Nico Hulkenberg | Another great German racing driver

Nico Hulkenberg

Team: Williams
F1 Debut: 2010- Bahrain Grand Prix

The defunct A1 Grand Prix series did not promote many drivers into Formula One but it did launch the career of Nico Hulkenberg. The young German obliterated the opposition in the 2006-2007 season and became the most successful A1GP driver of all time, a record that he will now hold forever.

After winning the 'World Cup of Motorsport' for Germany, Hulkenberg moved through Formula Three in Europe and won the competitive Euroseries in 2008. During that same year he also signed a testing deal with the Williams Formula One team with whom he made his Grand Prix debut in 2010.

Hulkenberg competed in the GP2 series in 2009 and became the first champion to seal the title before the final round. He is one of five former GP2 drivers graduating to Formula One this year.

Williams have had Hulkenberg as a test driver for the last two years and during that time he has completed various manufacturing and production duties in the factory. He will be one of the few Grand Prix drivers to have actually helped build a car, so the youngster will have a thorough knowledge of how an entire F1 team works before starting his first race in Bahrain.

Hulkenberg's factory experience might even result in fewer damaged front wings now that he knows how much effort goes into casting one!

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