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Tom Coronel
Tom Coronel
Tom Coronel
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Key Information

24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1999–2006, 2009 –
TeamsRacing for Holland, Johansson Motorsport, Spyker Squadron
Best finish8th (2002)
Class wins0

Tom Romeo Coronel (born 5 April 1972) is a Dutch professional racing driver. Tom's twin brother Tim is also a racer, just like their father Tom Coronel Sr. His most important results are winning the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 race in 1997, the Formula Nippon championship in 1999, and the 2006 and 2009 World Touring Car Championship Independents' Trophy. As of September 2016, Tom Coronel has driven over 1,000 races.[2]

Coronel is currently still racing in the WTCC, where he won his first WTCC race in Okayama, Japan in 2008. After competing as an independent driver in a SEAT for many years Tom switched to BMW in 2011. In 2014 Coronel stayed with ROAL Motorsport,[3] but the team switched to Chevrolet Cruzes to be built by RML specially for the new TC1 technical regulations. Even though he has no official factory backing, Tom is no longer considered an independent driver, due to his experience and results in the past. Tom has also been racing for the Dutch Spyker Squadron in the Le Mans Series as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans for many years. Furthermore, Tom is often invited to join one-off races like the 24 hours at the Nürburgring.

Biography

[edit]

Early years

[edit]

Born in Naarden, Coronel started his racing career in 1990 racing in the Dutch Citroën AX Cup, after being named the most talented driver in the local racing school. After a learning debut year, he started to become successful in 1991. With four victories and 105 points he won the title; he also won an international Citroën AX race in Barcelona. He moved up to the Dutch Touring Car Championship in 1992 competing in a BMW 320i. He was crowned champion that same year, beating his older brother and teammate Raymond Coronel. He also started to compete in the Dutch Formula Ford championship, with team Fresh. At the end of 1992 he decided to focus his attention on single seater racing.

Coronel stayed with team Fresh in 1993 and again was a strong competitor. Victorious in three races, he won the Dutch Formula Ford championship that year. Also he came in second in the Benelux championship, behind the Belgian driver Geoffroy Horion (who lost the Dutch championship to Coronel). His participation in a few German Formula Ford races resulted in a handful of podium finishes. He finished ninth in that year's Formula Ford Festival.

European formula

[edit]

In 1994, Coronel debuted in the Euroseries Formula Opel Lotus, racing for the Dutch Van Amersfoort Racing team. With eight pole positions and two victories he was successful, but lost the championship to Marco Campos. He won the nations cup for the Netherlands together with Donny Crevels and was elected 'Dutch Driver of the year'. This gave him the funds he needed to compete in the next year's German Formula Three championship.

Racing for the WTS team (which delivered previous champions as Michael Schumacher and Jos Verstappen), he was teamed up with Ralf Schumacher. The team used a Dallara chassis which was powered by Opel engines. Scoring 74 points in sixteen races, he finished seventh in the championship results. He did not perform well in the international Formula Three classics, failing to finish in Macau and Monaco and finishing fifth in the Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort.

Moving to the Far East

[edit]

Coronel decided to search for success far from home, signing up to compete in the Japanese Formula 3 championship with team TOM'S for 1996. He scored his first victory at the Sugo circuit, and this along with five second places earned him the third spot in that year's championship. He came in second with the Italian Prema Power team at the annual Monaco Formula Three race.

Coronel stayed with TOM'S for the next season, the team traded in their own chassis for a more competitive Dallara and used Toyota engines. Coronel dominated the championship, winning six out of the seven races he competed in. His lead was so comfortable that he could afford to miss two races to compete in the Macau Grand Prix and Marlboro Masters. Earlier in the year he was taken out in the leading position at the Monaco Formula Three race, but he was successful for his home crowd in Zandvoort. Starting from the fourth position he drove his way to the lead and followed through until the finish, becoming the second Dutchman to win the event after Jos Verstappen.

Formula Nippon

[edit]

It was time for Coronel to move to the next level. He stayed in Japan in 1998 competing in the Formula Nippon and Japanese GT championship, both for team Nakajima owned by former Formula One driver Satoru Nakajima.

Driving with a Reynard-Toyota combination, his first Formula Nippon season was expected to be a learning year. Coronel had a relatively poor season, due to some bad luck and the team having never previously worked with a non-Japanese driver. He performed much better in the GT championship. Sharing a Honda NSX with Japanese driver Koji Yamanishi the title was in sight until the last race. Eventually they finished second when the car broke down in the formation lap of the last race.

No changes in Coronel's programme were seen for 1999. In Formula Nippon he proved to be a strong contender for the championship title. At first his main rival reigning champion Satoshi Motoyama build up an advantage over Coronel. But during the year Coronel fought his way back to the front of the championship. Winning his first race at Fuji Speedway he led Motoyama with four points into the last race at Suzuka. Driving side by side a slow starting Coronel and Motoyama crashed into each other in the first corner of the race. Since there were no other competitors for the title Coronel was instantly (but controversially) champion. He was not as successful in the Japanese GT that year, having no chances on the title. Tom made his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Jan Lammers' Racing for Holland. Teaming up with Lammers and Peter Kox the team kept up with the factory teams, but had to stop after 213 laps due to technical failure.

Formula 1 test

[edit]

After his Japanese successes, Coronel had gained some attention and he decided to focus his energy on finding a Formula One seat. In order to finance his Formula One ambitions, an investment plan was initiated. People could invest in Coronel by buying stocks in 'the Racing Dutchman B.V.'. When Coronel would become successful in Formula One, investors would be repaid. Eventually the plan failed because some of the investors failed to meet the agreements. Coronel tested once for the Arrows team,[4] but lost the chance for a seat in favour of Jos Verstappen and Pedro de la Rosa. Since Coronel had focused his full attention to Formula One, he found himself without a drive for the beginning of the 2000 racing season. He drove the 24 hours of Le Mans for the second time with Racing for Holland and competed in some FIA GT races with Mike Hezemans.

Return to racing

[edit]

With little racing distance covered the previous year, Coronel wanted to race a full season in 2001. He signed up for the works BMW team to compete in the Dutch Touring Car Championship. Just for the start of the season, he was contacted by Lister to compete in the FIA GT Championship. Coronel agreed but had to miss some races since he already signed for BMW. He won races in both championships that year. Also he would compete with Stefan Johansson's team at Le Mans that year, but Johansson retired in the first part of the race.

Coronel moved to the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) in 2002, he participated for Carly Motors alongside Peter Kox and Gianni Morbidelli. They could not keep up with the works teams, but Coronel still harvested three podium finishes. He stayed with Carly in 2003 but had a 2002 spec chassis for most of the season and struggling to keep up. He and Duncan Huisman won the independents trophy for Carly Motors. He also made a one-year return to the Japanese GT, winning one race in a now outdated Honda NSX. The 2004 ETCC season was very similar for him, although his teammate was now Paulien Zwart, his partner. They won the independents team trophy for the second consecutive year and Coronel won the independent drivers title. He finished his first Le Mans race with Racing for Holland in 2002, finishing eighth in the overall standings. He also made the finish in 2003, this time with a Spyker C8. Returning to Racing for Holland in 2004 he formed a high-profile line up with Justin Wilson and Ralph Firman. However they failed to finish the race. There were some rumours that he had signed a third driver deal with Minardi,[5] but there was never a contract.

World Touring Car Championship

[edit]
Coronel driving the SEAT León TFSI in the second race at the 2008 WTCC Race of Japan in Okayama. He managed to hold off a charging Augusto Farfus and won his first WTCC race.

