
Stephane Ortelli
Audi R8LMP9003672nd2nd
Audi Sport North America Rinaldo Capello
Christian Pescatori
Audi R8LMP9003202nd2nd

Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results

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

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617181920PosPts
1996Peugeot EssoPeugeot 406ZOL
1

20
ZOL
2

Ret
ASS
1

2
ASS
2

1
HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

DNS
SAC
1

9
SAC
2

6
WUN
1

9
WUN
2

2
ZWE
1

1
ZWE
2

1
SAL
1

7
SAL
2

4
AVU
1

14
AVU
2

12
NÜR
1

2
NÜR
2

2
3rd422
1997Peugeot EssoPeugeot 406HOC
1

HOC
2

ZOL
1

ZOL
2

NÜR
1

NÜR
2

SAC
1

SAC
2

NOR
1

NOR
2

WUN
1

WUN
2

ZWE
1

ZWE
2

SAL
1

SAL
2

REG
1

REG
2

NÜR
1

NÜR
2

1st696
1998Peugeot EssoPeugeot 406HOC
1

HOC
2

NÜR
1

NÜR
2

SAC
1

SAC
2

NOR
1

NOR
2

REG
1

REG
2

WUN
1

WUN
2

ZWE
1

ZWE
2

SAL
1

SAL
2

OSC
1

OSC
2

NÜR
1

NÜR
2

2nd592

Complete British Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position – 1 point awarded all races) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (* signifies that driver lead feature race for at least one lap – 1 point awarded)

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results

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

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617181920Pts
2000Abt SportslineAbt-Audi TT-RHOC
1

HOC
2

OSC
1
OSC
2
NOR
1

NOR
2

SAC
1

SAC
2

NÜR
1

NÜR
2

OSC
1

OSC
2

NÜR
1

NÜR
2

HOC
1

HOC
2

16th14
2001Abt SportslineAbt-Audi TT-RHOC
QR

HOC
CR

NÜR
QR

NÜR
CR

OSC
QR

OSC
CR

SAC
QR
SAC
CR
NOR
QR

NOR
CR

LAU
QR

LAU
CR

NÜR
QR

NÜR
CR

A1R
QR

A1R
CR

ZAN
QR

ZAN
CR

HOC
QR

HOC
CR

5th75
2002Abt SportslineAbt-Audi TT-RHOC
QR

HOC
CR

ZOL
QR

ZOL
CR

DON
QR

DON
CR

SAC
QR

SAC
CR

NOR
QR

NOR
CR

LAU
QR

LAU
CR

NÜR
QR

NÜR
CR

A1R
QR

A1R
CR

ZAN
QR

ZAN
CR

HOC
QR

HOC
CR

1st70
2003Abt SportslineAbt-Audi TT-RHOC
ADR
NÜR
LAU
NOR
DON
NÜR
A1R
ZAN
HOC
6th41
2004OPC Team PhoenixOpel Vectra GTS V8 2004HOC
EST
ADR
LAU
NOR
SHA1NÜR
OSC
ZAN
BRN
HOC
10th12
2005OPC Team PhoenixOpel Vectra GTS V8 2005HOC
LAU
SPA
BRN
OSC
NOR
NÜR
ZAN
LAU
IST
HOC
11th12

