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Alex Fontana
Alex Renato Ioannis Fontana (born 5 August 1992) is a Greek-Swiss professional racing driver competing in GT World Challenge Europe for Lionspeed GP and the International GT Open for ZRS Motorsport. A freelancer, he regularly switches between different teams and manufacturers, and is a three-time GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup class champion. He won the European F3 Open in 2011.
When not racing, Fontana works as a coach and driving instructor in Europe, America, and China, while commentating the Formula 1 Grands Prix for Swiss television RSI.
Fontana's passion for racing began in 1996 when he was three and a half years old in the Greek island of Rhodes, driving his first baby Puffo Kart. Until 2008, he raced in the Swiss National Championships and international events as a factory driver for Swiss Hutless and PCR International. Highlights include the Swiss Karting Championship 2007 KF3 title, the 2006 Biland 4 Stroke World Final win in Dubai, the Bridgestone Cup 2008 KF2 title win, and the Italian Open Master 2008 Runner Up, as well as qualifying for the World Karting Championship 2008 in La Conca, Italy.[citation needed]
2009 came the switch to single-seaters after making it into the BMW Talent Scout event at Valencia in 2008. That year, Fontana raced in Formula Azzurra with MG Motorsport taking two wins and one additional podium. In 2010 there was the switch to Formula 3 with Corbetta Competizioni in the Italian Championship, before moving up in 2011 with the same team in the European Formula 3 Open. 2011 was a successful year for Fontana with two wins and nine podiums, allowing him to take the overall championship title. At the end of the year, he had the opportunity to test the Mercedes DTM for the HWA Team.
In August 2011, Fontana made his debut in the Formula One–supporting GP3 Series, replacing Vittorio Ghirelli at Jenzer Motorsport for the penultimate round of the season at Spa–Francorchamps. After finishing 14th in the first race, he took the final championship point in race two by finishing in sixth place.
In 2012, Fontana joined the FIA Formula 2 Championship with three podiums and a win, being selected at the end of the year by Lotus F1 Junior Team, thanks also to other points finish in GP3 Series in fourth place, again as a wild card entry and again with Jenzer Motorsport.
2013 was Fontana's first season with Lotus F1 Junior Team and his first full season with Jenzer Motorsport in the GP3 Series. He finished 17th in the standings with one podium finish. He also had his first Formula 1 test with Lotus F1 Team on 30 September at Circuit Paul Ricard.
In 2014, Fontana continued with Lotus F1 Junior Team in GP3 Series but switched to ART Grand Prix. He finished on the podium twice, but with only four races in the points out of eighteen, he finished 11th in the championship. At the end of the year, he joined the World Series 3.5 by Renault's official test in Jerez with Lotus Charouz signing the second best lap time.
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Alex Fontana
Alex Renato Ioannis Fontana (born 5 August 1992) is a Greek-Swiss professional racing driver competing in GT World Challenge Europe for Lionspeed GP and the International GT Open for ZRS Motorsport. A freelancer, he regularly switches between different teams and manufacturers, and is a three-time GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup class champion. He won the European F3 Open in 2011.
When not racing, Fontana works as a coach and driving instructor in Europe, America, and China, while commentating the Formula 1 Grands Prix for Swiss television RSI.
Fontana's passion for racing began in 1996 when he was three and a half years old in the Greek island of Rhodes, driving his first baby Puffo Kart. Until 2008, he raced in the Swiss National Championships and international events as a factory driver for Swiss Hutless and PCR International. Highlights include the Swiss Karting Championship 2007 KF3 title, the 2006 Biland 4 Stroke World Final win in Dubai, the Bridgestone Cup 2008 KF2 title win, and the Italian Open Master 2008 Runner Up, as well as qualifying for the World Karting Championship 2008 in La Conca, Italy.[citation needed]
2009 came the switch to single-seaters after making it into the BMW Talent Scout event at Valencia in 2008. That year, Fontana raced in Formula Azzurra with MG Motorsport taking two wins and one additional podium. In 2010 there was the switch to Formula 3 with Corbetta Competizioni in the Italian Championship, before moving up in 2011 with the same team in the European Formula 3 Open. 2011 was a successful year for Fontana with two wins and nine podiums, allowing him to take the overall championship title. At the end of the year, he had the opportunity to test the Mercedes DTM for the HWA Team.
In August 2011, Fontana made his debut in the Formula One–supporting GP3 Series, replacing Vittorio Ghirelli at Jenzer Motorsport for the penultimate round of the season at Spa–Francorchamps. After finishing 14th in the first race, he took the final championship point in race two by finishing in sixth place.
In 2012, Fontana joined the FIA Formula 2 Championship with three podiums and a win, being selected at the end of the year by Lotus F1 Junior Team, thanks also to other points finish in GP3 Series in fourth place, again as a wild card entry and again with Jenzer Motorsport.
2013 was Fontana's first season with Lotus F1 Junior Team and his first full season with Jenzer Motorsport in the GP3 Series. He finished 17th in the standings with one podium finish. He also had his first Formula 1 test with Lotus F1 Team on 30 September at Circuit Paul Ricard.
In 2014, Fontana continued with Lotus F1 Junior Team in GP3 Series but switched to ART Grand Prix. He finished on the podium twice, but with only four races in the points out of eighteen, he finished 11th in the championship. At the end of the year, he joined the World Series 3.5 by Renault's official test in Jerez with Lotus Charouz signing the second best lap time.