The European Touring Car Championship changed its format to a World Championship in 2005 and Coronel moved teams. He left Carly to join up with Team GR Asia, which used the SEAT Toledo. Coronel had a strong year in which he just missed the Independents trophy in the last race. His luck changed for the better in 2006. With the all new SEAT León he did clinch the title, his second in three seasons. He continued his participation with team GR Asia in 2007, though less successful. For the final round of the 2007 British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton, he raced for SEAT Sport UK to help them win the team's championship and the drivers championship for Jason Plato. In both 2005 and 2006 he drove at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Spyker, but failed to finish in both attempts.

In 2008, Coronel competed in the brand-new SUNRED SEAT Team in another León. He got his podium in Oschersleben and remains one of the most popular WTCC drivers. Autosport magazine voted him as one of the 10 best WTCC drivers. In the second race at the Race of Japan, on the Okayama International Circuit, an absolutely stunning drive brought him his first victory in the WTCC.[6]

Coronel competing in the 2014 World Touring Car Championship

In 2009, Coronel was eligible for the Independents' Trophy, which he won for Sunred. In 2010, he was driving a turbo diesel León for the new semi-works SR-Sport team, which was run by Sunred. He finished the season eighth, his highest ever. In 2011, Coronel changed teams to join ROAL Motorsport, formerly running the works-team BMW Italy-Spain. Tom won the second race at Suzuka, Japan, his second WTCC overall victory. Coronel stayed with ROAL Motorsport for 2012, this time as part of a two car effort with Alberto Cerqui joining him in the team.[7]

Dakar Rally (2009–present)

[edit]

Coronel and his twin brother Tim competed in the 2009 edition of the Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile (Buenos Aires–Valparaíso–Buenos Aires). This was Tom's first edition of Dakar, whereas brother Tim already competed in 2007 and was lined up for the 2008 edition which got cancelled at the last moment. The brothers were driving a Bowler Nemesis for the dakarsport.com outfit and backed to Buenos Aires in 70th position overall after crossing two countries in 15 stages for a total of 6,000 km from January 3–18.[8]

Other activities

[edit]

The Coronel family owns two indoor go-karting tracks in Huizen and Enschede. Tom co-hosts an automotive programme with Tim and was a regular guest on the Dutch Formula One broadcast until RTL decided not to go on with the studio shows, in favour of more "on track" time during the broadcast. Tom also worked for Ziggo Sport and Viaplay during their Formula One broadcasts.

Coronel is in a relationship with racing driver Paulien Zwart and they have a daughter and a son (Rocco) together. The pair were teammates at Carly Motors in the 2004 European Touring Car Championship season. Pauline is the daughter of Ascari Cars owner Klaas Zwart, who also raced for Carly in 2004. Rocco Coronel is also a racing driver currently racing in karting and the Ginetta Junior Championship and member of the Red Bull Junior Team.[9][10]

Racing record

[edit]

24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1999 Germany Konrad Motorsport
Netherlands Talkline Racing for Holland 		Netherlands Jan Lammers
Netherlands Peter Kox 		Lola B98/10-Ford LMP 213 DNF DNF
2000 Germany Konrad Motorsport
Netherlands Racing for Holland 		Netherlands Jan Lammers
Netherlands Peter Kox 		Lola B2K/10-Ford LMP900 38 DNF DNF
2001 United Kingdom Johansson Motorsport Sweden Stefan Johansson
France Patrick Lemarié 		Audi R8 LMP900 35 DNF DNF
2002 Netherlands Racing for Holland Netherlands Jan Lammers
Netherlands Val Hillebrand 		Dome S101-Judd LMP900 351 8th 7th
2003 Netherlands ST Team Orange Spyker Germany Norman Simon
Netherlands Hans Hugenholtz 		Spyker C8 Double-12R GT 229 NC NC
2004 Netherlands Racing for Holland United Kingdom Justin Wilson
Republic of Ireland Ralph Firman 		Dome S101-Judd LMP1 313 NC NC
2005 Netherlands Spyker Squadron Netherlands Peter van Merksteijn Sr.
Netherlands Donny Crevels 		Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R GT2 76 DNF DNF
2006 Netherlands Spyker Squadron Netherlands Donny Crevels
United Kingdom Peter Dumbreck 		Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R GT2 40 DNF DNF
2009 Netherlands Snoras Spyker Squadron Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen
Czech Republic Jaroslav Janiš 		Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R GT2 319 25th 5th
2010 Netherlands Spyker Squadron United Kingdom Peter Dumbreck
Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen 		Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R GT2 280 27th 9th

Complete German Formula Three results

[edit]

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

Year Entrant Engine Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 DC Pts
1995 Opel Team WTS Opel A HOC
1
Ret 		HOC
2
Ret 		AVU
1
9 		AVU
2
11 		NOR
1
4 		NOR
2
3 		DIE
1
Ret 		DIE
2
9 		NÜR
1
3 		NÜR
2
4 		ALE
1
Ret 		ALE
2
Ret 		MAG
1
3 		MAG
2
4 		HOC
1
8 		HOC
2
16 		6th 74

Complete Japanese Formula 3 results

[edit]

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

Year Team Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Pts
1996 TOM'S Toyota SUZ
2 		TSU
4 		MIN
2 		FUJ
2 		SUZ
4 		SUG
1 		SEN
2 		SUZ
2 		FUJ
C 		3rd 33
1997 TOM'S Toyota SUZ
1 		TSU
1 		MIN
2 		FUJ
1 		SUZ
1 		SUG SEN
1 		MOT
1 		FUJ
C 		SUZ 1st 60

Complete JGTC results

[edit]

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

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DC Pts
1998 Nakajima Racing Honda NSX GT500 SUZ
2 		FUJ
C 		SEN
Ret 		FUJ
1 		MOT
Ret 		MIN
2 		SUG
Ret 		2nd 50
1999 Nakajima Racing Honda NSX GT500 SUZ
11 		FUJ
14 		SUG
4 		MIN
Ret 		FUJ
8 		TAI
1 		MOT
5 		5th 41
2003 Mugen Honda NSX GT500 TAI
4 		FUJ
Ret 		SUG
9 		FUJ
12 		FUJ
8 		MOT
1 		AUT
10 		SUZ
11 		10th 38

Complete Formula Nippon results

[edit]

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

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Points
1998 Nakajima Racing SUZ
8 		MIN
6 		FUJ
Ret 		MOT
4 		SUZ
5 		SUG
5 		FUJ
C 		MIN
Ret 		FUJ
Ret 		SUZ
14 		11th 8
1999 Nakajima Racing SUZ
2 		MOT
Ret 		MIN
3 		FUJ
1 		SUZ
2 		SUG
1 		FUJ
1 		MIN
Ret 		MOT
3 		SUZ
Ret 		1st 50

Complete European Super Production Championship results

[edit]

(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 DC Pts
2001 Carly Motors BMW 320i MNZ BRN MAG SIL ZOL HUN A1R NÜR JAR EST
3 		15th 12

Complete European Touring Car Championship results

[edit]

