Karl Wendlinger (German pronunciation: [kaɐ̯l ˈvɛnd.lɪŋ.ɐ]; born 20 December 1968) is an Austrian professional racing and former Formula One driver.

Karl Wendlinger
Wendlinger in 1999
NationalityAustria Austrian
Born (1968-12-20) 20 December 1968 (age 55)
Kufstein, Austria
FIA GT1 World Championship career
Debut season2010
Current teamSwiss Racing Team
Car number3
Starts20
Wins0
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish43rd in 2010
Previous series
2004–09
2002–03
2001
1999
1998–99
1997
1996
1991–95
1990–91
1990–92
1989–90
1988–89
1988
FIA GT Championship
DTM
V8Star Series
American Le Mans Series
FIA GT Championship
Italian Superturismo
Super Tourenwagen Cup
Formula One
International Formula 3000
World Sportscars
DTM
German F3
Austrian F3
Championship titles
1999
1989
1988
FIA GT Championship
German F3
Austrian F3
Formula One World Championship career
Active years19911995
TeamsLeyton House, March, Sauber
Entries42 (41 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points14
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1991 Japanese Grand Prix
Last entry1995 Australian Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1991–1992, 1996–2001, 2008
TeamsTeam Sauber Mercedes, Peugeot Talbot Sport, Porsche AG, Roock Racing, Viper Team Oreca
Best finish3rd (1996)
Class wins2 (1999 and 2000)
Wendlinger driving for Sauber at the 1993 British Grand Prix.

Mercedes Juniors

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Born in Kufstein,[1] Wendlinger started his career in karting and in Formula Ford before entering the German Formula 3 Championship in 1988. After managing tenth place in that inaugural season, Wendlinger won the crown in 1989, which earned him also a drive in the Mercedes-Benz sportscar team for 1990.

Driving the Sauber-Mercedes C11 – alongside Michael Schumacher, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Mauro Baldi and Jean-Louis Schlesser – the quintet managed to achieve fifth place in the 1990 World Sportscar Championship standings.

In 1991, he continued to race with Mercedes sportscars — alongside a Formula 3000 programme with the Helmut Marko team. Towards the end of the year, Mercedes's team boss Jochen Neerpasch placed two of his protégés in Formula One. Schumacher went to the Jordan team before signing for Benetton, whilst Wendlinger made a low key Formula One debut with the Leyton House outfit for the final two Grands Prix of the season.

Formula One

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1991–1992: Leyton House/March

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Wendlinger's Formula One debut came at the 1991 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, bringing some money to the beleaguered Leyton House team in place of long-serving Ivan Capelli. He qualified in 22nd place in a field of 26, but was unable to convert that into anything more, after he retired due to a big collision at turn one, between himself, JJ Lehto, Andrea de Cesaris and Emanuele Pirro. His second race didn't fare much better as the Adelaide circuit was a wash-out, torrential rain leading to a curtailed event. Wendlinger was classified in 20th place, two laps down on eventual winner Ayrton Senna, after aquaplaning on some of the huge puddles of water present that day.

Wendlinger was kept at the renamed March team in 1992, alongside Paul Belmondo. The team were struggling financially due to the withdrawal of the Leyton House organisation, the only modifications to the 1991 car being reworking the cockpit to accommodate Wendlinger's tall frame. The results were very encouraging, including starting 7th at the opening South African Grand Prix but results were limited by the team's financial restraints. For example, at the Spanish Grand Prix the drying track at the start saw the Footwork team make a late change of tyres to their cars on the starting grid, incurring a fine but finishing 5th and 7th. Wendlinger was 8th, March being unable to afford the fine for changing his tyres at the same time. However, at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal a race of attrition allowed Wendlinger to bring the car home in fourth position, albeit a lap down — but nonetheless a huge result considering the financial troubles his team were in. These three points allowed Wendlinger to finish 12th in the Drivers' Championship ahead of respected names such as Ivan Capelli, Thierry Boutsen, Johnny Herbert and former Brabham and Tyrrell driver Stefano Modena.

