Fabio Leimer

Like many of today's racing drivers, Rothrist-born Leimer started his career in karting back in 2003, when he won the Swiss Junior Championship. He finished runner-up in the same category the following season before finishing second in the Swiss Championship ICA in 2006.

In 2006, Leimer graduated to single-seater racing, competing in the Formula BMW ADAC series in Germany. He started the year with Team Rosberg, but finished the season with a different team, Matson Motorsport. During the year, he accumulated four points to be classified eighteenth in the standings. He also competed in the end-of-season Formula BMW World Final, held in Valencia, where he finished in nineteenth place.

The following year, Leimer moved up to Formula Renault, racing in both the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Italian Formula Renault 2.0 championships for Jenzer Motorsport.

In the Eurocup series, he scored points in three races and took a single fastest lap at Donington Park to end the year in seventeenth place.{{cite news| title = Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup 2007| publisher = driverdb.com| url = http://www.driverdb.com/standings/129-2007/| access-date = 30 June 2009}}

In the Italian championship, Leimer scored points in eleven of the fourteen races and took two podium places (at Spa-Francorchamps and Valencia) to be classified eleventh in the standings.{{cite news| title = Formula Renault 2.0 Italy 2007| publisher = driverdb.com| url = http://www.driverdb.com/standings/130-2007/| access-date = 30 June 2009}}

In 2008, Leimer progressed to the International Formula Master series, once again racing with Jenzer Motorsport. In a very successful debut season, he finished as runner-up to champion Chris van der Drift, taking three race wins at Estoril, Imola and Monza along with five other podium places. He also helped Jenzer Motorsport finish third in the teams' standings.{{cite news| title = 2008 International Formula Masters| publisher = Speedsport Magazine| url = http://www.speedsport-magazine.com/motorsport/formula-level3/international-formula-master/2008/points.html| access-date = 29 June 2009}} In the accompanying Formula Master Italia series, Leimer finished in fourth place with one race win (at Mugello) from two starts.

In October 2008, Leimer took part in a three-day Indy Lights prize test with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. The prize test was originally awarded to German driver Michael Ammermüller, but he declined it for personal reasons.{{cite news | url = http://www.automobilsport.com/formula-master-fabio-leimer-us-rookie-prize-sam-schmidt-motorsports-kentucky-speedway---46562.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121208184803/http://www.automobilsport.com/formula-master-fabio-leimer-us-rookie-prize-sam-schmidt-motorsports-kentucky-speedway---46562.html | url-status = usurped | archive-date = December 8, 2012 | title = Leimer in the US for Formula Master rookie prize | publisher = automobilsport.com | date = 25 October 2008 | access-date = 29 January 2016}}

Leimer continued in the series for 2009, partnering Pål Varhaug, the reigning Italian Formula Renault 2.0 champion.{{cite news | url = http://www.f1sa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10123:formula-master--2008-vice-champion-fabio-leimer-returns&catid=29:various-categories&Itemid=122 | title = 2008 Formula Master Vice-Champion returns | publisher = F1SA | date = 4 February 2009 | access-date = 29 January 2016 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120929190240/http://www.f1sa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10123%3Aformula-master--2008-vice-champion-fabio-leimer-returns&catid=29%3Avarious-categories&Itemid=122 | archive-date = 29 September 2012 }} During the first six rounds of the season, he took race wins in Pau, Valencia, Brno, Brands Hatch and Spa-Francorchamps, the latter event supporting the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix.{{cite news | title=Rossi takes second IFM season win | url = http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78168 | first = Edd | last = Straw | work = autosport.com | publisher = Haymarket Publications | date=30 August 2009 | access-date=1 September 2009}} Leimer then sealed the title with his sixth win of the season, at the seventh round in Oschersleben.{{cite news | title = Leimer wraps up IFM title with victory | url = http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78341 | first = Steven | last = English | work = autosport.com | publisher = Haymarket Publications | date=5 September 2009 | access-date=5 September 2009}}

File:Leimer spain 2010.JPG in Barcelona.]]