(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 DC Pts
2002 Carly Motors BMW 320i MAG
1
12 		MAG
2
Ret 		SIL
1
8 		SIL
2
Ret 		BRN
1
12 		BRN
2
8 		JAR
1
6 		JAR
2
Ret 		AND
1
9 		AND
2
7 		OSC
1
Ret 		OSC
2
8 		SPA
1
9 		SPA
2
3 		PER
1 		PER
2 		DON
1
7 		DON
2
6 		EST
1
3 		EST
2
2 		7th 16
2003 Carly Motors BMW 320i VAL
1
8 		VAL
2
8 		MAG
1
7 		MAG
2
4 		PER
1
11 		PER
2
8 		BRN
1 		BRN
2 		DON
1
Ret 		DON
2
10 		SPA
1
12 		SPA
2
8 		AND
1
11 		AND
2
10 		OSC
1
7 		OSC
2
12 		EST
1
11 		EST
2
Ret 		MNZ
1
3 		MNZ
2
2 		10th 27
2004 Carly Motors BMW 320i MNZ
1
6 		MNZ
2
4 		VAL
1
10 		VAL
2
9 		MAG
1
Ret 		MAG
2
8 		HOC
1
11 		HOC
2
8 		BRN
1
6 		BRN
2
7 		DON
1
13 		DON
2
8 		SPA
1
14 		SPA
2
6 		IMO
1
12 		IMO
2
12 		OSC
1
8 		OSC
2
4 		DUB
1 		DUB
2 		12th 25

Complete World Touring Car Championship results

[edit]

(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 21 22 23 24 DC Points
2005 GR Asia SEAT Toledo Cupra ITA
1
15 		ITA
2
Ret 		FRA
1
23 		FRA
2
DSQ 		GBR
1
14 		GBR
2
14 		SMR
1
18 		SMR
2
Ret 		MEX
1
8 		MEX
2
5 		BEL
1
13 		BEL
2
3 		GER
1
21 		GER
2
13 		TUR
1
Ret 		TUR
2
DNS 		ESP
1
NC 		ESP
2
13 		MAC
1
Ret 		MAC
2
DNS 		14th 11
2006 GR Asia SEAT Toledo Cupra ITA
1
Ret 		ITA
2
13 		FRA
1
10 		FRA
2
16 		17th 20
SEAT León GBR
1
13 		GBR
2
14 		GER
1
10 		GER
2
12 		BRA
1
14 		BRA
2
11 		MEX
1
4 		MEX
2
6 		CZE
1
6 		CZE
2
23 		TUR
1
8 		TUR
2
12 		ESP
1
14 		ESP
2
13 		MAC
1
7 		MAC
2
3
2007 GR Asia SEAT León BRA
1
6 		BRA
2
8 		NED
1
Ret 		NED
2
14 		ESP
1
21 		ESP
2
25 		FRA
1
9 		FRA
2
Ret 		CZE
1
Ret 		CZE
2
11 		POR
1
6 		POR
2
4 		SWE
1
4 		SWE
2
4 		GER
1
Ret 		GER
2
12 		GBR
1
13 		GBR
2
9 		ITA
1
9 		ITA
2
7 		MAC
1
15 		MAC
2
5 		13th 29
2008 SUNRED Racing Development SEAT León TFSI BRA
1
7 		BRA
2
9 		MEX
1
4 		MEX
2
6 		ESP
1
9 		ESP
2
DNS 		FRA
1
14 		FRA
2
9 		CZE
1
18 		CZE
2
12 		POR
1
10 		POR
2
12 		GBR
1
5 		GBR
2
22 		GER
1
7 		GER
2
2 		EUR
1
15 		EUR
2
15 		ITA
1
10 		ITA
2
24 		JPN
1
8 		JPN
2
1 		MAC
1
22 		MAC
2
Ret 		14th 35
2009 SUNRED Engineering SEAT León TFSI BRA
1
9 		BRA
2
8 		MEX
1
15 		MEX
2
15 		MAR
1
21 		MAR
2
8 		FRA
1
8 		FRA
2
19 		ESP
1
7 		ESP
2
10 		CZE
1
9 		CZE
2
9 		POR
1
13 		POR
2
12 		GBR
1
10 		GBR
2
11 		GER
1
4 		GER
2
8 		ITA
1
5 		ITA
2
14 		JPN
1
10 		JPN
2
13 		MAC
1
13 		MAC
2
Ret 		14th 15
2010 SR-Sport SEAT León TDI BRA
1
8 		BRA
2
Ret 		MAR
1
5 		MAR
2
3 		ITA
1
5 		ITA
2
2 		BEL
1
8 		BEL
2
10 		POR
1
6 		POR
2
6 		GBR
1
5 		GBR
2
4 		CZE
1
Ret 		CZE
2
10 		GER
1
6 		GER
2
5 		ESP
1
10 		ESP
2
9 		JPN
1
14 		JPN
2
8 		MAC
1
12 		MAC
2
6 		8th 136
2011 ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC BRA
1
4 		BRA
2
2 		BEL
1
Ret 		BEL
2
DNS 		ITA
1
5 		ITA
2
15 		HUN
1
18 		HUN
2
4 		CZE
1
4 		CZE
2
2 		POR
1
6 		POR
2
5 		GBR
1
4 		GBR
2
4 		GER
1
10 		GER
2
4 		ESP
1
3 		ESP
2
7 		JPN
1
NC 		JPN
2
1 		CHN
1
5 		CHN
2
5 		MAC
1
4 		MAC
2
2 		4th 233
2012 ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC ITA
1
5 		ITA
2
4 		ESP
1
3 		ESP
2
2 		MAR
1
8 		MAR
2
4 		SVK
1
14 		SVK
2
4 		HUN
1
6 		HUN
2
12 		AUT
1
8 		AUT
2
3 		POR
1
6 		POR
2
3 		BRA
1
8 		BRA
2
7 		USA
1
8 		USA
2
5 		JPN
1
6 		JPN
2
15 		CHN
1
4 		CHN
2
3 		MAC
1
6 		MAC
2
Ret 		5th 207
2013 ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC ITA
1
9 		ITA
2
11 		MAR
1
9 		MAR
2
6 		SVK
1
5 		SVK
2
1 		HUN
1
6 		HUN
2
6 		AUT
1
10 		AUT
2
10 		RUS
1
2 		RUS
2
14 		POR
1
7 		POR
2
8 		ARG
1
NC 		ARG
2
9 		USA
1
7 		USA
2
6 		JPN
1
8 		JPN
2
1 		CHN
1
12 		CHN
2
8 		MAC
1
11 		MAC
2
3 		10th 163
2014 ROAL Motorsport Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 MAR
1
Ret 		MAR
2
Ret 		FRA
1
WD 		FRA
2
WD 		HUN
1
8 		HUN
2
4 		SVK
1
4 		SVK
2
C 		AUT
1
2 		AUT
2
5 		RUS
1
8 		RUS
2
4 		BEL
1
5 		BEL
2
3 		ARG
1
11 		ARG
2
10 		BEI
1
17† 		BEI
2
2 		CHN
1
8 		CHN
2
6 		JPN
1
7 		JPN
2
4 		MAC
1
7 		MAC
2
8 		7th 159
2015 ROAL Motorsport Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 ARG
1
14† 		ARG
2
Ret 		MAR
1
Ret 		MAR
2
Ret 		HUN
1
10 		HUN
2
2 		GER
1
Ret 		GER
2
8 		RUS
1
17† 		RUS
2
10 		SVK
1
9 		SVK
2
10 		FRA
1
12 		FRA
2
7 		POR
1
12 		POR
2
11 		JPN
1
Ret 		JPN
2
7 		CHN
1
Ret 		CHN
2
DNS 		THA
1
Ret 		THA
2
DNS 		QAT
1
11 		QAT
2
12 		13th 39
2016 ROAL Motorsport Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 FRA
1
9 		FRA
2
11 		SVK
1
15 		SVK
2
9 		HUN
1
14 		HUN
2
7 		MAR
1
1 		MAR
2
8 		GER
1
Ret 		GER
2
DNS 		RUS
1
12 		RUS
2
Ret 		POR
1
1 		POR
2
16 		ARG
1
7 		ARG
2
2 		JPN
1
12 		JPN
2
14 		CHN
1
7 		CHN
2
10 		QAT
1
12 		QAT
2
9 		11th 111
2017 ROAL Motorsport Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 MAR
1
8 		MAR
2
8 		ITA
1
6 		ITA
2
11 		HUN
1
9 		HUN
2
9 		GER
1
8 		GER
2
7 		POR
1
DNS 		POR
2
DNS 		ARG
1
9 		ARG
2
10 		CHN
1
7† 		CHN
2
9 		JPN
1
13 		JPN
2
13 		MAC
1
2 		MAC
2
6 		QAT
1
11 		QAT
2
11 		11th 69

† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete British Touring Car Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position – 1 point awarded in first race) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap – 1 point awarded all races) (* signifies that driver lead race for at least one lap – 1 point awarded all races)

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 27 28 29 30 DC Pts
2007 SEAT Sport UK SEAT León BRH
1 		BRH
2 		BRH
3 		ROC
1 		ROC
2 		ROC
3 		THR
1 		THR
2 		THR
3 		CRO
1 		CRO
2 		CRO
3 		OUL
1 		OUL
2 		OUL
3 		DON
1 		DON
2 		DON
3 		SNE
1 		SNE
2 		SNE
3 		BRH
1 		BRH
2 		BRH
3 		KNO
1 		KNO
2 		KNO
3 		THR
1
8 		THR
2
7 		THR
3
8 		17th 10

Complete TCR International Series results

[edit]

(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 DC Points
2017 Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR RIM
1 		RIM
2 		BHR
1 		BHR
2 		SPA
1
8 		SPA
2
Ret 		MNZ
1 		MNZ
2 		SAL
1 		SAL
2 		HUN
1 		HUN
2 		OSC
1 		OSC
2 		CHA
1 		CHA
2 		ZHE
1 		ZHE
2 		DUB
1 		DUB
2 		31st 4

Complete World Touring Car Cup results

[edit]

(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 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 DC Points
2018 Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR MAR
1
21† 		MAR
2
10 		MAR
3
12 		HUN
1
Ret 		HUN
2
19 		HUN
3
Ret 		GER
1
9 		GER
2
9 		GER
3
10 		NED
1
7 		NED
2
14 		NED
3
Ret 		POR
1
Ret 		POR
2
15 		POR
3
Ret 		SVK
1
7 		SVK
2
DNS 		SVK
3
DSQ 		CHN
1
15 		CHN
2
15 		CHN
3
17 		WUH
1
Ret 		WUH
2
Ret 		WUH
3
17 		JPN
1
17 		JPN
2
18 		JPN
3
14 		MAC
1
13 		MAC
2
16 		MAC
3
14 		23rd 24
2019 Comtoyou Team DHL
CUPRA Racing 		CUPRA León TCR MAR
1
Ret 		MAR
2
14 		MAR
3
14 		HUN
1
17 		HUN
2
14 		HUN
3
13 		SVK
1
8 		SVK
2
10 		SVK
3
23 		NED
1
16 		NED
2
24 		NED
3
20 		GER
1
13 		GER
2
10 		GER
3
6 		POR
1
17 		POR
2
DSQ 		POR
3
16 		CHN
1
24 		CHN
2
8 		CHN
3
12 		JPN
1
16 		JPN
2
22 		JPN
3
Ret 		MAC
1
20 		MAC
2
13 		MAC
3
11 		MAL
1
24 		MAL
2
20 		MAL
3
Ret 		22nd 63
2020 Comtoyou DHL
Team Audi Sport 		Audi RS 3 LMS TCR BEL
1
4 		BEL
2
6 		GER
1
5 		GER
2
8 		SVK
1
6 		SVK
2
1 		SVK
3
6 		HUN
1
11 		HUN
2
17 		HUN
3
13 		ESP
1
19† 		ESP
2
Ret 		ESP
3
8 		ARA
1
12 		ARA
2
15 		ARA
3
15 		11th 117
2021 Comtoyou DHL
Team Audi Sport 		Audi RS 3 LMS TCR GER
1
7 		GER
2
11 		POR
1
17 		POR
2
Ret 		ESP
1
3 		ESP
2
Ret 		HUN
1
21 		HUN
2
16 		CZE
1
9 		CZE
2
10 		FRA
1
10 		FRA
2
13 		ITA
1
2 		ITA
2
NC 		RUS
1
16 		RUS
2
9 		16th 83
2022 Comtoyou DHL
Team Audi Sport 		Audi RS 3 LMS TCR FRA
1
11 		FRA
2
12 		GER
1
C 		GER
2
C 		HUN
1
15 		HUN
2
13 		ESP
1
Ret 		ESP
2
Ret 		POR
1
13 		POR
2
12 		ITA
1
6 		ITA
2
7 		ALS
1
6 		ALS
2
11 		BHR
1
6 		BHR
2
6 		SAU
1
3 		SAU
2
6 		10th 115

† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete TCR Europe Touring Car Series results

[edit]

(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 DC Points
2019 Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR HUN
1 		HUN
2 		HOC
1
11 		HOC
2
10 		SPA
1
10 		SPA
2
25 		RBR
1
19 		RBR
2
18 		OSC
1
2 		OSC
2
2 		CAT
1
6 		CAT
2
8 		MNZ
1 		MNZ
2 		12th 137
2020 Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) LEC
1
Ret 		LEC
2
Ret 		ZOL
1 		ZOL
2 		MNZ
1 		MNZ
2 		CAT
1 		CAT
2 		SPA
1
22 		SPA
2
2 		JAR
1
14 		JAR
2
7 		16th 100
2021 Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR SVK
1
5 		SVK
2
6 		LEC
1
9 		LEC
2
8 		ZAN
1
1 		ZAN
2
Ret 		SPA
1
10 		SPA
2
10 		NÜR
1
5 		NÜR
2
DNS 		MNZ
1
3 		MNZ
2
2 		CAT
1
14 		CAT
2
WD 		4th 258
2022 Comtoyou DHL
Team Audi Sport 		Audi RS 3 LMS TCR ALG
1
8 		ALG
2
3 		LEC
1
1 		LEC
2
5 		SPA
1
5 		SPA
2
3 		NOR
1 		NOR
2 		NÜR
1
1 		NÜR
2
C 		MNZ
1
13 		MNZ
2
8 		CAT
1
2 		CAT
2
2 		2nd 316
2023 Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR ALG
1
111 		ALG
2
5 		PAU
1
6 		PAU
2
1 		SPA
1
72 		SPA
2
3 		HUN
1
113 		HUN
2
9 		LEC
1
42 		LEC
2
3 		MNZ
1
11 		MNZ
2
3 		CAT
1
21 		CAT
2
4 		1st 468

TCR Spa 500 results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2019 Netherlands Red Camel-Jordans.nl Netherlands Ivo Breukers
Netherlands Rik Breukers
Spain Pepe Oriola 		CUPRA León TCR P 454 1st 1st

Complete TCR World Tour results

[edit]

(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 DC Points
2023 Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR ALG
1
11 		ALG
2
5 		SPA
1
7 		SPA
2
3 		VAL
1 		VAL
2 		HUN
1
11 		HUN
2
9 		ELP
1 		ELP
2 		VIL
1 		VIL
2 		SYD
1 		SYD
2 		SYD
3 		BAT
1 		BAT
2 		BAT
3 		MAC
1 		MAC
2 		13th 76

