Markus Winkelhock

German racing driver (born 1980) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Markus Winkelhock (German pronunciation: [ˈmaʁ.kʊs ˈvɪŋ.kl̩.hɔk]; born 13 June 1980) is a German professional racing driver. He is the son of Manfred Winkelhock and nephew of Joachim Winkelhock, both of whom were Formula One drivers in the 1980s.[1] During his brief Formula One career he led the 2007 European Grand Prix for several laps before retiring with mechanical problems. Having switched to sports and touring car racing, he has also won the FIA GT1 World Championship in 2012 with team-mate Marc Basseng.

Born (1980-06-13) 13 June 1980 (age 45)
Debut season2024
Current teamAudi Sport Asia Team Phantom
Quick facts Born, Relatives ...
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Early career

Winkelhock driving in the German F3 series in 2002.

Born in Stuttgart, Winkelhock won races in a string of junior formulae including Formula König, German Formula Renault and the Formula Renault Eurocup from 1998 to 2000.[2]

In 2001, Winkelhock joined the German Formula 3 Championship, where he remained until the championship became the F3 Euroseries in 2003. His record was fifth overall in 2001 (three wins), seventh in 2002 (one win) and fourth in 2003 (two wins).[2]

Winkelhock switched to touring car racing in 2004, with a season in the DTM in an AMG-Mercedes CLK. But he failed to score a point all year with the Persson team.[2]

Winkelhock switched back to single-seater racing in 2005, joining the World Series by Renault with Draco. He won three times but there were also some less than shining moments – notably when he crashed at Monaco in qualifying and on the first lap of the race.[2]

Formula One

On 24 January 2006, Winkelhock was confirmed as a test and reserve driver for the Midland F1 team (formerly Jordan Grand Prix) for the 2006 Formula One season.[3] He participated in Friday test sessions for the team at the Bahrain, Australian, German and Hungarian Grands Prix.[2]

Winkelhock was re-signed for 2007 by the team, which by then had been renamed as Spyker F1.[4] He also made a brief return to the DTM in 2007, starting three races.[2]

Following Christijan Albers's departure from Spyker after the 2007 British Grand Prix, Winkelhock was confirmed as his replacement for the European Grand Prix on 18 July.[5] The deal was only for one race with Sakon Yamamoto set to race for Spyker for the rest of the season.[6]

2007 European Grand Prix

In the race, Winkelhock started last on the 22-car grid alongside teammate Adrian Sutil. On the formation lap, with the rest of the field on dry-weather tyres, the team made a last-second decision to call Winkelhock into the pits to switch to full wet tyres. When pouring rain forced almost all the others to pit at the end of the first lap, Winkelhock was able to move into the lead, passing some cars as they pitted, and even passing Kimi Räikkönen on the track as the Finn tip-toed around to the pits, eventually building a lead of 19 seconds by the end of the second lap. By lap 4, he had a lead of 33 seconds over Ferrari's Felipe Massa in second place. As the rain got heavier, the stewards first sent out the safety car and then suspended the race following a series of spins in the first corner behind the safety car. The race restarted after the rain had eased. Winkelhock and his team chose to start on full wet tyres on a drying track in the hope of further showers, as the team expected he would be overtaken by faster cars anyway. The gamble failed and, having restarted the race from the lead, Winkelhock quickly fell down the order. He retired on lap 15 with hydraulic problems that caused a small fire. He had led for a total of six laps.[7]

According to Bob Varsha of the Speed Channel commentary team, Winkelhock is the only driver in Formula One history to start last on the grid and lead the race in his first Grand Prix, and due to the red flag and restart, is also the only driver in Formula One history to start both last and first on the grid in the same Grand Prix. Despite his performance in the race, the Spyker team opted against giving Winkelhock a drive for the remainder of the 2007 season, instead opting for Super Aguri test driver Sakon Yamamoto.[8]

Post-Formula One career

Winkelhock driving for Audi (Team Rosberg) in the 2009 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season at the Hockenheimring.

Winkelhock returned to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters after he lost his Spyker seat, and has remained in the series, driving for Team Rosberg, for 2008 (12th), 2009 (tenth) and 2010 (12th).

In 2011, Winkelhock competed in the FIA GT1 World Championship for the All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport team alongside team boss Marc Basseng driving a Lamborghini. They won the championship the following year, the team having switched to the Mercedes SLS due to a change in the regulations.

