Dani Clos

Daniel Clos Álvarez (born 23 October 1988) is a Spanish former professional racecar driver. In 2012, He was the test driver for the now defunct HRT Formula One team.

Dani Clos
Clos in 2010
Nationality Spanish
Full nameDaniel Clos Álvarez
Born (1988-10-23) 23 October 1988
Barcelona, Spain
GP2 Series career
Debut season2009
Current teamBarwa Addax Team
Racing licence FIA Gold
Car number2
Former teamsRacing Engineering
Starts61
Wins1
Podiums9
Poles1
Fastest laps2
Best finish4th in 2010
Previous series
2009–10-2011
2009
200708
200506
200506
2004
GP2 Asia Series
Formula Renault 3.5 Series
Formula Three Euroseries
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0
Formula Renault 2.0 Italia
Formula Junior 1600 Spain
Championship titles
2006Formula Renault 2.0 Italia

Career

Karting

Born in Barcelona, Clos was a fairly successful karter at the ICA Junior level of karting, winning firstly the Catalan district of the Spanish ICA Junior Championship in 2001, beating a field including the brother of former Formula Three Euroseries rival Daniel Campos-Hull, Oliver. Success continued in 2002, when Dani won the Copa Campeones Trophy and finished 10th in the Italian Open Masters, against a top-quality field of drivers including Nico Hülkenberg, Sébastien Buemi, Nelson Panciatici, Oliver Oakes and Buemi's cousin Natacha Gachnang amongst others.[1]

2003 was by far and away his best year of karting, winning both the prestigious Andrea Margutti Trophy equipped with an MGM Racing Birel beating Miguel Molina and Jules Bianchi to the flag, and the Spanish ICA Junior Championship, along with placings of 6th in the Italian Open Masters and 11th in the European Championship. 2004 saw a move up to Formula A, but he decided to dovetail it with a campaign in the Formula Junior 1600 series in Spain. He would finish 36th in the Formula A European Championship, with a solitary point. He called time on his karting career after a 30th place in the 2005 Margutti Trophy.

Formula Junior 1600 Spain

Clos made the move into single-seaters in 2004, with a campaign in the Formula Junior 1600 championship. Clos adapted to the cars very well, and ended up a solid 4th place in the championship behind Michael Herck, Marco Barba and Arturo Llobell, with one win and four podiums along the way.

Formula Renault 2.0

After just one season racing at 1600cc Formula Renault level, Dani moved up to the two litre cars, with a drive in both the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 for Pons Racing, and the Italian Formula Renault Championship for Facondini Racing. Clos struggled in the pan-European championship, failing to record a finish inside the top ten placings all season. His best finish came during the 11th round of the championship, at Donington Park when he recorded an 11th-place finish. He was slightly more successful in the Italian series despite missing three races due to Eurocup commitments, finishing sixteenth in the championship with 28 points beating teammate Oliver Campos-Hull in the process. His best finishes were a pair of sevenths, coming at Imola in round three, and also at Spa during round six. Clos would return to both series for a second season in 2006.

Clos moved to Jenzer Motorsport for both campaigns in 2006, hoping to give him a little more success than what he had for his previous two teams in 2005. His European campaign landed him in seventh place overall in a tightly-contested championship. He won three races, second only to champion Filipe Albuquerque's tally of four, and these wins came in succession – doing the double at Istanbul Park and winning the first race at Misano. He had originally done the double at Misano, which would have taken his tally to four in succession, however he was disqualified due to his car's diffuser height not complying with Eurocup regulations.[2] This handed Chris van der Drift his first victory of the 2006 season.

In the Italian championship, Clos got off to a steady start with a second and two third places in the first six races which at the time of the Spa round in early June, Clos was already some way behind championship leader Adrian Zaugg, who had won five of the first six races, and had finished third in the race that he didn't win. However, the rest of the season belonged to Clos. He won eight of the last nine races to overhaul Zaugg and win the championship by 36 points in the end. He recorded four double victories at Spa, Hockenheim, Misano and Monza and finished second in the single-race meeting at Varano.

Formula Three Euroseries

After his title win, Dani moved up to the Formula Three Euroseries for the 2007 season, signing up to drive for Signature-Plus. Clos had a solid, yet unspectacular first season with a championship position of 13th, with thirteen points. His best result was a fourth place during the reverse-grid round sixteen in Barcelona – the race now infamous with one of the biggest startline crashes in Euroseries history, in which nine cars were eliminated.[3] He also finished fifteenth during the Masters of Formula 3 event at Zolder, finishing some four seconds behind the eventual Euroseries champion Romain Grosjean and some 42 seconds behind winner Hülkenberg.[4]

Clos returned to the series for a second season in 2008, this time moving to Prema Powerteam. However, he ended up one place lower than what he was in 2007, finishing 14th with a total of 16.5 points. He only recorded six points-scoring finishes during the season, two of which were podium finishes coming at Pau (3rd)[5] and 2nd in the rain-shortened race at Le Mans.[6] He would have finished level on points with Jon Lancaster on 19 points had he been awarded 5 points rather than 2.5 at Le Mans. He also recorded a fastest lap in round 2 at Hockenheim, and started round 4 at Mugello from pole, thanks to the reverse-grid system.

