Doru Sechelariu

{{Short description|Romanian racing driver}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Doru Sechelariu

| image =

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| nationality = {{flagicon|ROU}} Romanian

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1992|11|19}}

| birth_place = Bacău (Romania)

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| prev series = GP3 Series
European F3 Open
Formula BMW Europe
Formula BMW Pacific
Formula BMW UK
Formula Renault 1.6 Belgium

| prev series years = 2010
2009
200809
2008
2007
200607

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}}

Doru Sechelariu (born 19 November 1992 in Bacău, Romania) is a Romanian racecar driver. He is the son of Dumitru Sechelariu, who was the mayor of Bacău from 1996 to 2004.{{cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/news/sport/visul-dumitru-sechelariu-a-si-vedea-fiul-mare-pilot-implinit-jumatate-povestea-doru-sechelariu-supranumit-schumacher-romania-1_511f905a00f5182b856a59b5/index.html|title=Visul lui Dumitru Sechelariu de a-şi vedea fiul mare pilot, împlinit pe jumătate. Povestea lui Doru Sechelariu, supranumit "Schumacher" de România|website=Adevarul|language=ro|date=2013-02-16|access-date=2022-02-08}}

Career

=Karting=

Sechelariu began his motorsport career in karting back in 2002, winning in the Mini class of the FRAK Cup. In 2005, he finished 15th in the ICA Junior class of the Italian championship.{{cite web|url=http://rallyeracing.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/doru-sechelariu-bate-la-usa-formulei-1/|title=Doru Sechelariu bate la ușa Formulei 1|language=ro|website=Rally Racing|date=2009-04-02|access-date=2022-02-08|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111221438/http://rallyeracing.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/doru-sechelariu-bate-la-usa-formulei-1/|archive-date=2015-01-11}}

=Formula Renault=

Sechelariu moved into single-seaters in 2006, competing in Formula Renault 1.6 Belgium for Thierry Boutsen Racing. After two races at the end of the 2006 season, the Romanian driver moved up to the Belgian series for the 2007 season, with the same team. He finished in sixth place in the standings.{{cite web|url=https://www.fanatik.ro/doru-sechelariu-drumul-de-la-baiatul-de-bani-gata-la-drogatul-ala-au-fost-momente-cand-nu-ieseam-din-casa-pentru-ca-nu-aveam-bani-de-motorina-19137688|title=Doru Sechelariu, drumul de la "băiatul de bani gata" la "drogatul ăla": "Au fost momente când nu ieșeam din casă pentru că nu aveam bani de motorină"|website=Fanatik|language=ro|date=2020-01-08|access-date=2022-02-08}}{{cite web|url=https://romanialibera.ro/special/doru-sechelariu-viitorul-pilot-de-f1-al-romaniei-82355/|title=Doru Sechelariu, viitorul pilot de F1 al Romaniei|website=România Liberă|language=ro|date=2007-01-03|access-date=2022-02-08}}

=Formula BMW=

In 2007, he participated in six races of the Formula BMW UK championship with Räikkönen Robertson Racing. He finished in 22nd place in the standings with 42 points.{{cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/locale/piatra-neamt/bacau-doru-sechelariu-pregateste-formula-1-1_50bd44357c42d5a663c97f9a/index.html|title=Bacău: Doru Sechelariu se pregăteşte pentru Formula 1|website=Adevarul|language=ro|date=2010-01-17|access-date=2022-02-08}}

The following season, Sechelariu competed in the new Formula BMW Europe series for Fortec Motorsport. He finished fifteenth in the standings, taking nine points-scoring positions in sixteen races. Also he briefly participated in the Americas and Pacific series, taking two wins at the Singapore Street Circuit in the latter.

For 2009, the Romanian driver remained in the series, but switched to FMS International. He again changed team to Motaworld Racing after Coloni took full control of the FMS International from Valencia onwards. At the final two rounds at Spa and Monza, Sechelariu drove for Eifelland Racing. He finished fourteenth behind Swedish rookie Timmy Hansen in the championship.