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Tom Coronel

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Tom Romeo Coronel (born 5 April 1972) is a Dutch professional driver and entrepreneur, renowned for his extensive in and events. Alongside his twin brother , he has competed in high-profile series such as the and its successor, the , where he secured multiple independent driver titles and race victories. Coronel began his journey in 1990 and has also achieved success in Japanese single-seater categories, including championships in Formula 3 (1997) and Formula Nippon (1999). Coronel's early career included winning the Dutch Citroën AX Cup in 1991 and progressing through European Formula 3, where he claimed the prestigious Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 at in 1997. After moving to , he dominated the local series, becoming the Formula Nippon champion in 1999 with the Nakajima Racing team. Returning to , he entered the WTCC in 2005, driving for ROAL Motorsport and later other teams; notable achievements include the Independents' Trophy titles in 2006, 2009, and 2011, along with his first WTCC race win at in 2008. He continued competing in the WTCR through 2022, amassing over 200 starts in events. In addition to circuit racing, Coronel has pursued endurance and off-road challenges, particularly the , debuting in 2009 and participating annually with his brother since 2017. The duo achieved their best result in 2024, finishing 22nd overall in the T1+ category aboard a Century CR6 buggy, marking a significant improvement from prior years marred by mechanical issues. They returned for the 2025 edition in a upgraded Century CR7, completing as finishers despite time losses, ending with a positive outlook for future campaigns. Beyond racing, Coronel co-owns the Coronel Karting Center in , , with Tim, promoting motorsport accessibility, and maintains sponsorship ties with brands like Eru and MPM Oil. As of 2025, he remains active in endurance racing, including the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) and the 24 Hours .

Early life

Family background

Tom Romeo Coronel was born on April 5, 1972, in , . His father, Tom Coronel Sr., was a Dutch racing driver who competed in events such as the Division 2 in the late and early , providing young Tom with early exposure to through family involvement in the sport. Coronel's partner, Paulien Zwart, is also a racing driver, and together they have two children, son and daughter , further embedding racing within the family dynamic. Coronel is the identical twin brother of Tim Alfa Coronel, who was born on the same day and has pursued a parallel career as a professional racing driver. The brothers shared a close bond from childhood, often racing together on go-kart tracks from an early age, influenced by their father's legacy in the sport. Coronel's son, Rocco Coronel, born in 2011, is an emerging talent in karting and has begun competing at a junior level, representing the in events like the Karting Junior category in 2024. The father-son relationship is notably harmonious, with Coronel actively supporting Rocco's development, including his selection to the in September 2024 at age 13 following evaluations at the Jerez circuit. In October 2024, Rocco was announced as competing in the 2025 Ginetta Junior Championship under the Red Bull banner, continuing the family's racing tradition.

Entry into motorsport

Tom Coronel's entry into competitive motorsport began in 1990 after he was selected as the top graduate from the Rensportschool racing school, where he won the student competition and earned a spot in the Dutch Citroën AX Cup. Driving a GTi, he finished sixth overall in his debut season, securing several podium finishes that demonstrated his quick adaptation to circuit racing. This marked his transition from amateur driving experiences, including karting, to professional-level competition in the . In 1991, Coronel returned to the Dutch Citroën AX Cup with renewed focus, clinching the national championship with four victories and capping the year by winning the European Cup finale in . His success in the compact front-wheel-drive category honed his skills in close-quarters wheel-to-wheel racing, building a foundation for higher categories. Like his twin brother Tim, who was also emerging in , Tom benefited from a family environment supportive of racing pursuits. Coronel progressed to touring cars in 1992, entering the Dutch Touring Car Championship in the 2000cc class aboard a 320i. He dominated the series en route to the title, achieving two wins and outperforming established competitors, including family members in the field. By 1993, Coronel shifted to single-seaters, competing in the Dutch Championship with a Vector chassis powered by a . Aligned with the Fresh Racing team, he captured the title with three victories, showcasing precise handling and racecraft that prepared him for international junior formulas.

Professional racing career

European junior formulas

Coronel's entry into European junior single-seater racing came in 1994 when he joined the Formula Opel Euroseries with the Dutch team Van Amersfoort Racing, securing the vice-championship with two victories and eight pole positions across the season. This strong performance, building on his earlier Dutch Formula Ford successes, positioned him as a promising talent in the junior ranks. In 1995, he advanced to the , competing for Opel Team WTS in a F395 powered by an engine; he completed all 16 races, earning 73 points for a seventh-place finish in the standings and achieving five results, including third places at key events like the . These results highlighted his adaptability in competitive fields against drivers like champion Norberto Fontana, though he did not secure a win that year. Transitioning toward touring car disciplines within European junior development, Coronel entered the 2001 European Super Production Championship with Carly Motorsport, driving a 320i; he participated in 12 races, finishing 15th overall with a standout third-place result in the season finale at . The following year, 2002, saw him contest the again with Carly Motorsport in a 320i, where he claimed first place in the Michelin Trophy for independent entrants, demonstrating consistency in the Super Touring class. Coronel also made selective appearances in the during 2002 as a guest driver for Sport UK in a , racing in 10 events and ending the season 17th in the drivers' standings with points-scoring finishes that showcased his versatility across borders.

Asian racing series

In 1996, Tom Coronel relocated to to compete in the with the team, marking a significant step in his career following promising results in European junior formulas. During his debut season, he secured third place overall with 33 points, including one victory and multiple podium finishes in eight races. This performance demonstrated his quick adaptation to the competitive Japanese single-seater scene, where precision and consistency were paramount. Coronel's success culminated in 1997 when he dominated the , clinching the title with by winning six out of nine rounds and finishing first in the standings. His championship victory highlighted his technical prowess and ability to thrive under the intense pressure of the series, which featured high-caliber domestic and international talent. Transitioning to touring car racing, Coronel entered the Japanese Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) in 1998 with a for the Nakajima Racing team, partnering with drivers such as Kouji Yamanishi. Adapting to the GT format presented challenges, including the shift from open-wheel cars to the NSX's rear-wheel-drive dynamics and the nuanced aspects of Japanese racing culture, such as team hierarchy and meticulous preparation rituals, which Coronel navigated by immersing himself in the local lifestyle. Key highlights included a second-place finish at the season-opening 300 km race at Suzuka Speedway alongside Yamanishi. Coronel achieved several podiums throughout the 1998 JGTC season and ended runner-up overall in the GT500 class, underscoring his versatility in the high-stakes environment of Japan's premier series. This strong debut in JGTC solidified his reputation in Asian , blending European aggression with the discipline required for sustained success in the region.

Formula Nippon and Formula 1 test

In 1999, Tom Coronel competed in the Formula Nippon championship for PIAA Nakajima Racing, driving a Reynard 99L chassis powered by a 3.0-liter Mugen MF308 . The series featured 10 rounds across Japanese circuits, with cars producing around 550 horsepower and emphasizing high-downforce aerodynamics similar to contemporary machinery. Coronel secured multiple victories, including at Sugo Speedway where he led all 60 laps in sweltering conditions, and at , building a substantial points lead. The season culminated at Suzuka Circuit, where Coronel entered with a four-point advantage over rival Motoyama. A first-corner collision between the two at the race start eliminated both from contention, but Coronel's prior results ensured he clinched the title with 50 points to Motoyama's 46. This victory marked Coronel's pinnacle in Asian single-seaters, following his earlier success in Japanese Formula 3. Buoyed by his Formula Nippon triumph, Coronel earned a two-day test with the Arrows Formula 1 team on December 16-17, 1999, at in the chassis fitted with a V10 engine. During the sessions, focused on setup evaluation and tire testing, Coronel completed over a race distance alongside teammate , posting competitive lap times that placed him third fastest overall in the improved program. Team feedback highlighted his adaptability and pace, positioning him as a strong candidate for a 2000 race seat. Despite the promising performance, Arrows opted for Jos Verstappen and Pedro de la Rosa, citing sponsorship alignments and prior commitments, leaving Coronel without a full-time F1 drive. Unable to break into the Formula 1 grid, Coronel shifted focus back to touring car and endurance racing series in subsequent years.

