Hitech Racing
Encyclopedia
Hitech Racing is a British
motor racing team. It was founded in 2002 by Dennis Rushen and David Hayle. The team started racing in the British Formula Three Championship
in 2003.
s and six podium finishes, with drivers Danny Watts
and Eric Salignon
. Andrew Thompson also contributed some points finishes. Watts finished the British F3 Championship in 5th place in a season that included a memorable win at Castle Combe
. In the Korea Super Prix
, guest driver Richard Antinucci
achieved Hitech's first international race win.
In the second season, 2004, Thompson was retained and joined by drivers Marko Asmer
, James Walker
, and Lucas Di Grassi. Di Grassi had two wins and was classified in eighth place overall. Another of that year's highlights was a podium finish on Di Grassi's début at the Macau Grand Prix. Asmer managed to finish the championship closing the top 10.
In 2005, Hitech retained Asmer and brought in Tim Bridgman
from Formula BMW
. Asmer was the best of the duo, scoring no less than five second places, but missing out on an actual win, even so managing to snatch the fourth place in the championship.
For 2006, Hitech brought back James Walker, alongside James Jakes
and Salvador Durán
, with Jakes finishing 8th, Walker 9th and Durán 10th in a poor season that only heralded one podium finish (achieved by Walker).
In 2007 Hitech retained the services of Marko Asmer who joined Austrian Walter Grubmuller for an assault on the British F3 Championship. Hitech and Asmer took the title, scoring 11 poles, 11 wins (from 22 races) and 9 fastest laps. Marko Asmer secured the title long before the final round and in the end by a margin of 85 points from Maro Engel
.
2008, Walter Grubmuller has been joined by the youngest driver in the sport, Max Chilton
.
. As of 2007, the team enters the competition as Minardi Piquet Sports.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
motor racing team. It was founded in 2002 by Dennis Rushen and David Hayle. The team started racing in the British Formula Three Championship
British Formula Three Championship
The British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...
in 2003.
Formula Three
In its first season, Hitech scored five pole positionPole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
s and six podium finishes, with drivers Danny Watts
Danny Watts
Danny Watts is a British racing driver.Danny Watts started racing in 1993, when he began karting. After five seasons of karting, he stepped up to single seater racing in 1998 in the UK Formula First championship, in which he dominated with 12 wins...
and Eric Salignon
Eric Salignon
- Formula Renault :A former two-time winner of the Monaco Kart Cup, Salignon moved into Formula Renault in 2000, competing in both the European and French championships. Solid campaigns in both championships enabled Salignon to finished 16th in his national championship, and one place lower in the...
. Andrew Thompson also contributed some points finishes. Watts finished the British F3 Championship in 5th place in a season that included a memorable win at Castle Combe
Castle Combe Circuit
Castle Combe Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Wiltshire, England, approximately from Bristol. The circuit used to be the perimeter track of a World War II airfield, and opened to racing in 1950.- History :...
. In the Korea Super Prix
Korea Super Prix
The International Formula 3 Korea Super Prix was a Formula Three race held annually on the streets of Changwon, Republic of Korea between 1999 and 2003...
, guest driver Richard Antinucci
Richard Antinucci
Richard Antinucci is an American race car driver.-Career:In 1998 he competed in Italian Formula Ford, moving to the British Formula Renault Winter Series in 1999 and to Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup in 2000, where he stayed for one season .In 2002 he moved to the Manor team in British Formula Three,...
achieved Hitech's first international race win.
In the second season, 2004, Thompson was retained and joined by drivers Marko Asmer
Marko Asmer
Marko Asmer is an Estonian racing driver, whose career in single seater junior formula is notable for his British Formula Three Championship title in 2007. Asmer is also the first Estonian to test a Formula One car, having tested for the Williams BMW team in 2003 after just half a season of car...
, James Walker
James Walker (racing driver)
James Walker is a professional racing driver driver from Great Britain.-Formula Ford:James began his single seater racing career in 2002 in the UK Formula Ford championship, finishing the year in 17th place...
, and Lucas Di Grassi. Di Grassi had two wins and was classified in eighth place overall. Another of that year's highlights was a podium finish on Di Grassi's début at the Macau Grand Prix. Asmer managed to finish the championship closing the top 10.
In 2005, Hitech retained Asmer and brought in Tim Bridgman
Tim Bridgman
Timothy James Bridgman is a British race car driver from England.Bridgman was born in Harlow and educated at Felsted School. He raced for Jensen Motorsport in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship in 2006, finishing the season ranked 16th overall. He was the 2004 Formula BMW UK champion, and...
from Formula BMW
Formula BMW
Formula BMW is a junior racing formula for single seater cars. It is positioned at the bottom of the motorsport career ladder alongside the longer established Formula Ford category...
. Asmer was the best of the duo, scoring no less than five second places, but missing out on an actual win, even so managing to snatch the fourth place in the championship.
For 2006, Hitech brought back James Walker, alongside James Jakes
James Jakes
- T-Cars :Jakes started his racing career in 2002 competing in 5 rounds of the T-Car Championship. In 2003 James continued in T-cars, finishing 2nd in the championship.- Formula Renault :...
and Salvador Durán
Salvador Durán
Salvador Durán Sánchez is a Mexican race car driver currently racing in the NACAR Corona Series and formerly Formula Renault 3.5 Series championship with the Interwetten.com team....
, with Jakes finishing 8th, Walker 9th and Durán 10th in a poor season that only heralded one podium finish (achieved by Walker).
In 2007 Hitech retained the services of Marko Asmer who joined Austrian Walter Grubmuller for an assault on the British F3 Championship. Hitech and Asmer took the title, scoring 11 poles, 11 wins (from 22 races) and 9 fastest laps. Marko Asmer secured the title long before the final round and in the end by a margin of 85 points from Maro Engel
Maro Engel
Maro Engel is a German racing driver, now residing in Monaco. He currently competes in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters championship.- Early career :...
.
2008, Walter Grubmuller has been joined by the youngest driver in the sport, Max Chilton
Max Chilton
Max Alexander Chilton is a British racing driver who currently races for Carlin in the GP2 Series. He attended Ardingly College, West Sussex from 1999 to 2008...
.
GP2/GP3 Series
In 2004, Hitech partnered with Piquet Sports to enter the GP2 SeriesGP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
. As of 2007, the team enters the competition as Minardi Piquet Sports.