1993–1995: Sauber

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For 1993, Wendlinger was re-united with Peter Sauber, who that year had become a Formula One team owner. Much was expected of the team and early on Wendlinger and teammate JJ Lehto mixed with the front runners. Initially, he was out-paced by Lehto, who scored points in two of the first four races, though some of this was down to bad luck; Wendlinger had qualified 5th at Donington for example, only to be eliminated by Michael Andretti on the first lap. At the Monaco Grand Prix Wendlinger and Lehto collided, the team blaming Lehto. After that, Wendlinger's results improved. He scored his first point of the season in the next round and added three more points scores — the best being 4th at the Italian Grand Prix after a long battle with Andretti. Other points finishes in Portugal and Hungary helped give Wendlinger 12th in the Drivers' Championship again with seven points — two points and a place ahead of the more experienced Lehto.

For 1994, Wendlinger was retained as Mercedes made their official return to Formula One, buying a stake in Ilmor and becoming the team's engine supplier. Heinz-Harald Frentzen arrived in place of Lehto. The season started well for Wendlinger: He scored a point in the first race of the year at Interlagos and drove to fourth place in the San Marino race, an event marred by the deaths of both Wendlinger's countryman Roland Ratzenberger and the 3-time world champion Ayrton Senna.

The next race was in Monaco for the fourth round of the Championship. During the first practice session, Wendlinger exited the tunnel and lost control of the car under braking for the Nouvelle Chicane. The Sauber, sliding sideways, hit a barrier with considerable force; the barrier was protected by large plastic containers that were supposed to be filled with water but were not.[2] Although his vital signs were quickly stabilized, he remained in a coma for several weeks and did not drive in a race for the rest of the year.[3] He had planned to make his comeback at the Japanese Grand Prix, but pre-race testing revealed his neck was not strong enough.

Wendlinger recovered from his injuries before the start of the 1995 Formula One season, where he would be driving at Sauber (now with Ford engines) alongside Frentzen. However, he performed poorly and was reluctantly replaced in the team before the Monaco Grand Prix, a year on from the accident, by Jean-Christophe Boullion. Peter Sauber then recalled Wendlinger for the final two races of the season in one last attempt to regain his pre-accident form, without success. These were his last races in Formula One.

After Formula One

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Since then, he has competed successfully in sports cars and touring cars,[4] winning the FIA GT Championship (with Olivier Beretta) in 1999. After a spell racing for Abt-Audi in DTM in 2002 and 2005 he raced for JMB Racing in FIA GT again, driving a Maserati MC12 with Andrea Bertolini.

Since 2006, Wendlinger has been part of the JetAlliance Racing team, competing again in the FIA GT Championship. His teammate in 2006 was Phillip Peter, and in 2007 his teammate was Scottish driver, Ryan Sharp.

2007 Wendlinger competed at the 24 Hours of Daytona with Sigal Sport team in a BMW powered Riley DP. He crashed during the night on his in lap at the end of his second stint and was sent to the hospital as a precaution. The car eventually was retired from the damage.

2008

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Wendlinger competed for JetAlliance Racing in 2008 alongside Ryan Sharp. They started well at the RAC Tourist Trophy round from Silverstone. Wendlinger and Sharp won the GT1 class and overall race ahead of Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini's Maserati MC12.

Personal life

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Wendlinger is married and has two children. His son Jonas Wendlinger [de] is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Dutch side Almere City FC.[5]

