Ex-F1 driver and F2 crew manager dies aged 60

Crew owner and previous Minardi Formula 1 driver Adrian Campos has handed away at the age of 60.

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Ex-F1 driver and crew boss Adrian Campos dies

Above the yrs, the at any time enthusiastic Campos performed a function in furthering the professions of dozens of drivers, together with Fernando Alonso.

The news was introduced by his workforce, who mentioned: “Right now is the saddest day in the historical past of Campos Racing.

“Our president and founder, Adrian Campos Suner, has still left us. His coronary heart stopped beating, but his memory will be the engine that will continue to keep us all preventing to keep on his legacy … Rest in Peace.”

Born in Valencia in 1960, Campos competed with radio managed model automobiles just before transferring into racing suitable in his native Spain.

He immediately graduated to F3, competing in the European series in 1983 and scored his to start with points the next calendar year.

In 1985, he targeted on the German F3 sequence, in which he completed third at the rear of Volker Weidler and Kris Nissen. He was also entered in a Tyrrell at the Nurburgring F3000 party, but the race was cancelled owing to snow.

In 1986, he created the comprehensive-time soar to F3000 with Peter Gethin Racing. In a packed discipline, he unsuccessful to qualify his March a number of moments, and his best consequence was seventh in his dwelling race at Jarama, just after a late change to the Lola Motorsport staff. He also drove a Porsche 962 for John Fitzpatrick in the World Sportscar Championship event at Jerez.

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Ex-F1 driver and staff manager Adrian Campos dies

Inspite of his reduced-important F3000 year, Campos found the backing to leap straight into F1 with Minardi in 1987 (earlier mentioned), as crew-mate to Alessandro Nannini. He experienced a hard time with the unreliable Motor Moderni-powered auto, and his only classified finish was 14th at Jerez.

He stayed with the group as it switched to Cosworth power for the 1988 period, joined by countryman Luis Perez Sala. He commenced the initially two races but, after a few non-skills in what was by then a packed entry checklist, he remaining the workforce and was replaced by Pierluigi Martini.

Later, Campos switched his aim to touring vehicles, winning the Spanish title in 1994 with an Alfa Romeo. In 1997, he raced a Ferrari 333SP, building his only Le Mans begin that year, ahead of retiring from energetic driving to form his possess team.

Concentrating originally on Spain’s escalating Open up by Nissan sequence, Campos Motorsport received the title with Marc Gene in 1998, Fernando Alonso in 1999 and Antonio Garcia in 2000.

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Ex-F1 driver and group boss Adrian Campos dies

In 2005, the team entered the new GP2 classification less than the Campos Grand Prix identify. Soon after two low-crucial years, the squad built a large stage in 2007, powering Giorgio Pantano, who scored two wins, to third in the series. The pursuing yr, Lucas di Grassi attained 3rd and, with aid from Vitaly Petrov, Campos received the teams’ title.

Campos then took the daring choice to go into F1, and his GP2 crew identified new ownership underneath the Addax title.

Owning gained an F1 entry as Campos Grand Prix, he commenced to put together for the 2010 year. Eventually, economical challenges led to a improve of ownership and the crew morphed into HRT right before its to start with race weekend.

As well as: F1 2010’s shed teams – Campos Meta 1

Acquiring long gone again to the junior classes in Spain, Campos moved into the Earth Touring Auto Championship with SEAT in 2013, right before joining forces with Chevrolet. The Campos title returned to GP2 in 2014, with Alexander Rossi among the drivers, ahead of transferring into GP3 in 2015.

Campos also grew to become associated in the new Components E group, partnering the NEXTEV TCR crew and winning the first title in 2014-15 with Nelson Piquet Jr, prior to hooking up with Mahindra.

Campos experienced a tricky very first year below the new F2 policies in 2017, when a revolving doorway of motorists led to it providing Lando Norris his very first outing in the class in the Abu Dhabi finale.

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Ex-F1 driver and group manager Adrian Campos dies

In 2019, the team scored 3 wins with Jack Aitken, who finished fifth in the championship. Aitken stayed on board in 2020 (above), when Ralph Boschung, who drove for the team in Abu Dhabi past year, has been signed for this season.

Several previous drivers and associates have been brief to fork out tribute.

Aitken, who was launched by Campos to make his F1 debut with Williams last calendar year, reported: “Adrian, RIP. You had been so type, accurate to your phrase, aggressive, mischievous, wise.

“You constantly realized just what to say to me, for the reason that at heart you have been however a driver. And you established a household at Campos comprehensive of amazing, talented persons, who will pass up you dearly. I will much too.”

The Mahindra Components E workforce mentioned: “Woven into the pretty cloth of motorsport, Adrian was a form, first rate man who was very respected in the field.

“He was an integral aspect of the growth and successes of Mahindra Racing in Formulation E and we will hardly ever fail to remember his contribution. We pass our honest condolences to his household, close friends and colleagues. He will be sorely skipped.”