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| 7 |
Eddie Irvine  |
| Aged 34, Britain |
| Races 96, wins 4, pole positions 2. podium finishes 24, carrer points 173. |
| 1999 record |
Ferrari, runner-up with 74 points. First x4, second x2, third x3, fourth x2, fifth x1, sixth x2, seventh x1, retired x1. |
Eddie raced Formula Fords in the mid eighties, becoming British Formula Ford champion, and Formula Ford Festival winner in 1987.
He shone in Formula Three in 88, joining Formula 3000, and Pacific Racing in 89.
He won in Hockenheim in 1990, after switching to Eddie Jordan's team. Finishing the season third overall.
He raced Formula 3000 and Sports cars for the next three seasons, before making his Formula One debut for Jordan in 1993 at the Japanese Grand prix. This race was one he will always remember, because when Ayrton Senna lapped him, he immediately took the place back. He finished the race in 6th, but afterwards, an argument occurred between Senna and himself, seeing Senna actually punch him.
In the opening round of the 94 season at Interlagos, Eddie, then partnered with Rubens Barrichello at Jordan, was involved in a huge accident, seeing him banned from what was originally one race, but extended to three.
His first podium finish came in 1995, where he finished third in Canada.
Switching to number two driver to Michael Schumacher at Ferrari in 1996, seemingly endless mechanical failures, and next to no testing, hampered his chances.
97 was a better year, with a second place in Argentina, followed by four thirds, but Eddie shone the brightest when he was leading the Japanese Grand Prix. He finished the season 7th overall.
Ferrari worked around the clock to improve car reliability, and 98 saw Eddie finish the season fourth, with 5 third and 3 second places.
For the 1999 season, Eddie finally enjoyed the taste of sweet victory, winning for the first time at the opening race in Melbourne, Australia. Then, at Silverstone his teammate and number one driver for the team broke both his legs in a first lap accident which resulted in the German being sidelined for most of the remainder of the season, throwing Eddie into the number one role for the team. He continued to do well with another three wins, fighting Mika Hakkinen for the Drivers title, but unfortunately for the Irishman, he missed out by only two points in the last race of the season.
The year 2000 will see him partnered with Johnny Herbert at the new Jaguar Racing and his hope is to do this year what he so narrowly missed out on in 99, win the drivers crown.
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 R1 car, powered by Ford-Cosworth V10 CR-2 engine |
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