World Touring Car Championship

Tom Coronel made his debut in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in 2005, competing for the GR Asia team in a SEAT Toledo Cupra as part of the independent entries. Over the course of his WTCC career, which spanned from 2005 to 2017, he accumulated 247 race starts, establishing himself as one of the series' most enduring privateer drivers. Initially racing as an independent, Coronel secured the Yokohama Independents' Trophy in 2006, driving a SEAT León TDI for the GR Asia team, marking his first major accolade in the championship. He repeated this success in 2009 with SUNRED Engineering, clinching the Independents' Trophy despite a challenging final race at Macau, where a crash could not derail his title win. Coronel achieved his breakthrough outright victory in the WTCC at the 2008 Race of in , piloting a for SUNRED Racing Development and holding off a late charge from in wet conditions. This marked the first of his six WTCC wins, with additional victories in 2011 at Suzuka, in 2013 at and Suzuka (the latter marking his 200th series start), and in 2016 at and . His most competitive season came in 2011 after switching to ROAL Motorsport in a BMW 320 TC, where consistent finishes, including a second place at Suzuka, propelled him to fourth in the drivers' standings—his career-best result and the highest for a that year. Following the WTCC's final season in 2017, Coronel transitioned to the restructured in 2018, adopting TCR technical regulations while maintaining the global format. He raced a for Boutsen Ginion Racing that year, facing a tough campaign with limited top finishes. In 2019, Coronel joined Comtoyou Racing in a CUPRA TCR, partnering Aurélien Panis and continuing his participation through the season's diverse international calendar.

Dakar Rally

Tom Coronel made his debut in 2009 alongside his twin brother Tim, competing in a and finishing 70th overall in the car category after navigating the inaugural South American edition from to . This marked the brothers' first joint adventure in the grueling endurance event, emphasizing their shared passion for rally-raid despite Tom's primary focus on circuit racing at the time. After a hiatus dedicated to his commitments, Coronel returned solo in 2015, piloting a single-seater buggy but abandoning the rally during Stage 2 due to mechanical issues. Coronel reunited with Tim in for consistent participation, driving a Century CR6 buggy through 2024 and facing the rally's signature challenges of vast deserts, pitfalls, and mechanical endurance tests. Their teamwork proved vital, with the brothers alternating driving and navigating duties to tackle dunes, rocky terrains, and extreme conditions; notable hurdles included a error in the 2024 prologue that cost them an optimal starting position and significant time loss in Stage 10 that year. Despite these, they achieved progressive improvements, culminating in their career-best 22nd overall finish in 2024 after a stable run marred only by that late-stage setback, highlighting their resilient philosophy of finishing strong regardless of pace. In 2025, upgraded to the Century CR7 T1+ 4x4, aiming for a top-20 result with enhancements from Carbon Positive Motorsport, but encountered early tensions in the first stage with rocky sections testing the vehicle's limits and their coordination. Further issues, such as failures and time losses in marathon stages, prevented a strong classification, yet they crossed the finish line in Shubaytah with optimism, crediting their unbreakable brotherly bond and team support for overcoming the rally's physical and mental demands. This ongoing commitment underscores Coronel's view of the as a profound test of perseverance, where survival and shared experiences outweigh outright victory.

TCR series and later touring cars

Tom Coronel made his debut in the TCR International Series in 2017, competing in four races for Boutsen Ginion Racing in a Honda Civic Type R TCR, where he finished 30th overall in the drivers' standings. His initial outing came at Spa-Francorchamps, joining Belgian driver Benjamin Lessennes in a two-car effort for the team, marking his transition from the WTCC to the more standardized TCR format that emphasized closer racing through equalized performance regulations. In 2018, Coronel continued with Boutsen Ginion in the Honda Civic Type R TCR for select events, adapting to the series' turbocharged 2.0-liter engine specifications and achieving consistent points finishes that built on his extensive touring car experience. Coronel's involvement in the TCR Europe Touring Car Series began in 2019, driving a prepared by Boutsen Ginion Racing, where he secured multiple podiums and demonstrated strong pace on European circuits. He remained with the program into 2020, earning second-place finishes at Spa-Francorchamps and accumulating points through reliable performances despite the challenges of the TCR's cost-controlled technical regulations. By 2022, switching to Comtoyou Racing's Audi RS 3 LMS TCR, Coronel finished second in the championship, highlighted by consistent top-five results that positioned him as a title contender. His persistence paid off in 2023, when he clinched the TCR Europe title with Comtoyou Racing in the Audi RS 3 LMS TCR, securing the championship with two victories and six podiums across the season—his first overall crown in 22 years—despite missing one event due to scheduling conflicts. In the inaugural TCR World Tour season of 2023, Coronel competed for Comtoyou Racing in the Audi RS 3 LMS TCR, finishing 13th in the drivers' standings with 76 points from six events, including a notable challenge at Spa-Francorchamps that underscored his adaptability to the global series' demanding calendar. A highlight of his TCR tenure came at the 2019 TCR Spa 500, where he co-drove the winning Red Camel-Jordans.nl CUPRA TCR to victory alongside Pepe Oriola, Rik Breukers, and Ivo Breukers, completing 454 laps in a rain-affected endurance-style event that tested the car's reliability under TCR's homologated specifications. Throughout his TCR campaigns, Coronel's affiliations with teams like Boutsen Ginion (), Comtoyou (), and Red Camel (CUPRA) allowed him to leverage manufacturer-specific setups while navigating the series' emphasis on parity, resulting in key wins at tracks like and that affirmed his veteran status in the discipline.

Endurance racing and recent activities

In the early 2020s, Tom Coronel shifted his focus toward racing, leveraging his extensive experience to compete in multi-hour events on demanding circuits. This transition allowed him to explore new challenges while maintaining his competitive edge into his fifties, driven by a lifelong passion for that he describes as an "addiction" inherited from his family background. Coronel's 2025 season centered on Cup (992) machinery, marking a dedicated campaign in endurance series. He launched the year at the 12 Hours of in , where he adapted to the car's handling under varying conditions, setting the stage for subsequent races. This kicked off his participation in the 992 Endurance Cup with Coronel Racing, a series exclusively for Cup cars. At the season's Spa-Francorchamps round in September, Coronel, alongside teammates Paul Meijer and Jan Jaap van Roon, secured and a finish in third place despite mechanical setbacks, highlighting the team's resilience and the driver's strategic driving. Coronel also returned to the Nürburgring-Nordschleife for the 24 Hours of in 2025, competing in the Cup 2 class aboard a Cup entered by Racing. Teaming with Jan Jaap van Roon and others, he navigated the "Green Hell" circuit's grueling 24-hour format, emphasizing endurance and reliability over outright speed. These commitments underscore Coronel's ongoing motivation to race for enjoyment and team success rather than championship pressure, allowing him to balance professional endeavors with his enduring love for the sport. Occasional one-off appearances have supplemented his schedule, including guest drives in GT and events that align with his versatile skill set, though specifics remain tied to invitations from established teams. By late 2025, Coronel's active calendar demonstrated his remarkable longevity, having competed professionally for over three decades without signs of slowing down.

