Norberto Fontana

Template:Short description Template:BLP sources {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters | check | ignoreblank = y | unknown = Template:Main other | preview = Page using Template:Infobox F1 driver with unknown parameter "_VALUE_" | embed | child | subbox | name | Name | image | Image | image_size | upright | image_upright | alt | caption | birth_name | birth_date | birth_place | death_date | death_place | relations | relatives | nationality | Nationality | years | Years | teams | Teams | Team(s) | team | Team | engines | Engines | current_team | current team | Current team | 2025 Team | 2026 Team | car_number | car number | Car number | races | Races | championships | Championships | wins | Wins | podiums | Podiums | points | Points | poles | Poles | fastest_laps | fastest laps | Fastest laps | first_race | first race | First race | first_win | first win | First win | last_win | last win | Last win | last_race | last race | Last race | last_position | last position | Last position | last_season | last season | Last season | bf1_years | bf1 years | BF1 Years | bf1_races | bf1 races | BF1 Races | bf1_championships | bf1 championships | BF1 Championships | bf1_wins | bf1 wins | BF1 Wins | bf1_podiums | bf1 podiums | BF1 Podiums | bf1_points | bf1 points | BF1 Points | bf1_poles | bf1 poles | BF1 Poles | bf1_fastest_laps | bf1 fastest laps | BF1 Fastest laps | signature | signature_size | signature alt | signature_alt | website | module | module1 | module2 | module3 | module4 | module5 | record template1 | record template2 | record template3 | record template4 | record template5 | career template1 | career template2 | career template3 | career template4 | career template5 | updated | Updated }} Norberto Edgardo Fontana (born 20 January 1975) is an Argentine racing driver. He participated in four Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 29 June 1997 but scoring no championship points.

His opportunity to race came as a result of two separate injuries sustained by regular Sauber driver Gianni Morbidelli during the 1997 season. During the 1997 European Grand Prix, Fontana had gained attention for apparently blocking Jacques Villeneuve to let rival Michael Schumacher pull away from the Canadian. He attempted to enter with the Tyrrell team for 1998 but was dropped in favour for Brazilian Ricardo Rosset and with Minardi for 2000. In between his time in F1, Fontana raced in Formula Nippon. In 2010 he won the Konex Award as one of the five best Racing Drivers of the last decade in Argentina.

Early career

Fontana was born in Arrecifies, Buenos Aires as the son of Hector and Clara Fontana. He started racing at the age of 8 at the Summer Night Championship in Lujan. In 1989, he began a full season of karting and finished 2nd in the Youth Kart Championship of Buenos Aires Province. The following year, Fontana progressed to a higher level of championship and finished 4th. In 1992, he moved into car racing and competed in the Formula Renault Argentina series before moving into the European series events in 1993.<ref name=beforef1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Fontana raced in the German Formula Three Championship series in 1994 and 1995, winning the 1995 title as well as that year's Marlboro Masters event at Zandvoort circuit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He claimed the title ahead of drivers including Ralf Schumacher, Alexander Wurz, Jarno Trulli and Jan Magnussen.Template:Citation needed

In 1996, Fontana entered Formula Nippon for the Nova Engineering team driving a Lola T96/51 Mugen. His highlights were finishing 2nd twice in Fuji in a season that included multiple accidents, mechanical failures and poor results. For 1997, he drove for the Le Mans team in their Reynard 97D Mugen. The season started badly but made a comeback to finish 5th in Fuji, a win at Mine and 3rd in Motegi.<ref name=beforef1 />

Formula One

Fontana joined the Sauber test team in 1995 when Peter Sauber approached him for a test session that took place at Barcelona in late 1994. He retained this role throughout 1995 and 1996.<ref name=beforef1 />

1997

Fontana made his Formula One debut at the 1997 French Grand Prix replacing Gianni Morbidelli who had broken his arm prior to the race. He qualified 20th and retired when he understeered and ended up in a gravel trap. Prior to the British GP, team principal Peter Sauber looked for replacements to take Fontana's seat but eventually decided to keep Fontana on board. During qualifying, he missed a red light indicating that the car must come in for a mandatory weight check. Fontana drove past the light and was forced to start at the back of the grid. In the race, Fontana finished 9th despite his right leg becoming numb. At Hockenheim, he started 18th and finished 9th despite spinning early on.<ref name=f1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

At the 1997 European Grand Prix in Jerez, Fontana received a $5,000 fine for speeding in the pitlane and eventually qualified 18th. During the race, Fontana appeared to block Jacques Villeneuve, who was the direct rival of Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher at the time. ITV commentator Martin Brundle pointed out that the Sauber team used Ferrari engines at the time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fontana eventually finished 14th with his highlight being overtaking Jos Verstappen with two wheels on the grass.<ref name=f1 />

Attempted comebacks

Fontana was considered as a driver for the dying Tyrrell team for 1998 with team principal Ken Tyrrell negotiating with the Argentine. Fontana signed a draft contract, but did not sign the final contract as the owners British American Tobacco had vetoed the suggestion and Tyrrell was forced to sign Brazilian Ricardo Rosset who had more sponsorship brought to the team. In 1999, Fontana tested with Minardi for a seat that would partner Marc Gené. However, sponsorship once again caused the Argentine to lose the seat for a possible comeback.<ref name=f1 />

Post-Formula One

Fontana decided to return to Formula Nippon and finished 4th in the series which included a win in Fuji. He also competed in the Japanese GT Championship and was paired with Masanori Sekiya. The pair finished 6th in Suzuka, 3rd at Sendai and Motegi. The pair finished 7th in the championship.<ref name=postf1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Touring car racing

File:TC2000 Toyota Team Argentina 2006 Toyota Corolla.jpg

Fontana driving a Toyota Corolla in the TC2000 Championship.