Formula Renault 3.5 Series

Clos made his debut in Formula Renault 3.5 Series at Le Mans for Epsilon Euskadi, replacing Adrián Vallés, who was busy driving the Liverpool F.C. car in Superleague Formula at Zolder.[7] In his first race, he moved from 20th on the grid, to finish tenth and pick up a championship point. He also picked up the bonus point for progressing the most spots during the race, with ten. He continued in the series at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, picking up a point for qualifying third in his group. A ninth-place finish was his best result of the weekend, which also included an incident with teammate Chris van der Drift. He was replaced by Keisuke Kunimoto for the final two rounds.

GP2 Series

Clos driving for Racing Engineering at the Catalunya round of the 2009 GP2 Series season.
Clos driving for Racing Engineering at the Monza round of the 2011 GP2 Series season.

Having tested for both GP2 Series teams and ones in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, Clos was signed by the Racing Engineering team for the 2009 GP2 Series on 8 February 2009.[8] He scored his first points and podium in the final race at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, ending up 21st overall. In the off-season, he contested two rounds of the GP2 Asia Series for Trident Racing. He continued with Racing Engineering into the 2010 season.[9] Clos became a regular podium contender in 2010, scoring points in every round and had one retirement at the Monaco sprint race. He won his maiden GP2 race at the Turkish sprint round, and as of the Hungaroring race occupied third in the championship.[10] At the Belgian round of the championship, he suffered a compressed vertebra in a collision at the start of the feature race, and did not take part in the sprint race.[11] Clos has remained with Racing Engineering for the 2011 season; his teammates thus far have been Christian Vietoris and Álvaro Parente. The team also competed in the GP2 Asia Series for the first time, in which Clos, partnered with Nathanaël Berthon, scored a race win at Imola to finish ninth in the championship. In the main series, he finished ninth in the championship with a best finish of two second places.

Clos began the 2012 season without a drive, but was drafted into the Barwa Addax team after the first round of the championship, replacing Josef Král and alongside Johnny Cecotto.[12] After four races in the seat, Král returned to take it back over.[13]

In November 2014, it was announced Clos would be racing with Arden International alongside Tio Ellinas for the 2015 season.

Formula One

Clos has been employed on a few occasions as a test driver for the Williams F1 team, the first of these came in September 2008, when he participated in a day's testing at Jerez in Spain.[14] He tested again in December 2008 at the same circuit, for another day's testing.[15]

Clos also took part in the Abu Dhabi young drivers' test on 15 November 2011 at the Yas Marina Circuit. He drove 68 laps in the HRT F1 Team's F111 and ended the day 12th with a fastest time of 1’45.329.[16]

On 13 February 2012, he was announced as the HRT F1 Team's test driver for the 2012 season.[17] He made his race weekend début at the Spanish Grand Prix and again took part at the British, German and Hungarian Grands Prix, driving Narain Karthikeyan's car during the first free practice session on these occasions.[18]

Racing record

Complete Formula 3 Euro Series results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2007 Signature-Plus Dallara 305/029 Mercedes HOC
1

9
HOC
2

9
BRH
1

11
BRH
2

20†
NOR
1

Ret
NOR
2

10
MAG
1

11
MAG
2

10
MUG
1

7
MUG
2

11
ZAN
1

Ret
ZAN
2

Ret
NÜR
1

7
NÜR
2

5
CAT
1

12
CAT
2

4
NOG
1

12
NOG
2

10
HOC
1

8
HOC
2

5
13th 13
2008 Prema Powerteam Dallara F308/031 Mercedes HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

7
MUG
1

8
MUG
2

9
PAU
1

6
PAU
2

3
NOR
1

21
NOR
2

Ret
ZAN
1

15
ZAN
2

15
NÜR
1

Ret
NÜR
2

Ret
BRH
1

16
BRH
2

14
CAT
1

6
CAT
2

16
LMS
1

6
LMS
2

2
HOC
1

9
HOC
2

11
14th 16.5

Complete GP2 Series 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 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DC Points
2009 Racing Engineering ESP
FEA