=GP3 Series=

In 2010, Sechelariu became the first driver to join Tech 1 Racing for the 2010 GP3 Series season.{{cite news|url=http://www.gp2series.com/en//website/2009gp2series/news/newsgp2/newsdetail.php?articleid=2674 |title=Doru Sechelariu together with Tech 1 Racing in GP3 |work=gp2series.com |publisher=GP2 Series |date=2010-01-13 |accessdate=2010-01-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020133434/http://www.gp2series.com/en//website/2008gp2series/teams/teams-asia-series/barwa-international-campos-team/ |archivedate=20 October 2008 }}{{cite web|url=https://us.motorsport.com/fia-f3/news/doru-sechelariu-joins-tech-1-racing/2389017/|title=Doru Sechelariu joins Tech 1 Racing|website=us.motorsport.com|language=en-US|date=2010-01-14|access-date=2022-02-08}} He finished 29th in the standings, with zero points and a best finish of ninth. Sechelariu was set to remain with Tech 1 Racing for the 2011 season, but a lack of funding forced him to leave the championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.automarket.ro/formula1/feature-ascensiunea-lui-mihai-marinescu-in-formula-2-41480.html|title=FEATURE: Ascensiunea lui Mihai Marinescu în Formula 2|website=automarket.ro|language=ro|last=Popescu|first=Daniel|date=2011-11-02|access-date=2022-02-08}}

Personal life

Sechelariu's hobbies are skiing, basketball, tennis, and his favourite circuit is the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. His favourite drivers are Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella.{{cite news |url=http://bmw-motorsport.com/ms/en/races/fbmw/formula_europe/driver/doru_sechelariu/doru_sechelariu.html |title=Doru Sechelariu |work=BMW Motorsport |publisher=BMW |accessdate=2010-01-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904121228/http://bmw-motorsport.com/ms/en/races/fbmw/formula_europe/driver/doru_sechelariu/doru_sechelariu.html |archivedate=4 September 2009 }}

Racing record

=Career summary=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"

! Season

! Series

! Team

! Races

! Wins

! Poles

! F/Laps

! Podiums

! Points

! Position

2006

|align=left| Formula Renault 1.6 Belgium

|align=left| Thierry Boutsen Racing

| 2

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| NC

rowspan=3| 2007

|align=left| Formula Renault 1.6 Belgium

|align=left| Boutsen Energy Racing

| 12

| 1

| 0

| 2

| 2

| 127

| 6th

align=left| Formula BMW UK

|align=left| Räikkönen Robertson Racing

| 6

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 42

| 22nd

align=left| Formula BMW World Final

|align=left| Fortec Motorsport

| 1

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| N/A

| 21st

rowspan=4| 2008

|align=left| Formula BMW Europe

|align=left| Fortec Motorsport

| 16

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 64

| 15th

align=left| Formula BMW Pacific

|align=left| Team Meritus

| 4

| 2

| 2

| 1

| 2

| 0

| NC†

align=left| Formula BMW Americas

|align=left| Team Autotecnica

| 2

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 1

| 0

| NC†

align=left| Formula BMW World Final

|align=left| EuroInternational

| 1

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| N/A

| 15th

rowspan=4| 2009

|rowspan=3 align=left| Formula BMW Europe

|align=left| FMS International

| 10

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

|rowspan=3| 69

|rowspan=3| 14th

align=left| Motaworld Racing

| 2

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

align=left| Eifelland Racing

| 4

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 1

align=left| European F3 Open

|align=left| emiliodevillota.com

| 4

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 14

| 16th

2010

|align=left| GP3 Series

|align=left| Tech 1 Racing

| 16

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 29th

As Sechelariu was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

=Complete GP3 Series results=

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

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Entrant

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! DC

! Points

2010

! nowrap| Tech 1 Racing

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAT
FEA

{{small|22}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAT
SPR

{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IST
FEA

{{small|9}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IST
SPR

{{small|9}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| VAL
FEA

{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| VAL
SPR

{{small|20}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
FEA

{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SIL
SPR

{{small|17}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| HOC
FEA

{{small|10}}

|style="background:#000000; color:#ffffff"| HOC
SPR

{{small|DSQ}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| HUN
FEA

{{small|14}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| HUN
SPR

{{small|21}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SPA
FEA

{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA
SPR

{{small|20}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MNZ
FEA

{{small|21}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MNZ
SPR

{{small|18}}

! 29th

! 0

References

{{reflist}}