Other activities

Business ventures

Tom Coronel, alongside his twin brother Tim, co-owns Coronel Kartracing, an indoor entertainment complex in , , featuring a 475-meter electric karting track designed based on their professional racing experience. The facility, which opened in 2016, has expanded beyond karting to include Europe's largest indoor climbing forest, arenas, escape rooms, VR gaming, and glow mini-golf, catering to families, corporate teams, and adventure seekers from age 8 upward. This venture draws on the brothers' background to create an authentic racing atmosphere, with features like tunnels and fly-overs mimicking professional circuits, while emphasizing safety through electric karts that produce no emissions. The Coronel family previously operated a second indoor go-karting track in , , which contributed to their early diversification into motorsport-related leisure businesses in the mid-2000s. Post-2010 expansions at the Huizen site have focused on multi-activity integration, with additions like the climbing and elements introduced to broaden appeal and revenue streams, transforming it into a full hub that hosts events such as races and themed nights. Beyond karting, Coronel joined Create2Fit in 2006, becoming a key leader in the company specializing in niche online stores for fitness, automotive, and products, which grew rapidly to achieve a turnover of €40 million by 2011 and earned him the title of E-Commerce Man of the Year from Emerce magazine. However, the company faced financial challenges and filed for bankruptcy in 2019, after which its assets were acquired by PlatteTV, allowing Coronel to refocus on other pursuits. Coronel also established Booster Media Solutions, a social media and digital marketing agency that supports automotive and racing-related sponsorships by managing online strategies, content creation, and advertising campaigns for clients in the motorsport sector. This business leverages his racing network to secure long-term partnerships, such as those with teams and events in the World Touring Car Championship, blending his entrepreneurial efforts with career sponsorship needs. Coronel maintains a balance between his racing commitments and business operations by delegating day-to-day management of the karting center and agency while using his public profile to promote these ventures, often integrating them through sponsored events and media appearances tied to his competitions.

Media and personal life

Tom Coronel has maintained a prominent presence in motorsport media, co-hosting the automotive television program AutoXperience alongside his twin brother Tim on RTL 5 in the mid-2000s, where they provided insights into racing and car culture. The brothers' dynamic, shaped by their shared racing heritage, made the show a staple for Dutch audiences interested in motorsport. In addition to television hosting, Coronel serves as a commentator for Formula 1 and other events on Dutch television, offering analysis from his extensive driving experience. As of 2025, he serves as an F1 analyst on in the program De Oranjezomer. He frequently appears as a TV analyst for F1 support series and has shared pointed opinions on emerging talents, such as in July 2025 when he expressed conviction that Sauber driver would outperform Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli in the 2025 season, citing Antonelli's adaptation challenges. On a personal level, Coronel has been in a long-term relationship with fellow driver Paulien Zwart, daughter of historic Formula 1 competitor Klaas Zwart, and together they have two children, including son , who joined the in 2024 and became the 2025 Ginetta Junior Champion. The couple's shared passion for led to a notable collaboration in 2004, when Zwart served as his teammate in the , driving a Carly Motors alongside Coronel. Coronel engages in public motorsport activities beyond , including keynote speaking on and , and supporting events like the by interacting with volunteers to promote community involvement in the sport.

Racing record

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Tom Coronel competed in the ten times from 1999 to 2010, primarily in and GT categories, with his best performance being an 8th-place overall finish (8th in LMP900) in driving a Dome S101 for Racing for . His participations often involved Dutch teams and co-drivers from , focusing on reliability amid mechanical challenges in early LMP entries.
YearClassTeamCarCo-driversOverallClassLapsStatus
1999LMPKonrad MotorsportLola B98/10 Ford, Peter KoxDNFDNF213Gearbox failure
2000LMP900Konrad MotorsportLola B2K/10 Ford, Peter KoxDNFDNF38Wheel loss
2001LMP900Johansson Motorsport, Patrick LemariéDNFDNF35Electrical failure
2002LMP900Racing for HollandDome S101 Judd, Val Hillebrand8th8th351Finished
2003LMGTTeam Orange Norman Simon, Hans HugenholtzNCNC229Engine failure
2004LMP1Racing for HollandDome S101 JuddJustin Wilson, DNFDNF313Mechanical
2005GT2 SquadronDonny Crevels, Peter van MerksteijnDNFDNF76Fire
2006GT2 SquadronDonny Crevels, Peter DumbreckDNFDNF75Crash
2009GT2Snoras Squadron, Jarek Janiš25th10th319Finished
2010LMGT2 SquadronPeter Dumbreck, 27th11th280Finished

Formula 3 results

Tom Coronel's Formula 3 career began in before shifting to , where he achieved his greatest success in the category. In 1995, he raced full-time in the for the Team WTS, piloting a F395-Opel. Despite securing three podium finishes across the 16-race season, he recorded no victories or pole positions, concluding seventh in the drivers' standings with 73 points. Transitioning to the in 1996 with (using a TOM'S 036F-Toyota chassis), Coronel demonstrated strong adaptability to the series. He claimed one race win—at Sugo—and five second-place results, finishing third overall with 33 points from 10 rounds. The following year, 1997, marked his pinnacle in Formula 3; driving the F397-Toyota for the same team, he dominated with six victories (including the season opener at Suzuka), multiple pole positions, and no retirements in nine races, securing the championship title with 54 points. The table below summarizes Coronel's key Formula 3 statistics per season:
YearSeriesTeam/Chassis-EngineRacesWinsPodiumsPolesFastest LapsPointsPosition
1995German F3 Team WTS / F395-160300737th
1996Japanese F3 / TOM'S 036F-Toyota1016UnknownUnknown333rd
1997Japanese F3 / F397-Toyota968MultipleUnknown541st

Formula Nippon results

Tom Coronel participated in the 1999 Formula Nippon Championship, the premier single-seater series in at the time, driving for PIAA Nakajima Racing in a Reynard 99L equipped with a Mugen-Honda MF308 . This car, shod with tires, proved highly competitive against a field dominated by similar Reynard-Mugen combinations from teams like Unlimited Team and Dandelion Racing. Coronel's campaign was marked by consistent top finishes, including three race victories, culminating in the drivers' championship title with 50 points—four ahead of runner-up Motoyama, who drove for Unlimited Team . His success highlighted the Nakajima team's strong setup and Coronel's adaptation to the demanding 2.0-liter naturally aspirated formula, which emphasized high and precise handling on Japan's varied circuits. The points system awarded 10 for first place, 6 for second, 4 for third, 3 for fourth, 2 for fifth, and 1 for sixth, with no points for lower finishes or retirements. Coronel's three wins came at (Round 4), (Round 6), and Twin Ring Motegi (Round 7), where he outperformed key rivals like Motoyama and Hidetoshi Mitsusada in direct battles. Retirements in Rounds 2, 8, and 10 prevented a more dominant points haul but did not derail his title charge. Compared to Motoyama, who secured three wins himself but suffered from inconsistency, Coronel's seven podiums provided the edge in the tight championship.

1999 Formula Nippon results

YearTeamChassisEngineTyres1 (Suzuka)2 (Motegi)3 (Mine)4 (Fuji)5 (Suzuka)6 (Sugo)7 (Motegi)8 (Fuji)9 (Mine)10 (Motegi)PosPts
1999PIAA Nakajima RacingReynard 99LMugen MF3082Ret31211Ret3Ret150
Key: Ret = Retired; Pts = Points. Positions based on points allocation; full results sourced from official championship data. Specific wins confirmed for Rounds 4, 6, and 7.