1 – A non-championship one-off race was held in 2004, in Shanghai, China.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lauren Aiello . Driver Database . 6 March 2013.
  2. Web site: Laurent Aiello — Biographie . Laurent Aiello Site Non Officiel . 22 June 2013.
  3. Web site: Lauren Aiello career statistics . Driver Database . 22 June 2013.
  4. Web site: Formula 3 Euro Series part of the Monaco GP weekend. Formula 3 Euro Series. 7 March 2013. 17 May 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20101206035026/http://www.f3euroseries.com/news_newsausgabe.php?id=829. 6 December 2010. dead.
  5. Web site: Laurent Aiello — Driver Profile. BTCCPages.com. 7 March 2013.
  6. Web site: Past Champions: Laurent Aiello . TouringCarTimes . 24 March 2010 . 23 June 2013.
  7. Web site: Jordan at Estoril tests . Motorsport.com . 8 May 1994 . 23 June 2013.
  8. Web site: German Super Touring Car Championship 1996:: Schedule and Standings 1996. motorsport-archive.com. 9 March 2013.
  9. Web site: German Super Touring Car Championship 1997:: Schedule and Standings 1997. motorsport-archive.com. 9 March 2013.
  10. Web site: German Super Touring Car Championship 1998:: Schedule and Standings . motorsport-archive.com. 7 March 2013.
  11. Web site: 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans Results and Competitors. ExperienceLeMans.com. 7 March 2013.
  12. Web site: Reid leaves Nissan to join Ford clan. The Herald. Glasgow . 9 March 2013. 29 August 1998. Hugh. Hunston.
  13. Web site: The F1 FAQ . Atlas Formula One Journal . 17 March 1999 . 23 June 2013 . Mark Alan . Jones.
  14. Web site: Aiello is raining touring car champ. Coventry Evening Telegraph. 7 March 2013. 20 September 1999.
  15. Web site: Results >> BTCC 1999 >> Championship Standings . TouringCars.net . 9 March 2013.
  16. Web site: BTCC Manufacturers/Constructors: Nissan . Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship . 9 March 2013 . https://archive.today/20130413171435/http://www.btcc.net/html/history_manufacturer_detail.php?id=13 . 13 April 2013 . dead .
  17. Web site: Autosport Awards: Hall of Fame — F1 news. Autosport. 7 March 2013. 6 December 1999.
  18. Web site: BMW wins at Le Mans — Le Mans news. 13 June 1999. Autosport. 7 March 2013.
  19. Web site: Kristensen beats Aiello to Honda BTCC drive — BTCC news . Autosport . 7 March 2013. 9 December 1999.
  20. Web site: Aiello in shock Abt Audi move — Other news. Autosport. 7 March 2013. 6 February 2000.
  21. Web site: 24.09.2000 ADAC-Preis von Niedersachsen. DTM.com. 7 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130715154253/http://www.dtm.com/en/Historie/DTM-Saison-2000/Ergebnisse/2000-09-24.html. 15 July 2013. dead.
  22. Web site: Audi clean-sweeps Le Mans 24 Hours — Le Mans news. Autosport. 7 March 2013.
  23. Web site: Sprint race: Aiello gives Audi first win — DTM news. Autosport. 7 March 2013. 6 May 2001.
  24. Web site: Results: DTM (German Touringcar Masters) - Season 2001. Speedsport Magazine. 7 March 2013.
  25. Web site: Audi repeats with a dominant one-two — Le Mans news . 17 June 2001 . Autosport. 7 March 2013.
  26. Web site: Point standings: DTM (German Touringcar Masters) - Season 2002. Speedsport Magazine. 9 March 2013.
  27. Web site: Results: DTM (German Touringcar Masters) - Season 2002. Speedsport Magazine. 9 March 2013.
  28. Web site: Audi to chase Le Mans hat-trick — Le Mans news. 30 November 2001. Autosport. 7 March 2013.
  29. Web site: 2002 24 Hours of Le Mans Results and Competitors. ExperienceLeMans.com. 7 March 2013.
  30. Web site: Results: DTM (German Touringcar Masters) - Season 2003. Speedsports Magazine. 7 March 2013.
  31. Web site: Aiello switches to Opel — DTM news. Autosport. 7 March 2013. 19 December 2003.
  32. Web site: Aiello stays with Opel — DTM News — Nov 2004. Crash.Net. 7 March 2013. 26 November 2004.
  33. Web site: DTM: Laurent Aiello retires. TouringCarTimes. 7 March 2013. 17 September 2005.
  34. Web site: Hockenheim II:Race report — News. Motorsport.com. 9 March 2013. 24 October 2005.
  35. Web site: Laurent Aiello tests breathable racing overall . Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters . 6 August 2005 . 23 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140224105755/http://www.dtm.com/en/News/Laurent-Aiello-tests-breathable-racing-overall.html . 24 February 2014 . dead .
  36. Web site: Top 20 tin-top drivers. 4 April 2016 .
  37. Web site: Home visit at DTM champion Laurent Aiello — Like God in France. autobild.de. 9 March 2013. 18 October 2002.
  38. Web site: BTCC: Aiello to retire at end of season — News. Motorsport.com. 9 March 2013. 18 September 2005.