Markus Winkelhock

Markus Winkelhock
Born	(1980-06-13) June 13, 1980 Stuttgart, Germany
Occupation	Racing driver
Known for	Leading the 2007 European Grand Prix; 2012 FIA GT1 World Champion

Markus Winkelhock (; born 13 June 1980) is a German professional racing driver, the son of former Formula One competitor Manfred Winkelhock and nephew of ex-Formula One racer Joachim Winkelhock. His brief tenure in Formula One is highlighted by leading the 2007 European Grand Prix for several laps before retiring because of mechanical failure. Subsequently, Winkelhock transitioned to sports and touring car competitions, capturing the FIA GT1 World Championship crown in 2012 alongside teammate Marc Basseng.

Early career

Originating from Stuttgart, Winkelhock secured victories in various junior formula categories such as Formula König, German Formula Renault, and the Formula Renault Eurocup between 1998 and 2000.

In 2001, he advanced to the German Formula 3 Championship, where he competed until it transformed into the F3 Euroseries in 2003. His achievements included finishing fifth overall in 2001 with three wins, seventh place in 2002 with one win, and fourth position in 2003, earning two victories.

He transitioned to touring car racing in 2004, participating in the DTM season behind the wheel of an AMG-Mercedes CLK for Persson, although he did not accumulate any championship points.

Winkelhock returned to single-seater competition in 2005 by joining the World Series by Renault with Draco. Despite facing challenges such as crashes during Monaco qualifying and at the race start, he achieved three wins throughout the season.

Formula One

On 24 January 2006, Winkelhock was named test and reserve driver for the Midland F1 squad (previously known as Jordan Grand Prix) for that year's season. He took part in Friday practice sessions at Bahrain, Australia, Germany, and Hungary Grands Prix.

He remained with the team for , now rebranded as Spyker F1, while briefly returning to DTM that same year with three race starts.

Following the departure of Christijan Albers from Spyker after the 2007 British Grand Prix, Winkelhock was called up to replace him for the European Grand Prix on 18 July. This engagement was limited to a single race weekend, as Sakon Yamamoto was slated to drive for Spyker for the remainder of the season.

2007 European Grand Prix

Starting from the back of the 22-car grid alongside teammate Adrian Sutil, Winkelhock’s team opted to fit him with full wet tyres during the formation lap when most others were on dry tyres. As heavy rain forced competitors to pit at the conclusion of lap one, Winkelhock surged into the lead by overtaking cars during their stops and passing Kimi Räikkönen on track. By lap two, he had established a 19-second lead, which grew to 33 seconds by lap four over Ferrari's Felipe Massa. The race was temporarily halted due to deteriorating weather conditions and multiple spins behind the safety car. Upon restarting on a drying circuit, Winkelhock remained on full wets hoping for additional rainfall but soon lost pace and positions. His race ended on lap fifteen when hydraulic failure triggered a small fire; overall, he led six laps.

As noted by Bob Varsha from Speed Channel, Winkelhock is unique in Formula One history for starting last and leading a race on his debut Grand Prix weekend and also holds the distinction of having started both last and first on the grid during the same event due to a red flag situation. Despite this remarkable performance, Spyker chose not to retain him for the remainder of the 2007 Formula One season, citing sponsorship constraints.

Post-Formula One career

Following the loss of his seat at Spyker, Winkelhock made a return to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, driving for Team Rosberg during the 2008 (finishing 12th), 2009 (10th), and 2010 (12th) seasons.

In 2011, he competed in the FIA GT1 World Championship with All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport, teaming up with the team principal Marc Basseng behind the wheel of a Lamborghini. After regulatory changes prompted a switch to the Mercedes SLS, the team secured the championship title in 2012.

Winkelhock was initially announced to join Münnich Motorsport in the World Touring Car Championship for the 2013 season; however, he departed prior to its start to concentrate on GT racing. His replacement was the reigning champion Robert Huff.

From 2013 onward, Winkelhock has mainly participated in the Blancpain Endurance Series, highlighted by his victory at the esteemed 2017 24 Hours of Nürburgring. In addition, he briefly returned to DTM during the middle of the 2021 season with Abt Sportsline, substituting for Sophia Flörsch at Nürburgring while she fulfilled her Le Mans obligations.