Winkelhock was to move with Münnich Motorsport to the World Touring Car Championship for 2013,[9] however he left the team before the start of the season in order to focus on his GT racing commitments, and was replaced by defending champion Robert Huff.[10]

Since 2013, Winkelhock has more or less settled in the Blancpain Endurance Series and also won the 2017 24 Hours of Nürburgring sportscar race.[11]

Winkelhock also made a brief DTM comeback midway through the 2021 season with Abt Sportsline, where he replaced Sophia Flörsch for the Nürburgring round due to her Le Mans commitments.[12]

Racing record

Career summary

More information Season, Series ...
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles Points Position
1998 Formula König ? 9 3 2 161 2nd
1999 Formula Renault Germany SL Formula Racing 8 2 1 72 4th
Lechner Racing
2000 Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup SL Formula Racing ? 1 ? 78 6th
Formula Renault 2000 Italy SL Racing 4 0 0 8 21st
2001 German Formula 3 Championship Mücke Motorsport 20 3 2 141 5th
Masters of Formula 3 ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg 1 0 0 N/A 36th
2002 German Formula 3 Championship Mücke Motorsport 18 1 2 28 7th
2003 Formula 3 Euro Series Mücke Motorsport 20 2 1 71 4th
Masters of Formula 3 ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg 1 0 0 N/A 6th
2004 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Persson Motorsport 10 0 0 0 19th
2005 Formula Renault 3.5 Series Draco Multiracing USA 17 3 1 114 3rd
2006 Formula One MF1 Racing Test driver
Porsche Supercup Porsche AG 1 0 0 0 NC
2007 Formula One Etihad Aldar Spyker F1 Team 1 0 0 0 NC
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Abt Sportsline 2 0 0 0 19th
Futurecom TME 5 0 0 0
2008 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Team Rosberg 11 0 0 6 11th
2009 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Team Rosberg 10 0 0 11 10th
2010 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Team Rosberg 11 0 0 7 12th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Phoenix Racing 1 1 0 N/A 1st
2011 GT1 World Championship All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 20 3 0 102 5th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 1 0 ? N/A 2nd
2012 GT1 World Championship All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 18 1 0 145 1st
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 1 1 0 N/A 1st
2013 Blancpain Endurance Series Phoenix Racing 5 0 0 12 23rd
FIA GT Series 2 0 0 0 NC†
Rolex Sports Car Series - GT Audi Sport Customer Racing 1 0 0 24 54th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 G-Drive Racing by Phoenix 1 0 0 N/A 5th
2014 Blancpain Sprint Series Phoenix Racing 14 0 0 32 11th
Blancpain Endurance Series 1 1 0 43 10th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 1 0 N/A 1st
United SportsCar Championship - GTD Flying Lizard Motorsports 2 0 0 34 56th
World Rallycross Championship EKS RX 1 0 0 0 56th
2015 Blancpain Sprint Series Phoenix Racing 14 0 0 48 9th
Blancpain Endurance Series 5 0 0 0 NC
United SportsCar Championship - GTD Flying Lizard Motorsports 1 0 0 1 58th
FFSA GT Championship Saintéloc Junior Team 2 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 1 0 0 N/A DNF
2016 ADAC GT Masters Phoenix Racing 10 0 0 22 30th
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup 8 0 0 0 NC
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup 1 0 0 18 21st
Intercontinental GT Challenge Phoenix Racing 1 0 0 33 5th
Audi Sport Team Phoenix 2 0 0
24H Series - A6 Car Collection Motorsport
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 1 0 0 N/A DNF
2017 ADAC GT Masters BWT Mücke Motorsport 12 0 0 14 33rd
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 9 1 0 74 2nd
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 1 0 0 30 8th
Audi Sport Team Saintéloc 2 1 0
Intercontinental GT Challenge Jamec Pem Racing 1 0 0 50 1st
Audi Sport Team Saintéloc 1 1 0
Audi Sport Team Magnus 1 1 0
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Land / Land-Motorsport 1 1 0 N/A 1st
2018 ADAC GT Masters BWT Mücke Motorsport 14 0 0 42 14th
24H GT Series - A6
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup Saintéloc Racing 10 0 0 1 25th
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup - Pro-Am 10 5 2 134.5 1st
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup 5 0 0 27 18th
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup - Pro-Am 3 0 0 36 12th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Magnus Racing 1 0 0 25 52nd
Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team MPC 1 0 0 58 4th
Audi Sport Team Saintéloc 1 1 0
Audi Sport Team Absolute Racing 1 0 0
Audi Sport Team WRT 1 0 0
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team BWT 1 0 0 N/A 11th
2019 ADAC GT Masters BWT Mücke Motorsport 14 0 0 80 12th
Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe Saintéloc Racing 9 0 0 3 22nd
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup 4 0 0 12 19th
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup - Pro-Am 3 0 0 30 11th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Moorespeed 1 0 0 20 56th
Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team Valvoline 1 0 0 40 11th
Audi Sport Team Land 2 0 0
Audi Sport Team Saintéloc 1 0 0
Audi Sport Team Absolute Racing 1 0 0
24H GT Series - A6 BWT Mücke Motorsport
Car Collection Motorsport
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Car Collection 1 0 0 N/A 3rd
2020 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Saintéloc Racing 4 0 0 22 15th
ADAC GT Masters EFP Car Collection by TECE 6 0 0 0 NC†
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Team Hardpoint 1 0 0 18 54th
Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team Valvoline 1 0 0 26 9th
Audi Sport Team Hardpoint WRT 1 0 0
Audi Sport Team Saintéloc Racing 1 0 0
Audi Sport Team WRT 1 0 0
24H GT Series - GT3 Car Collection Motorsport
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Car Collection 1 0 0 N/A 2nd
2021 ADAC GT Masters Car Collection Motorsport 14 0 0 29 25th
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup ROFGO Racing with Team WRT 2 0 0 1 33rd
Saintéloc Racing 4 0 0
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Saintéloc Racing 1 0 0 2 9th*
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Team Abt Sportsline 2 0 0 0 23rd
Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team Saintéloc Racing 3 1 0 50 2nd
24H GT Series - GT3 Attempto Racing
Rutronik Racing by TECE
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Car Collection 1 0 0 N/A 5th
2022 ADAC GT Masters Car Collection Motorsport 14 0 0 26 26th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Attempto Racing 5 0 0 19 20th
Intercontinental GT Challenge The Bend Motorsport Park Team Valvoline
Audi Sport Team Attempto
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Scherer Sport Team Phoenix 1 0 0 N/A 5th
2023 GT Winter Series Phoenix Racing ? ? ? 8 85th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Scherer Sport PHX 1 0 0 N/A 11th
2023-24 Middle East Trophy - GT3 Goroyan RT by Car Collection Motorsport
Eastalent Racing Team
2024 GT World Challenge Asia Audi Sport Asia Team Absolute 10 1 0 68 9th
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9 Scherer Sport PHX 2 0 0
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 N/A 8th
2025 GT World Challenge Asia Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom 10 0 0 24 24th
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9 Scherer Sport PHX
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 N/A DNF
Close