File:GP2-Belgium-2013-Sprint Race-Fabio Leimer.jpg team during his title-winning 2013 season.]]

As a result of finishing championship runner-up in the 2008 Formula Master season, in November of that year, Leimer took part in a prize GP2 test with Italian team Trident Racing at the Paul Ricard circuit in France,{{cite news | url = http://www.crash.net/GP2/News/68717/1/leimer_enjoys_gp2_test.html | title = Leimer enjoys GP2 test | publisher = crash.net | date = 13 November 2008 | access-date = 30 June 2009}} and a year later he tested with the DAMS team at the same venue as a prize for winning the Formula Master title.{{cite news|url=http://www.formulamaster.net/eng/readNews.asp?id=829 |title=IFM champion claims GP2 Series prize |work=formulamaster.net |publisher=International Formula Master |date=11 November 2009 |access-date=11 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418162342/http://www.formulamaster.net/eng/readNews.asp?id=829 |archive-date=April 18, 2010 }}

In October 2009, Leimer tested with Tiago Monteiro's Ocean Racing Technology team at Jerez and later that month he was confirmed as a driver for the team in the 2009–10 GP2 Asia Series season, racing alongside fellow Formula Master graduate Alexander Rossi,{{cite news|url=http://www.oceanracingtech.com/ort/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=179%3Aocean-na-primeira-ronda-da-gp2-asia-series&catid=34%3Anews-general&Itemid=53&lang=en|title=Ocean Racing Technology prepares for the first GP2 Asia Series races|work=oceanracingtech.com|publisher=Ocean Racing Technology|date=18 October 2009|access-date=20 October 2009}} and former British Formula 3 driver Max Chilton. Leimer continued with the team into the 2010 GP2 Series, and was partnered by Chilton.{{cite news |url=http://www.crash.net/gp2/news/155357/1/ocean_reveals_2010_gp2_line-up.html |title=Ocean reveals 2010 GP2 line-up |work=crash.net |publisher=Crash Media Group |date=15 December 2009 |access-date=11 May 2010}} At the first round of the season in Barcelona, Leimer finished eighth in the feature race, a result which gave him pole position for the reverse grid sprint event which he won from the Rapax Team entry of Luiz Razia.{{cite news |url=http://www.crash.net/gp2/race+report/159554/1/leimer_dominates_barcelona_sprint.html |title=Leimer dominates Barcelona sprint |work=crash.net |publisher=Crash Media Group |date=9 May 2010 |access-date=11 May 2010}} However, he did not score any further points, limiting himself to nineteenth place in the drivers' championship.

For 2011, Leimer moved to the Rapax team alongside Julián Leal. He finished fifth overall in the Asia series, and then proceeded to take his second category win in the main series. As was the case the previous year, the victory came in the sprint race at the Catalunya circuit, and he again set the fastest lap in the process, although on this occasion he owed his reverse-grid pole position to Romain Grosjean's disqualification from the feature race. Another haul of points at Monza saw him improve to 14th position in the championship standings. He also won the feature race of the non-championship event held at the Yas Marina Circuit. Leimer switched to the Racing Engineering team for 2012, where he partnered Nathanaël Berthon. Despite failing to win a race during the season, his improved consistency, consisting of six podium finishes, saw him improve to seventh place in the drivers' championship. Leimer took the GP2 driver's championship title in 2013, with seven podium finishes and three wins.

In 2014, Leimer joined the Swiss team Rebellion Racing for the FIA World Endurance Championship after testing for the team at the pre-season "Prologue".{{cite web|last=Dagys|first=John|title=Leimer Confirmed at Rebellion for LMP1 Campaign|url=http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/leimer-confirmed-at-rebellion-for-lmp1-campaign|work=sportscar365.com|access-date=1 April 2014}} This was Leimer's first experience driving sports cars.