Career summary

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	Mücke Motorsport (ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg)	1	0	0	N/A	6th
2004	Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters	Persson Motorsport	10	0	0	0	19th
2005	2005 Formula Renault 3.5 Series	Draco Racing (Draco Multiracing USA)	17	3	1	114	3rd
2006	2006 Formula One season (Test driver)	Midland F1 Racing (MF1 Racing)
	2006 Porsche Supercup	Porsche AG	1	0	0	0	NC
2007	2007 Formula One season	Spyker F1 Team (Etihad, Aldar)	1	0	0	0	NC
	2007 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season	Abt Sportsline	2	0	0	0	19th
		Kodewa (Futurecom TME)	5	0	0	0
2008	2008 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season	Team Rosberg	11	0	0	6	11th
2009	2009 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season	Team Rosberg	10	0	0	11	10th
2010 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season  | Team Rosberg  | 11  | 0  | 0  | 7  | 12th  | -   | 2010 Nürburgring - SP9 (24 Hours) | Phoenix Racing | 1 | 1 | 0 | N/A | style="background:#FFFFBF;" 1st | -	2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season   | Münnich Motorsport (All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport)   | 20   | 3   | 0   | 102   | 5th   | -   | 2011 Nürburgring - SP9 (24 Hours) | Audi Sport Team Phoenix | 1 | 0 | ? | N/A | style="background:#DFDFDF;" 2nd | -	2012 FIA GT1 World Championship season   | Münnich Motorsport (All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport)   | 18   | 1   | 0   | 145   | style="background:#FFFFBF;" 1st   | -	2012 Nürburgring - SP9 (24 Hours) | Audi Sport Team Phoenix | 1 | 1 | 0 | N/A | style="background:#FFFFBF;" 1st | -	2013 Blancpain Endurance Series season    | Phoenix Racing    | 5    | 0    | 0    | 12    | 23rd    | -	2013 FIA GT Series season
2014	Blancpain Sprint Series	Phoenix Racing	14	0	0	32	11th
2014 Blancpain Endurance Series	Phoenix Racing	1	1	0	43	10th
2014 Nürburgring - SP9 (24 Hours)	Phoenix Racing	1	1	0	N/A	style="background:#FFFFBF;" 1st
2014 United SportsCar Championship - GTD	Flying Lizard Motorsports	2	0	0	34	56th
2014 World Rallycross Championship	EKS RX	1	0	0	0	56th
2015 Blancpain Sprint Series	Phoenix Racing	14	0	0	48	9th
2015 Blancpain Endurance Series	Phoenix Racing	5	0	0	0	NC
2015 United SportsCar Championship - GTD	Flying Lizard Motorsports	1	0	0	1	58th
2016 ADAC GT Masters	Phoenix Racing	10	0	0	22	30th
2016 Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup	Phoenix Racing	8	0	0	0	NC
2016 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup	Phoenix Racing	1	0	0	18	21st
2016 Intercontinental GT Challenge	Phoenix Racing / Audi Sport Team Phoenix	3	0	0	33	5th
2017 ADAC GT Masters	BWT Mücke Motorsport	12	0	0	14	33rd
2017 Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup	Belgian Audi Club Team WRT	9	1	0	74	style="background:#DFDFDF;" 2nd
2017 Intercontinental GT Challenge* (multiple teams)	Jamec Pem, Saintéloc, Magnus Racing	3	2	0	50	style="background:#FFFFBF;" 1st
2017 Nürburgring - SP9 (24 Hours)	Audi Sport Team Land / Land-Motorsport	1	1	0	N/A	style="background:#FFFFBF;" 1st
2018 ADAC GT Masters	BWT Mücke Motorsport	14	0	0	42	14th
2018 Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup - Pro-Am	Saintéloc Racing	10	5	2	134.5	style="background:#FFFFBF;" 1st
2018 Intercontinental GT Challenge* (multiple teams)		Audi Sport / Saintéloc / WRT / Absolute Racing	4	1	N/A	58	4th
2018 Nürburgring - SP9 (24 Hours)		Audi Sport Team BWT	1	0	N/A	11th
2019 ADAC GT Masters		BWT Mücke Motorsport	14	0	80	12th
2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe / Endurance / Pro-Am		Saintéloc Racing	16	0	45	19th-22nd
2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge* (multiple teams)		Audi Sport Teams Valvoline, Land, Saintéloc, Absolute	5	0	40	11th
2019 Nürburgring - SP9 (24 Hours)		Audi Sport Team Car Collection	1	0	N/A	style="background:#FFDF9F;" 3rd
2020 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup / ADAC GT Masters / IMSA SportsCar Championship / Intercontinental GT Challenge* / Nürburgring - SP9 (24 Hours)		Saintéloc, Car Collection, Team Hardpoint, Audi Sport Teams Valvoline, WRT, Saintéloc, Attempto, Car Collection Motorsport				various positions including 2nd at Nürburgring and mid-table finishes in other series.
2021 ADAC GT Masters / GT World Challenge Europe Sprint and Endurance Cups / DTM / Intercontinental GT Challenge* / Nürburgring - SP9 (24 Hours) / 24H GT Series*		Teams including Car Collection, WRT, Saintéloc, Abt Sportsline, Attempto, Audi Sport Teams				notable 2nd in Intercontinental GT Challenge overall.
2022 ADAC GT Masters / GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup / Intercontinental GT Challenge* / Nürburgring - SP9 (24 Hours)		Car Collection Motorsport, Attempto Racing, Audi Sport Teams				mid-table results.
2023–2025 Various series including Middle East Trophy - GT3 and future planned participation in GT World Challenge Asia and Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie		Teams such as Phoenix Racing, Goroyan RT by Car Collection Motorsport, Eastalent Racing Team, Audi Sport Asia				ongoing participation with modest rankings.