† As Winkelhock was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
* Season still in progress.

Complete German Formula Three Championship results

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

More information Year, Entrant ...
Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2001 ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg Dallara F301 Opel HOC1
1

7
HOC1
2

6
NÜR1
1

3
NÜR1
2

3
OSC
1

3
OSC
2

13
SAC
1

1
SAC
2

Ret
NOR
1

11
NOR
2

Ret
HOC2
1

21
HOC2
2

21
LAU
1

1
LAU
2

6
NÜR2
1

3
NÜR2
2

2
A1R
1

Ret
A1R
2

Ret
HOC3
1

1
HOC3
2

Ret
5th 141
2002 Mücke Motorsport Dallara F302 Mercedes HOC1
1

5
HOC1
2

5
NÜR1
1

C
NÜR1
2

C
SAC
1

5
SAC
2

Ret
NOR
1

7
NOR
2

19
LAU
1

10
LAU
2

6
HOC2
1

4
HOC2
2

21†
NÜR2
1

21
NÜR2
2

1
A1R
1

4
A1R
2

15
ZAN
1

10
ZAN
2

13
HOC3
1

Ret
HOC3
2

3
7th 28
Close

Complete Formula 3 Euro Series results

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

More information Year, Entrant ...
Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2003 ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg Dallara F302/012 HWA-Mercedes HOC
1

3
HOC
2

4
ADR
1

Ret
ADR
2

17
PAU
1

21
PAU
2

Ret
NOR
1

Ret
NOR
2

5
LMS
1

8
LMS
2

18
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

2
A1R
1

4
A1R
2

6
ZAN
1

4
ZAN
2

4
HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

2
MAG
1

1
MAG
2

9
4th 71
Close

Complete Formula Renault 3.5 Series results

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

More information Year, Entrant ...
Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 DC Points
2005 Draco Multiracing USA ZOL
1

NC
ZOL
2

3
MON
1

DNS
VAL
1

11
VAL
2

12
LMS
1

1
LMS
2

5
BIL
1

Ret
BIL
2

7
OSC
1

Ret
OSC
2

3
DON
1

5
DON
2

1
EST
1

4
EST
2

2
MNZ
1

3
MNZ
2

1
3rd 114
Close

Complete Formula One results

(key)

More information Year, Entrant ...
Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 WDC Points
2006 MF1 Racing Midland M16 Toyota RVX-06 2.4 V8 BHR
TD
MAL AUS
TD
SMR EUR ESP MON GBR CAN USA FRA GER
TD
HUN
TD
TUR ITA CHN JPN BRA    
2007 Etihad Aldar Spyker F1 Team Spyker F8-VII Ferrari 056H 2.4 V8 AUS MAL BHR ESP MON CAN USA FRA GBR EUR
Ret
HUN TUR ITA BEL JPN CHN BRA NC 0
Close