Leimer planned to race at the Japanese Super Formula in 2015, driving a Team Mugen's Honda-powered car.{{cite web|url=http://world.honda.com/news/2015/c150213Motorsports-Overview/index.html|title=Honda 2015 Motorsports Program Overview|publisher=Honda|date=13 February 2015|access-date=13 February 2015}} However, on 7 March 2015, it was announced that Leimer's contract with Mugen had been prematurely terminated due to financial issues.{{cite web|url=http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/07/2013-gp2-champion-fabio-leimer-loses-super-formula-seat/|title=2013 GP2 champion Fabio Leimer loses Super Formula seat|date=7 March 2015|access-date=8 March 2015}}

On 3 June 2015 the Manor Marussia F1 Team announced that they have signed Leimer as the official team reserve for 2015 and will participate in FP1 sessions at Grand Prix throughout the season. He participated in only one FP1 session, at the Hungarian Grand Prix. {{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

On 23 June 2015 Virgin Racing announced Leimer to be their driver to replace Jaime Alguersuari for the final two rounds, 10 and 11, at London after Alguersuari was suspended from racing due to minor health issues.{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/alguersuaris-licence-suspended-on-fia-doctors-orders/|title=Alguersuari's licence suspended on FIA doctors' orders|work=Motorsport.com|access-date=29 January 2016|archive-date=29 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629075238/http://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/alguersuaris-licence-suspended-on-fia-doctors-orders/|url-status=dead}} Race 10 saw him qualify 19th and finish the race in 14th position.{{cite web |url=http://fiaformulae.com/en/results/london-eprix.aspx |title=London ePrix - Official FIA Formula E Championship |publisher=FIA Formula E |access-date=29 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319085202/http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/results/london-eprix.aspx |archive-date=19 March 2016 }} The final round saw him qualify 17th, but he crashed out of the race.{{cite web |url=http://fiaformulae.com/en/results/london-eprix-rd-11.aspx |title=London ePrix - Rd 11 - Official FIA Formula E Championship |publisher=FIA Formula E |access-date=29 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131122508/http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/results/london-eprix-rd-11.aspx |archive-date=31 January 2016 }} Leimer finished the season without scoring a point and finished 32nd out of 35 in the championship.{{cite web|url=http://fiaformulae.com/en/results/driver-standings.aspx|title=Driver Standings|publisher=FIA Formula E|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722025044/http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/results/driver-standings.aspx |archive-date=22 July 2015|access-date=29 January 2016}}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.fabioleimer.com/}}
• {{DriverDB driver|fabio-leimer}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-sports}}

{{succession box|title=International Formula Master
Champion | before = Chris van der Drift | after = Series folded | years = 2009}}

{{succession box| before = Davide Valsecchi | title = GP2 Series
Champion | after = Jolyon Palmer | years = 2013}}

{{s-end}}

{{Marussia F1}}

{{Virgin Racing Formula E}}

{{FIA Formula 2 Drivers' Champions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leimer, Fabio}}

Category:1989 births

Category:Living people

Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers

Category:People from Zofingen District

Category:Swiss racing drivers

Category:International Formula Master drivers

Category:Formula Renault Eurocup drivers

Category:Italian Formula Renault 2.0 drivers

Category:Formula BMW ADAC drivers

Category:GP2 Asia Series drivers

Category:GP2 Series drivers

Category:GP2 Series Champions

Category:FIA World Endurance Championship drivers

Category:Formula E drivers

Category:24H Series drivers

Category:Swiss Formula One drivers

Category:Sportspeople from Aargau

Category:Team Rosberg drivers

Category:Jenzer Motorsport drivers

Category:Ocean Racing Technology drivers

Category:Rapax Team drivers

Category:Racing Engineering drivers

Category:Rebellion Racing drivers

Category:Envision Virgin Racing drivers

Category:Ferrari Challenge drivers