† Winkelhock was not eligible to score points as he participated as a guest driver.
^* The season is currently underway.

Full German Formula Three Championship results

(key) (Pole positions are shown in bold, fastest laps in italics)

Year	Team	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Final Position	Points
2001	ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg	Dallara F301	Opel	HOC1 1	HOC1 2	NÜR1 1	NÜR1 2	OSC 1	OSC 2	SAC 1	SAC 2	NOR 1	NOR 2	HOC2 1	HOC2 2	LAU 1	LAU 2	NÜR2 1	NÜR2 2	A1R 1	A1R 2	HOC3 1	HOC3 2	5th	141
2002	Mücke Motorsport	Dallara F302	Mercedes	HOC1 1	HOC1 2	NÜR1 1	NÜR1 2	SAC 1	SAC 2	NOR 1	NOR 2	LAU 1	LAU 2	HOC2 1	HOC2 2	NÜR2 1	NÜR2 2	A1R 1	A1R 2	ZAN 1	ZAN 2	HOC3 1	style="background:#FFDF9F;" > [[Hockenheimring ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ (HOC3)< br > ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (	7th !28

Full Formula 3 Euro Series results

(key) (Pole positions marked in bold; fastest laps in italics)

Year	Team	Chassis	Engine	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Round 9	Round 10	Round 11	Round 12	Round 13	Round 14	Round 15	Round 16	Round 17	Round 18	Round 19	Round 20	Final Standing (DC)	Points Accumulated
2003 Formula 3 Euro Series	nowrap  Mücke Motorsport ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg	nowrap  Dallara F302/012	nowrap  Mercedes-Benz HWA-Mercedes style="background:#FFDF9F;"  [[Hockenheimring HOC 1]]  Template:Small 3 style="background:#DFFFDF;"  [[Hockenheimring HOC 2]] Template:Small 4 style="background:#EFCFFF;"  [[Adria International Raceway ADR 1]] Template:Small Ret style="background:#CFCFFF;"  [[Adria International Raceway ADR 2]] Template:Small 17 style="background:#CFCFFF;"  [[Pau Grand Prix PAU 1]] Template:Small 21 style="background:#EFCFFF;"  [[Pau Grand Prix PAU 2]] Template:Small Ret style="background:#EFCFFF;"  [[Norisring NOR 1]] Template:Small Ret style="background:#DFFFDF;"  [[Norisring NOR 2]] Template:Small5 style= " background: #DFFFDF; " [[Circuit de la Sarthe Bugatti Circuit LMS 1]] Template:Small8 style= " background: #CFCFFF; " [[Circuit de la Sarthe Bugatti Circuit LMS 2]] Template:Small18 style= " background: #FFFFBF; " [[Nürburgring NÜR 1]] Template:Small1 style= " background: #DFDFDF; " [[Nürburgring NÜR 2]] Template:Small2 style= " background: #DFFFDF; " [[Osterreichring The A1-Ring A1R 1]] Template:Small4 style= " background: #DFFFDF; " [[Osterreichring The A1-Ring A1R 2]] Template:Small6 style= " background: #DFFFDF; " [[Circuit Park Zandvoort ZAN 1]] Template:Small4 style= " background: #DFFFDF; " [[Circuit Park Zandvoort ZAN 2]] Template:Small4 style= " background: #EFCFFF; " [[Hockenheimring HOC 1]] Template:Small Ret style= " background: #DFDFDF; " [[Hockenheimring HOC 2]] Template:Small2 style= " background: #FFFFBF; " [[Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours MAG 1]] Template:Small1 style= " background: #CFCFFF; " [[Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours MAG 2]] Template:Small9	4th	71