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1987 German Formula Ford 1600 ? ? ? ? ? 208 7th
European Formula Ford 1600 ? ? ? ? ? 8 15th
1988 Austrian Formula Three Championship Krafft Walzen Team ? ? ? ? ? ? 1st
German Formula Three Championship 11 0 0 0 0 69 11th
Macau Grand Prix 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1989 Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft Star-Marko RSM 16 0 0 0 0 20 30th
German Formula Three Championship Krafft Walzen Team Marko RSM 11 2 1 2 5 164 1st
Macau Grand Prix 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1990 International Formula 3000 RSM Marko 6 0 0 0 0 2 19th
Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft AMG Motorenbau GmbH 5 0 0 0 0 0 NC
World Sportscar Championship Team Sauber Mercedes 4 1 0 0 3 21 5th
1991 World Sportscar Championship Team Sauber Mercedes 5 1 1 0 2 43 9th
International Formula 3000 Championship RSM Marko 5 0 0 0 1 6 12th
Formula One Leyton House Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Team Sauber Mercedes 1 0 1 0 0 N/A 5th
1992 Formula One March F1 14 0 0 0 0 3 12th
24 Hours of Le Mans Peugeot Talbot Sport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1993 Formula One Team Sauber Formula 1 16 0 0 0 0 7 12th
1994 Formula One Broker Sauber Mercedes 3 0 0 0 0 4 19th
1995 Formula One Red Bull Sauber Ford 6 0 0 0 0 0 NC
BPR Global GT Series March One Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1996 Super Tourenwagen Cup A.Z.K./ROC Competition 18 0 0 0 3 366 5th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGT1 Porsche AG 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 3rd
1997 Italian Superturismo Championship Audi Sport Italia 20 0 0 0 7 156 5th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGT1 Roock Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1998 FIA GT Championship - GT2 Viper Team Oreca 9 1 0 0 6 38 3rd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGT2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1999 FIA GT Championship Chrysler Viper Team Oreca 9 6 4 4 9 78 1st
American Le Mans Series - GTS Viper Team Oreca 6 3 0 1 6 137 2nd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTS 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
2000 American Le Mans Series - GTS Viper Team Oreca 12 9 2 3 11 264 2nd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTS 1 1 1 0 1 N/A 1st
2001 V8Star Series Zakspeed Motorsport 9 0 1 0 2 142 11th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP900 Team PlayStation 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 3rd
American Le Mans Series - GT Schnitzer Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 22 33rd
2002 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Abt Sportsline 9 0 0 0 0 3 14th
2003 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Abt Sportsline 10 0 0 0 0 1 16th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - E1-XP 1 0 ? ? 1 N/A 2nd
2004 FIA GT Championship - GT1 JMB Racing 11 1 0 1 3 50.5 8th
2005 FIA GT Championship - GT1 JMB Racing 11 1 0 0 5 71 4th
Rolex Sports Car Series - GT Red Bull Ebimotors 1 1 0 0 0 7 172nd
2006 FIA GT Championship - GT1 Race Alliance 10 1 0 0 2 32.5 14th
2007 FIA GT Championship - GT1 Jetalliance Racing 10 3 3 0 4 57 2nd
Le Mans Series - GT1 1 0 0 0 0 4 25th
Rolex Sports Car Series - DP Sigalsport BMW 1 0 0 0 0 6 79th
2008 FIA GT Championship - GT1 Jetalliance Racing 8 3 3 0 4 44 6th
24 Hours of Le Mans - GT1 Aston Martin Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 4th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP8 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 9th
2009 FIA GT Championship - GT1 K plus K Motorsport 4 1 1 0 1 10 18th
2010 GT1 World Championship Swiss Racing Team 20 0 0 0 0 2 43rd
2011 GT1 World Championship Swiss Racing Team 8 0 0 0 0 31 16th
2012 International GT Open Seyffarth Motorsport 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
ADAC GT Masters 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro KRK Racing 2 0 0 0 1 21 16th
2013 Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Fortec Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2015 Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro-Am Car Collection Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24H Series - A6
2016 ADAC GT Masters Car Collection Motorsport 4 0 0 0 0 0 NC

Complete German Formula Three results

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(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 DC Pts
1988 Krafft Walzen Team Alfa Romeo A ZOL
Ret
HOC
Ret
NÜR
6
BRN
6
HOC
11
MFA
15
NOR
C
WUN
Ret
SAL
16
NÜR
4
HUN
6
HOC
Ret
11th 69
1989 Krafft Walzen Team Alfa Romeo A HOC
DNS
NÜR
4
AVU
1
BRN
4
ÖST
4
HOC
2
WUN
4
HOC
1
DIE
3
NÜR
2
NÜR
7
HOC
14
1st 164

Complete International Formula 3000 results

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(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 11 Pos. Pts
1990 RSM Marko Lola T90/50 Cosworth DON
DNQ
SIL
14
PAU JER
DNQ
MNZ
Ret
PER
Ret
HOC
5
BRH
DNQ
BIR
10
BUG NOG
9
21st 2
1991 RSM Marko Reynard 91D Cosworth VAL PAU JER
5
MUG PER
Ret
HOC
3
BRH SPA
Ret
BUG
Ret
NOG 12th 6