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results

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

More information Year, Team ...
Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos. Points
2004 Persson Motorsport AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2003 HOC
15
EST
17
ADR
Ret
LAU
13
NOR
Ret
SHA
9‡
NÜR
Ret
OSC
16
ZAN
14
BRN
18
HOC
13
19th 0
2007 Abt Sportsline Audi A4 DTM 2007 HOC OSC LAU
Ret
BRH
14
NOR 19th 0
Futurecom TME Audi A4 DTM 2005 MUG
9
ZAN
13
NÜR
Ret
CAT
12†
HOC
13
2008 Team Rosberg Audi A4 DTM 2007 HOC
12
OSC
6
MUG
7
LAU
Ret
NOR
11
ZAN
8
NÜR
9
BRH
11
CAT
12
BUG
11
HOC
Ret
11th 6
2009 Team Rosberg Audi A4 DTM 2008 HOC
4
LAU
Ret
NOR
13
ZAN
DSQ
OSC
Ret
NÜR
4
BRH
18†
CAT
Ret
DIJ
10
HOC
8
10th 11
2010 Team Rosberg Audi A4 DTM 2008 HOC
15
VAL
15†
LAU
10
NOR
Ret
NÜR
Ret
ZAN
DNS
BRH
15†
OSC
Ret
HOC
Ret
ADR
4
SHA
7
12th 7
2021 Abt Sportsline Audi R8 LMS Evo MNZ
1
MNZ
2
LAU
1
LAU
2
ZOL
1
ZOL
2
NÜR
1

16
NÜR
2

14
RBR
1
RBR
2
ASS
1
ASS
2
HOC
1
HOC
2
NOR
1
NOR
2
23rd 0
Close

- Driver did not finish, but completed 90% of the race distance. - Shanghai was a non-championship round.

Complete GT1 World Championship results

More information Year, Team ...
Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos Points
2011 All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport Lamborghini Murciélago LP670 R-SV ABU
QR

6
ABU
CR

3
ZOL
QR

1
ZOL
CR

1
ALG
QR

7
ALG
CR

6
SAC
QR

9
SAC
CR

Ret
SIL
QR

Ret
SIL
CR

5
NAV
QR

1
NAV
CR

2
PRI
QR

7
PRI
CR

8
ORD
QR

DSQ
ORD
CR

8
BEI
QR

12
BEI
CR

Ret
SAN
QR

6
SAN
CR

Ret
5th 102
2012 All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 NOG
QR

6
NOG
CR

3
ZOL
QR

6
ZOL
CR

9
NAV
QR

5
NAV
QR

2
SVK
QR

4
SVK
CR

3
ALG
QR

1
ALG
CR

2
SVK
QR

3
SVK
CR

2
MOS
QR

2
MOS
CR

5
NUR
QR

3
NUR
CR

2
DON
QR

5
DON
CR

DSQ
1st 145
Close

Complete FIA GT Series results

More information Year, Team ...
Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Points
2013 Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra Pro NOG
QR
NOG
CR
ZOL
QR
ZOL
CR
ZAN
QR
ZAN
CR
SVK
QR
SVK
CR
NAV
QR
NAV
CR
BAK
QR

9
BAK
CR

12
NC 0‡
Close

 — Guest driver – Not eligible for points.

Complete GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup results

More information Year, Team ...
Close

Winkelhock was ineligible to score points during the Moscow weekend due to Nikolaus Mayr-Melnhof's absence.

Complete FIA World Rallycross Championship results

Supercar

More information Year, Entrant ...
Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Points
2014 EKS RX Audi S1 POR GBR NOR FIN
24
SWE BEL CAN FRA GER ITA TUR ARG 57th 0
Close

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

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

More information Year, Entrant ...
Year Entrant Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points
2014 Flying Lizard Motorsports GTD Audi R8 LMS ultra Audi 5.2L V10 DAY
2
SEB
8
LGA
DET
WGL
MOS
IND
ELK
VIR
COA
COA
56th 34
2015 Flying Lizard Motorsports GTD Audi R8 LMS ultra Audi 5.2L V10 DAY
10†
SEB
LGA
BEL
WGL
LIM
ELK
VIR
AUS
ATL
58th 1
2018 Magnus Racing GTD Audi R8 LMS Audi 5.2 L V10 DAY
6
SEB
MOH
BEL
WGL
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
LGA
PET
52nd 26
2019 Moorespeed GTD Audi R8 LMS Evo Audi 5.2 L V10 DAY
11
SEB
MDO
DET
WGL
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
LGA
PET
56th 20
2020 Team Hardpoint GTD Audi R8 LMS Evo Audi 5.2 L V10 DAY DAY SEB ELK VIR ATL MDO CLT PET
13
LGA SEB 54th 18
Close

Winkelhock did not complete sufficient laps in order to score full points.

References

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