He subsequently moved into Argentine touring car racing, driving in the Turismo Carretera, TC2000 and Top Race V6. In the TC2000 he was champion in 2002 (with Toyota) and 2010 (with Ford), and third in 2004 and 2014. In 2006, he was Turismo Carretera champion. Until 2009 he drove for Toyota, given the relationship he had with the brand when he raced in Japan.

In 2022, at the age of 49, Fontana joined TCR South America.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Fontana also competed at the 2011 Dakar Rally in a buggy.

Racing record

Complete German Formula Three results

(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	17	18	19	20	DC	Pts
1994	KMS	Opel	A	ZOL 1 Template:Small	ZOL 2 Template:Small	HOC 1 Template:Small	HOC 2 Template:Small	NÜR 1 Template:Small	NÜR 2 Template:Small	WUN 1 Template:Small	WUN 2 Template:Small	NOR 1 Template:Small	NOR 2 Template:Small	DIE 1 Template:Small	DIE 2 Template:Small	NÜR 1 Template:Small	NÜR 2 Template:Small	AVU 1 Template:Small	AVU 2 Template:Small	ALE 1 Template:Small	ALE 2 Template:Small	HOC 1 Template:Small	HOC 2 Template:Small	6th	118
1995	KMS	Opel	A	HOC 1 Template:Small	HOC 2 Template:Small	AVU 1 Template:Small	AVU 2 Template:Small	NOR 1 Template:Small	NOR 2 Template:Small	DIE 1 Template:Small	DIE 2 Template:Small	NÜR 1 Template:Small	NÜR 2 Template:Small	ALE 1 Template:Small	ALE 2 Template:Small	MAG 1 Template:Small	MAG 2 Template:Small	HOC 1 Template:Small	HOC 2 Template:Small					1st	256

Complete Formula Nippon results

(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
1996	Shionogi Team Nova	SUZ Template:Small	MIN Template:Small	FUJ Template:Small	TOK Template:Small	SUZ Template:Small	SUG Template:Small	FUJ Template:Small	MIN Template:Small	SUZ Template:Small	FUJ Template:Small	5th	22
1997	Team LeMans	SUZ Template:Small	MIN Template:Small	FUJ Template:Small	SUZ Template:Small	SUG Template:Small	FUJ Template:Small	MIN Template:Small	MOT Template:Small	FUJ Template:Small	SUZ Template:Small	3rd	21
1998	LEMONed Racing Team LeMans	SUZ Template:Small	MIN Template:Small	FUJ Template:Small	MOT Template:Small	SUZ Template:Small	SUG Template:Small	FUJ Template:Small	MIN Template:Small	FUJ Template:Small	SUZ Template:Small	4th	21

Complete International Formula 3000 results

(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	11	12	DC	Points
1996	Edenbridge Racing	NÜR	PAU	PER	HOC	SIL	SPA	MAG	EST Template:Small	MUG	HOC			NC	0
1999	Fortec Motorsport	IMO Template:Small	MON Template:Small	CAT Template:Small	MAG Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	A1R Template:Small	HOC Template:Small	HUN Template:Small	SPA Template:Small	NÜR Template:Small			15th	4
2001	F3000 Prost Junior Team	INT	IMO	CAT	A1R	MON	NÜR	MAG	SIL	HOC	HUN Template:Small	SPA Template:Small	MNZ Template:Small	32nd	0

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	WDC	Points
1997	Red Bull Sauber Petronas	Sauber C16	Petronas V10	AUS	BRA	ARG	SMR	MON	ESP	CAN	FRA Template:Small	GBR Template:Small	GER Template:Small	HUN	BEL	ITA	AUT	LUX	JPN	EUR Template:Small	NC	0

Complete JGTC results

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

Year	Team	Car	Class	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	DC	Pts
1998	Toyota Castrol Team	Toyota Supra	GT500	SUZ Template:Small	FUJ Template:Small	SEN Template:Small	FUJ Template:Small	MOT Template:Small	MIN Template:Small	SUG Template:Small	7th	33

Complete CART results

(key)

Year	Team	No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Rank	Points	Ref
2000	Della Penna	10	MIA Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	RIO Template:Small	MOT Template:Small	NZR Template:Small	MIL Wth	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS	CHI	MOH	ROA	VAN	LS	STL	HOU	SRF	FON	28th	2	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Complete TCR World Tour results

(key)

Year	Team	Car	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	DC	Points
2024	Cobra Racing Team	Toyota GR Corolla Sport TCR	VAL 1	VAL 2	MRK 1	MRK 2	MOH 1	MOH 2	SAP 1 Template:Small	SAP 2 Template:Small	ELP 1 Template:Small	ELP 2 Template:Small	ZHZ 1	ZHZ 2	MAC 1	MAC 2	37th	4

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline
• Fontana web