Complete Formula One results

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(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Pts
1991 Leyton House Racing Leyton House CG911 Ilmor 2175A 3.5 V10 USA BRA SMR MON CAN MEX FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN
Ret
AUS
20
NC 0
1992 March F1 March CG911 Ilmor 2175A 3.5 V10 RSA
Ret
MEX
Ret
BRA
Ret
ESP
8
SMR
12
MON
Ret
CAN
4
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
16
HUN
Ret
BEL
11
ITA
10
POR
Ret
JPN AUS 12th 3
1993 Team Sauber Formula 1 Sauber C12 Sauber 2175A 3.5 V10 RSA
Ret
BRA
Ret
EUR
Ret
SMR
Ret
ESP
Ret
MON
13
CAN
6
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
9
HUN
6
BEL
Ret
ITA
4
POR
5
JPN
Ret
AUS
15
12th 7
1994 Broker Sauber Mercedes Sauber C13 Mercedes-Benz 2175B 3.5 V10 BRA
6
PAC
Ret
SMR
4
MON
DNS
ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR EUR JPN AUS 19th 4
1995 Red Bull Sauber Ford Sauber C14 Ford ECA Zetec-R 3.0 V8 BRA
Ret
ARG
Ret
SMR
Ret
ESP
13
MON CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR EUR PAC JPN
10
AUS
Ret
NC 0

24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1991   Team Sauber Mercedes   Michael Schumacher
  Fritz Kreutzpointner
Mercedes-Benz C11 C2 355 5th 5th
1992   Peugeot Talbot Sport   Eric van de Poele
  Alain Ferté
Peugeot 905 Evo 1B C1 208 DNF DNF
1996   Porsche AG   Yannick Dalmas
  Scott Goodyear
Porsche 911 GT1 GT1 341 3rd 2nd
1997   Roock Racing   Stéphane Ortelli
  Allan McNish
Porsche 911 GT1 GT1 8 DNF DNF
1998   Viper Team Oreca   Marc Duez
  Patrick Huisman
Chrysler Viper GTS-R GT2 28 DNF DNF
1999   Viper Team Oreca   Olivier Beretta
  Dominique Dupuy
Chrysler Viper GTS-R GTS 325 10th 1st
2000   Viper Team Oreca   Olivier Beretta
  Dominique Dupuy
Chrysler Viper GTS-R GTS 333 7th 1st
2001   Team PlayStation   Olivier Beretta
  Pedro Lamy
Chrysler LMP LMP900 298 4th 3rd
2008   Aston Martin Racing   Heinz-Harald Frentzen
  Andrea Piccini
Aston Martin DBR9 GT1 339 16th 4th

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft/Masters results

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(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 Pos. Pts
1989 Star-Marko RSM Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16 ZOL
1

27
ZOL
2

Ret
HOC
1

23
HOC
2

16
NÜR
1

23
NÜR
2

DNS
MFA
1

17
MFA
2

14
AVU
1

25
AVU
2

DNS
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
NOR
1

Ret
NOR
2

DNS
HOC
1

18
HOC
2

19
DIE
1

22
DIE
2

14
NÜR
1

17
NÜR
2

Ret
HOC
1

17
HOC
2

20
30th 20
1990 AMG Motorenbau GmbH Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 Evo ZOL
1
ZOL
2
HOC
1
HOC
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
AVU
1
AVU
2
MFA
1
MFA
2
WUN
1
WUN
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
NOR
1

23
NOR
2

15
DIE
1

12
DIE
2

13
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
NC 0
Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 Evo II HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

DNS
2002 Abt Sportsline Abt-Audi TT-R HOC
QR

10
HOC
CR

6
ZOL
QR

12
ZOL
CR

18
DON
QR

7
DON
CR

5
SAC
QR

21†
SAC
CR

DNS
NOR
QR

Ret
NOR
CR

12
LAU
QR

10
LAU
CR

Ret
NÜR
QR

6
NÜR
CR

12
A1R
QR

13
A1R
CR

16
ZAN
QR

9
ZAN
CR

19
HOC
QR

4
HOC
CR

Ret
14th 3
2003 Abt Sportsline Abt-Audi TT-R HOC
15
ADR
12
NÜR
16
LAU
13
NOR
11
DON
15
NÜR
11
A1R
16
ZAN
8
HOC
17
16th 1
  • † — Retired, but was classified as he completed 90% of the winner's race distance.

Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results

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(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 Pos. Pts
1996 A.Z.K./ROC Audi A4 Quattro ZOL
1

5
ZOL
2

Ret
ASS
1

5
ASS
2

5
HOC
1

3
HOC
2

2
SAC
1

4
SAC
2

4
WUN
1

3
WUN
2

4
ZWE
1

7
ZWE
2

Ret
SAL
1

12
SAL
2

13
AVU
1

6
AVU
2

5
NÜR
1

10
NÜR
2

5
5th 366

Complete Italian Touring Car Championship results

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(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
1997 Audi Sport Italia Audi A4 Quattro MNZ
1

3
MNZ
2

4
MUG
1

3
MUG
2

4
MAG
1

Ret
MAG
2

Ret
IMO
1

6
IMO
2

6
IMO
1

3
IMO
2

7
BIN
1

3
BIN
2

3
PER
1

4
PER
2

5
VAR
1

3
VAR
2

3
MIS
1

Ret
MIS
2

5
VAL
1

7
VAL
2

6
5th 156

Complete FIA GT Championship results

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(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 9 10 11 Pos. Pts
1998 Viper Team Oreca Chrysler Viper GTS-R GT2 OSC
2
SIL
Ret
HOC
2
DIJ
2
HUN
Ret
SUZ
2
DON
3
A1R
1
HOM
Ret
LAG
DNS
3rd 38
1999 Chrysler Viper Team Oreca Chrysler Viper GTS-R GT2 MNZ
1
SIL
1
HOC HUN
2
ZOL
1
OSC
1
DON
1
HOM
2
GLN
2
ZHU
1
1st 78
2004 JMB Racing Ferrari 575-GTC Maranello GT MNZ
Ret
VAL
4
MAG
2
HOC
11
BRN
2
DON
1
SPA
4
IMO
9
OSC
4
DUB
Ret
ZHU
5
8th 50.5
2005 JMB Racing Maserati MC12 GT1 GT1 MNZ
5
MAG
1
SIL
4
IMO
4
BRN
2
SPA
2
OSC
2
IST
3
ZHU
6
DUB
4
BHR
Ret
4th 71
2006 Race Alliance Aston Martin DBR9 GT1 SIL
Ret
BRN
Ret
OSC
7
SPA
8
PRI
4
DIJ
2
MUG
1
HUN
Ret
ADR
Ret
DUB
5
14th 32.5
2007 Jetalliance Racing Aston Martin DBR9 GT1 ZHU
9
SIL
4
BUC
4
MNZ
1
OSC
Ret
SPA
Ret
ADR
1
BRN
2
NOG
5
ZOL
1
2nd 57
2008 Jetalliance Racing Aston Martin DBR9 GT1 SIL
1
MNZ
7
ADR
Ret
OSC
1
SPA
Ret
BUC
DNS
BUC BRN
1
NOG
5
ZOL
3
SAN 9th 44
2009 K plus K Motorsport Saleen S7R GT1 SIL
1
ADR
Ret
OSC
10
SPA BUC
DSQ
ALG PRI ZOL 18th 10

Complete GT1 World Championship results

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Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos. Points
2010 Swiss Racing Team Nissan GT-R GT1 ABU
QR

9
ABU
CR

14
SIL
QR

15
SIL
CR

Ret
BRN
QR

12
BRN
CR

10
PRI
QR

21
PRI
CR

15
SPA
QR

16
SPA
CR

12
NÜR
QR

14
NÜR
CR

10
ALG
QR

Ret
ALG
CR

20
NAV
QR

14
NAV
CR

Ret
INT
QR

17
INT
CR

18
SAN
QR

7
SAN
CR

Ret
43rd 2
2011 Swiss Racing Team Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670 R-SV ABU
QR

10
ABU
CR

7
ZOL
QR

4
ZOL
CR

4
ALG
QR

10
ALG
CR

5
SAC
QR

12
SAC
CR

Ret
SIL
QR
SIL
CR
NAV
QR
NAV
CR
PRI
QR
PRI
CR
ORD
QR
ORD
CR
BEI
QR
BEI
CR
SAN
QR
SAN
CR
16th 31

Helmet

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Wendlinger's helmet is yellow with 2 blue parallel lines in the middle of the helmet, a blue circle on the top and 3 red white red arrows between the parallel lines.

References

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