Full Formula Renault 3.5 Series results

(key) (Bold denotes pole position, italics fastest lap)

Year	Team	Races...	DC	Points
2005 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season	Draco Multiracing USA	style= " background: #CFCFFF; " [[Zolder ZOL 1]] Template:Small NC	style= " background: #FFDF9F; " [[Zolder ZOL 2]] Template:Small3	style= " background: #FFFFFF; " [[Circuit de Monaco MON 1]] Template:Small DNS	style= " background: #CFCFFF; " [[Circuit Ricardo Tormo VAL 1]] Template:Small11	style= " background: #CFCFFF; " [[Circuit Ricardo Tormo VAL 2]] Template:Small12	style= " background: #FFFFBF; " [[Circuit de la Sarthe Bugatti Circuit LMS 1]]] Template:Small1	style= " background: #DFFFDF; " [[Circuit de la Sarthe Bugatti Circuit LMS 2]]] Template:Small5	style= " background: #EFCFFF; " [[Circuito Urbano Bilbao BIL 1]]] Template:SmallRet	style= " background: #DFFFDF; " [[Circuito Urbano Bilbao BIL 2]]] Template:Small7	style= " background: #EFCFFF; " [[Motorsport Arena Oschersleben OSC 1]]] Template:SmallRet	style= " background: #FFDF9F; " [[Motorsport Arena Oschersleben OSC 2]]] Template:Small3	style= " background: #DFFFDF; " [[Donington Park DON 1]]] Template:Small5	style= " background: #FFFFBF; " [[Donington Park DON 2]]] Template:Small1	style= " background: #DFFFDF; " [[Autódromo do Estoril EST 1]]] Template:Small4	style= " background: #DFDFDF; " [[Autódromo do Estoril EST 2]]] Template:Small2	style= " background: #FFDF9F; "'[[Autodromo Nazionale Monza MNZ]< br/>[ [MNZ] ] [ [MNZ] ] [ [MNZ] ] [ [MNZ] ] [ [MNZ] ] [ [MNZ] ] [ [MNZ] ] [ [MNZ] ] [ [MNZ] ] [ [MNZ] ] [ [MNZ] ]'"Template:Small3"'

Full Formula One results

(Template:F1 driver results legend_2#key)

Year	Team	Chassis	Engine	Races...	WDC	Points

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results

(Template:Motorsport driver results legend#key) (Bold indicates pole position, and italics represent fastest lap)

Year	Team	Vehicle	Races...	Position	Points

^†- Driver did not complete sufficient race distance to score full points. ^‡- Shanghai event was a non-championship race.

Complete GT1 World Championship results

Year	Team	Car	Races...	Position	Points

Complete FIA GT Series results

Year	Team	Car	Class	Races...	Position	Points

‡ — Guest driver, therefore not eligible for scoring points.

Complete GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup results

Year	Team	Car	Class	Races...	Position	Points
...

^†: Winkelhock was not eligible to earn points during the Moscow event due to absence of teammate.

Complete FIA World Rallycross Championship results

Supercar

Year	Entrant	Car	Rounds...	Position	Points

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(Template:Motorsport driver results legend#key) (Bold indicates pole position, italics fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Class	Make	Engine	Rounds...	Rank	Points

^†: Winkelhock did not complete enough laps to be awarded full points.

External links

• Official website
• Markus Winkelhock Profile at F1Fanatic