Ret
ESP
SPR

19
MON
FEA

Ret
MON
SPR

Ret
IST
FEA

12
IST
SPR

7
SIL
FEA

13
SIL
SPR

Ret
HOC
FEA

16
HOC
SPR

8
HUN
FEA

11
HUN
SPR

11
VAL
FEA

Ret
VAL
SPR

Ret
BEL
FEA

10
BEL
SPR

Ret
MNZ
FEA

15
MNZ
SPR

Ret
ALG
FEA

9
ALG
SPR

3
21st 4
2010 Racing Engineering ESP
FEA

3
ESP
SPR

6
MON
FEA

3
MON
SPR

Ret
IST
FEA

8
IST
SPR

1
VAL
FEA

5
VAL
SPR

7
SIL
FEA

3
SIL
SPR

3
HOC
FEA

4
HOC
SPR

6
HUN
FEA

16
HUN
SPR

7
BEL
FEA

Ret
BEL
SPR

DNS
MNZ
FEA

Ret
MNZ
SPR

12
YMC
FEA

4
YMC
SPR

4
4th 51
2011 Racing Engineering IST
FEA

8
IST
SPR

15
CAT
FEA

6
CAT
SPR

2
MON
FEA

Ret
MON
SPR

18
VAL
FEA

4
VAL
SPR

5
SIL
FEA

6
SIL
SPR

2
NÜR
FEA

7
NÜR
SPR

Ret
HUN
FEA

10
HUN
SPR

Ret
SPA
FEA

6
SPA
SPR

6
MNZ
FEA

13
MNZ
SPR

7
9th 30
2012 Barwa Addax Team SEP
FEA
SEP
SPR
BHR1
FEA

19
BHR1
SPR

11
BHR2
FEA

Ret
BHR2
SPR

Ret
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
VAL
FEA
VAL
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
HOC
FEA
HOC
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
MRN
FEA
MRN
SPR
28th 0
2013 MP Motorsport SEP
FEA
SEP
SPR
BHR
FEA
BHR
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
NÜR
FEA
NÜR
SPR
HUN
FEA

14
HUN
SPR

Ret
SPA
FEA

20
SPA
SPR

19
MNZ
FEA

18
MNZ
SPR

9
MRN
FEA

10
MRN
SPR

21
YMC
FEA

5
YMC
SPR

2
18th 25

Complete GP2 Asia Series results

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

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DC Points
2009–10 Trident Racing YMC1
FEA
YMC1
SPR
YMC2
FEA

Ret
YMC2
SPR

13
BHR1
FEA
BHR1
SPR
BHR2
FEA

14
BHR2
SPR

12
27th 0
2011 Racing Engineering YMC
FEA

Ret
YMC
SPR

22
IMO
FEA

7
IMO
SPR

1
9th 8

Complete GP2 Final results

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

Year Entrant 1 2 DC Points
2011 Rapax YMC
FEA

Ret
YMC
SPR

9
12th 0

Complete Formula Renault 3.5 Series results

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

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos Points
2009 Epsilon Euskadi CAT
SPR
CAT
FEA
SPA
SPR
SPA
FEA
MON
FEA
HUN
SPR
HUN
FEA
SIL
SPR
SIL
FEA
BUG
SPR

10
BUG
FEA

17
ALG
SPR

Ret
ALG
FEA

9
NÜR
SPR
NÜR
FEA
ALC
SPR
ALC
FEA
25th 5

Complete Formula One participations

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

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 WDC Points
2012 HRT Formula 1 Team HRT F112 Cosworth CA2012 2.4 V8 AUS MAL CHN BHR ESP
TD
MON CAN EUR GBR
TD
GER
TD
HUN
TD
BEL
TD
ITA SIN JPN KOR
TD
IND ABU USA BRA - -

Complete European Le Mans Series results

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

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points
2019 Inter Europol Competition LMP2 Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
15
MNZ
13
CAT
Ret
SIL SPA ALG 34th 1

References

  1. "Italian Open Masters ICA Junior 2002". driverdb.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  2. "Clos' loss is Van der Drift's gain". automobilsport.com. 2006-07-17. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  3. "Renger van der Zande lets Prema cheer". Formula Three Euroseries. 2007-09-23. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  4. "Zandvoort Masters of Formula 3 @ Zolder" (PDF). raceresults.nu. 2007-08-05. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  5. "Maiden win for Mortara and Volkswagen in Formula 3 Euro Series". Formula Three Euroseries. 2008-06-01. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  6. "Robert Wickens wins at Le Mans in the rain". Formula Three Euroseries. 2008-10-05. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  7. Elizalde, Pablo (2009-07-14). "Clos, Mortara join series for Le Mans". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
  8. "Racing Engineering sign Clos for '09". autosport.com. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  9. Elizalde, Pablo (2010-03-02). "Racing Engineering completes line-up". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  10. Straw, Edd (2010-05-30). "Clos claims first GP2 win in Turkey". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  11. O'Leary, Jamie (2010-08-28). "Clos to miss Spa sprint race". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  12. "Clos to replace Kral at Addax for GP2 Series's race in Bahrain". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  13. Mallett, Thomas (2012-05-10). "Guerin replaces Hartley at Ocean Racing for Barcelona's GP2 race". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  14. "Williams to test Spaniard Clos next week". gpupdate.net. 2008-09-11. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  15. "Clos to join Williams in Jerez". gpupdate.net. 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  16. "Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test — Day 1". hispaniaracing.com. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  17. "Dani Clos joins HRT as tester". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  18. Noble, Jonathan (2012-06-29). "Dani Clos to drive for HRT again in British Grand Prix Friday practice". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
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