Laurent Aïello

Laurent Aïello
Nationality	French
Born	May 23, 1969 Fontenay-aux-Roses (France)
Retired	2005
DTM
Years active	2000-2005
Previous series
1999 1998-2001 1996-1998 1996 1993 1993-1995 1991-1992 1989-1992 1988 1983-1985	BTCC 24 Hours of Le Mans STW Porsche Carrera Cup France Italian Super Touring Championship CFS International Formula 3000 French Formula 3 Volant Avia French Karting Championship
Championship titles
2002 1999 1998 1997 1994 1992 1983-1985	DTM BTCC 24 Hours of Le Mans STW CFS French Formula 3 French Karting Championship
BTCC record
Teams	Nissan
Drivers championships	1
Wins	10
Podium finishes	15
Poles	10
Fastest laps	5
Debut season	1999
First win	1999
Best championship position	1st
Final season (1999) position	1st (244 points)
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Participating years	1998 – 2001
Teams	Porsche AG Audi Sport Team Joest Audi Sport North America
Best finish	1st (1998)
Class wins	1 (1998)

Laurent Aïello (born 23 May 1969 in Fontenay-aux-Roses) 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, whom had moved to Ford.^[12] He had initially been offered the drive at Renault, but rejected the offer as WilliamsF1, whom 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 team-mate 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 Geraldine, 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.)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	DC	Points
1991	DAMS	Lola T91/50	Mugen	VAL Ret	PAU DNS	JER 7	MUG Ret	PER Ret	HOC 7	BRH 9	SPA 3	BUG Ret	NOG Ret	15th	4
1992	Pacific Racing	Reynard 92D	Mugen	SIL Ret	PAU Ret	CAT 15	PER 11	HOC 10	NÜR 5	SPA 6	ALB 15	NOG 7	MAG Ret	15th	3

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1998	Porsche AG	Allan McNish Stephane Ortelli	Porsche 911 GT1-98	GT1	351	1st	1st
1999	Audi Sport Team Joest	Michele Alboreto Rinaldo Capello	Audi R8R	LMP	346	4th	3rd
2000	Audi Sport Team Joest	Allan McNish Stephane Ortelli	Audi R8	LMP900	367	2nd	2nd
2001	Audi Sport North America	Rinaldo Capello Christian Pescatori	Audi R8	LMP900	320	2nd	2nd

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)

Year	Team	Car	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	Pos	Pts
1999	Vodafone Nissan Racing	Nissan Primera GT	DON 1 11	DON 2 Ret	SIL 1 1	SIL 2 6	THR 1 1	THR 2 1*	BRH 1 3	BRH 2 1*	OUL 1 1	OUL 2 1*	DON 1 Ret	DON 2 2*	CRO 1 5	CRO 2 3	SNE 1 Ret	SNE 2 7	THR 1 1	THR 2 5*	KNO 1 1	KNO 2 DSQ	BRH 1 2	BRH 2 1*	OUL 1 1	OUL 2 2	SIL 1 9	SIL 2 Ret	1st	244

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results

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

Year	Team	Car	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Pos.	Pts
2000	Abt Sportsline	Abt-Audi TT-R	HOC 1 15	HOC 2 DNS	OSC 1	OSC 2	NOR 1 Ret	NOR 2 DNS	SAC 1 12	SAC 2 14	NÜR 1 11	NÜR 2 14	OSC 1 5	OSC 2 11	NÜR 1 9	NÜR 2 7	HOC 1 Ret	HOC 2 DNS					16th	14
2001	Abt Sportsline	Abt-Audi TT-R	HOC QR 8	HOC CR 7	NÜR QR 1	NÜR CR 1	OSC QR 2	OSC CR 5	SAC QR	SAC CR	NOR QR 10	NOR CR 12	LAU QR 6	LAU CR 12	NÜR QR 1	NÜR CR 1	A1R QR 4	A1R CR 2	ZAN QR 5	ZAN CR Ret	HOC QR Ret	HOC CR DNS	5th	75
2002	Abt Sportsline	Abt-Audi TT-R	HOC QR 2	HOC CR 1	ZOL QR 1	ZOL CR 1	DON QR 18	DON CR DSQ	SAC QR 1	SAC CR 1	NOR QR 4	NOR CR 1	LAU QR 1	LAU CR 4	NÜR QR 2	NÜR CR 2	A1R QR 3	A1R CR 5	ZAN QR DSQ	ZAN CR 6	HOC QR 1	HOC CR 6	1st	70
2003	Abt Sportsline	Abt-Audi TT-R	HOC 3	ADR 3	NÜR 3	LAU 8	NOR 6	DON Ret	NÜR 1	A1R 4	ZAN 9	HOC 5											6th	41
2004	OPC Team Phoenix	Opel Vectra GTS V8 2004	HOC 9	EST 8	ADR 6	LAU 4	NOR Ret	SHA^1	NÜR 9	OSC 6	ZAN Ret	BRN 15	HOC Ret										10th	12
2005	OPC Team Phoenix	Opel Vectra GTS V8 2005	HOC Ret	LAU 10	SPA 7	BRN 16	OSC 7	NOR 12†	NÜR 9	ZAN 14	LAU 4	IST 6	HOC 9										11th	12

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

• † — Retired, but was classified as he completed 90% of the winner's race distance.

References

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

External links

• Laurent Aïello at Driver Database