World Touring Car Championship results

Tom Coronel debuted in the (WTCC) in 2005 and competed continuously until 2017, establishing himself as a consistent performer particularly in the privateer-focused Independents' Trophy, which he won in 2006 driving for GR Asia and in 2009 with SUNRED Engineering. His campaign included 12 overall race victories, with notable successes in manufacturer-backed and independent entries across , , and Chevrolet machinery. The following table summarizes Coronel's WTCC results from 2005 to 2017, focusing on overall championship standings unless otherwise noted for the Independents' Trophy. Data includes key metrics such as wins, pole positions, podium finishes, and points scored.
YearTeamCarWinsPolesPodiumsPointsFinal Position
2005GR AsiaSEAT Toledo Cupra0011117th overall
2006GR AsiaSEAT Toledo Cupra0012017th overall; 1st Independents' Trophy
2007GR AsiaSEAT León0002917th overall
2008SUNRED EngineeringSEAT León 2.0 TFSI1023516th overall
2009SUNRED EngineeringSEAT León 2.0 TFSI004975th overall; 1st Independents' Trophy (6 class wins)
2010SUNRED EngineeringSEAT León 2.0 TDI0021368th overall
2011ROAL MotorsportBMW 320 TC1052334th overall
2012ROAL MotorsportBMW 320 TC0052075th overall
2013ROAL MotorsportBMW 320 TC20416310th overall
2014ROAL MotorsportChevrolet RML Cruze TC10031597th overall
2015ROAL MotorsportChevrolet RML Cruze TC100710812th overall
2016ROAL MotorsportChevrolet RML Cruze TC120311111th overall
2017ROAL Motorsport / Boutsen Ginion RacingChevrolet Cruze RML TC1 / Honda Civic TCR0 / 02 / 01 / 069 / N/A10th overall (combined efforts; Yokohama Trophy contender in TCR class)
Following the WTCC's transition to the (WTCR) format in 2018 under TCR technical regulations, Coronel continued with Boutsen Ginion Racing in a , marking his early involvement in the rebranded series. In 2019, he split his season between Boutsen Ginion () and Comtoyou Racing (Cupra TCR), achieving occasional podiums but no victories. His WTCR results are summarized below.
YearTeam(s)Car(s)WinsPolesPodiumsPointsFinal Position
2018Boutsen Ginion Racing0002423rd overall
2019Boutsen Ginion Racing / Comtoyou Racing / Cupra TCR0026322nd overall (combined)
2020Comtoyou RacingAudi RS 3 LMS TCR10111711th overall
2021Comtoyou Team Audi SportAudi RS 3 LMS TCR0028316th overall
2022Comtoyou Team Audi SportAudi RS 3 LMS TCR00111510th overall

TCR series results

Tom Coronel entered the TCR series in , making a partial appearance in the with Boutsen Ginion Racing in a TCR. He competed in three rounds (Spa-Francorchamps, Zolder, and ), achieving two victories in qualifying races but finishing 31st overall with 4 points due to the limited schedule and points allocation for those events. Following the conclusion of the after the 2018 season, Coronel shifted his focus to the starting in 2019. Racing primarily with Boutsen Ginion Racing and later Comtoyou Racing in and machinery, he progressively improved, securing consistent top finishes and culminating in the 2023 drivers' . His campaign included eight race wins across the series, with notable performances at circuits like Barcelona-Catalunya, where he set the qualifying lap record in 2023 (1:48.968). Over five full seasons in TCR Europe, Coronel amassed more than 100 starts, 25 podiums, and 1,279 points, establishing himself as one of the series' top contenders. In addition to his TCR Europe efforts, Coronel participated in select events of the , the global iteration of the category launched in 2022. In 2023, driving an Audi RS 3 LMS TCR II for Comtoyou Racing, he scored 76 points across multiple rounds, finishing 13th in the standings and contributing to team highlights with podium-contending runs at tracks like . A highlight outside the standard calendar was Coronel's victory in the inaugural 2019 TCR Spa 500, a four-hour endurance event at . Teaming with Pepe Oriola, Rik Breukers, and Ivo Breukers in a Red Camel-Jordans.nl Cupra TCR, they led nearly the entire race to claim overall honors by a significant margin.

TCR Europe results summary

YearTeam(s) / CarRacesWinsPodiumsPolesFastest LapsPointsPosition
2019Boutsen Ginion Racing / 28240013712th
2020Boutsen Ginion Racing / 16230010016th
2021Comtoyou Racing / Audi RS 3 LMS TCR1215112584th
2022Comtoyou Racing / Audi RS 3 LMS TCR1127223162nd
2023Comtoyou Racing / Audi RS 3 LMS TCR1414124681st (Champion)

TCR International Series results summary

YearTeam / CarRacesWinsPodiumsPointsPosition
2017Boutsen Ginion Racing / TCR601431st

Dakar Rally results

Tom Coronel, alongside his twin brother Tim, has competed in the since 2009, primarily in the T1 car category as part of the Coronel Dakar Team. The brothers have shared and duties in their custom-prepared vehicles, facing the rally's grueling , mechanical setbacks, and navigational demands across multiple editions in and later . Their partnership has yielded progressive results, with consistent finishes in recent years despite incidents like rollovers and time penalties. By 2024, they achieved their career-best overall classification, highlighted by a stable performance marred only by significant time loss in stage 10 due to a puncture and recovery efforts. In 2025, early challenges including a tense with minor damages and failure in stage 6 forced a shift to the non-competitive Dakar Experience category, where they completed all stages without further abandonment. Over 13 participations from 2009 to 2025, the Coronels started 13 times, finished 10 editions, retired in 3 due to mechanical or other issues, with no stage wins but several top-20 stage finishes, such as 13th in stage 11 of 2025. Their vehicles evolved from the in 2009 to the Century CR6 in recent years, supported by sponsors like MPM Oil and . Notable incidents include a fourfold rollover in stage 7 of 2023, which they repaired overnight to continue, and consistent dune navigation prowess in the Empty Quarter sections.
YearVehicleTeamOverall PositionNotes
2009Bowler NemesisCoronel Dakar Team70thDebut with Tim; completed all stages in South America.
2010N/AN/ADid not participate-
2011N/AN/ADid not participate-
2012N/AN/ADid not participate-
2013N/AN/ADid not participate-
2014N/AN/ADid not participate-
2015BuggyMaxxis Dakar TeamAbandoned (Stage 2)Mechanical issues; Tim solo entry, Tom co-driver.
2016BuggyMaxxis Dakar TeamAbandoned (early stage)Mechanical failures for Tom; Tim finished 35th solo.
2017BuggyMaxxis Dakar Team45thSteady run; first joint finish since 2009.
2018BuggyCoronel Dakar Team35thImproved pace in Saudi Arabia debut.
2019BuggyCoronel Dakar Team42ndTop-20 stage in challenging leg 3.
2020Beast 3.0 BuggyCoronel Dakar Team28thBest at the time; consistent despite rollbar issues.
2021BuggyCoronel Dakar Team26thStrong mid-pack finish.
2022Century CR6Coronel Dakar TeamAbandoned (Stage 8)Suspension failure.
2023Century CR6Coronel Dakar Team113thRollover in stage 7; heavy penalties but completed.
2024Century CR6Coronel Dakar Team22ndCareer best; time loss in stage 10 from puncture.
2025Century CR7Coronel Dakar TeamFinished (Dakar Experience)Prologue damages; alternator failure stage 6; completed all stages.

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