Marko Asmer

{{Infobox racing driver

|name = Marko Asmer

|image = Marko Asmer 2008 Goodwood.jpg

|caption = Asmer demonstrating a BMW Sauber F1.06 at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

|nationality = Estonian

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|7|30|df=y}}

|birth_place = Tallinn, Estonia

|titles = British F3 Champion

|title years = 2007

}}

Marko Asmer (born 30 July 1984) is an Estonian racing driver, who won the British Formula 3 Championship title in 2007. Asmer is also the first Estonian to test a Formula One car, having tested for the Williams BMW team in 2003, after just half a season of car racing in British Formula Ford.[http://www.hitechracing.net/drivers.htm Car No.7: Marko Asmer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070916033604/http://www.hitechracing.net/drivers.htm |date=16 September 2007}} From hitechracing.net. Retrieved 11 October 2007.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3079326.stm Teenager lands Williams job] From news.bbc.co.uk, 3 September 2003. Retrieved 11 October 2007. Asmer's father is a former racing driver Toivo Asmer, who was Estonian Minister of Regional Affairs between 1999 and 2003.Ott, Urmas. Asmerid. Topeltpeeglis {{ISBN|978-9985-854-76-1}}.

Racing career

Asmer was born in Tallinn. His father is motorsports promoter, musician and politician Toivo Asmer. He began karting in 1995, aged eleven, and had won the Estonian, Baltic, Finnish and Scandinavian kart championships by 2001.[http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/f1-information/whos-who/whos-who-a/marko-asmer/ Marko Asmer – F1Fanatic]. F1Fanatic.co.uk, 4 December 2007. Asmer went on to make his car racing debut in 2003 and raced in British Formula Ford for team JLR. He scored six wins that season and finished in second place in the Formula Ford festival. Apart from a brief participation in the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup in 2003, Asmer's career was henceforth focused on Formula Three in Britain and Japan. He made his British series début in 2004 with Hitech Racing and, apart from a move to Japan in 2006, he has remained with the team in the years since. He became a championship title contender on his return to the British series in 2007, led the points standings for most of the season, and secured the title at Croft with three races remaining.Asher, Richard. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/62198 "Asmer takes title"] From autosport.com, 9 September 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2007. His participations in All-Japan F3 have been confined to one and a half seasons with Three Bond Racing in 2006 and 2007, the latter of which was limited by competing in Britain.[http://www.speedsportmag.com/race_driver_biography.php?rddwahl=a&driver=2663 Race driver database] From speedsport.com. Retrieved 9 September 2007.

In 2008 Asmer was BMW Sauber's second test driver alongside Christian KlienNoble, Jonathan. [https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/64015/bmw-plan-shootout-for-test-role "BMW plan shoot-out for test role"] From autosport.com, 17 November 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2020. and competed in seven of ten rounds in the GP2 Series for FMS International.[http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/190599/asmer-joins-gp2-series/ Asmer joins GP2 series] From gp2.gpupdate.net. Retrieved 30 January 2011.

Retirement

Following the conclusion of the 2008 GP2 season Asmer parted ways with Fisichella Motor Sport and was unable to find a new team in GP2 for the 2009 season. Due to new rules restricting the amount of testing Formula 1 teams could carry out in-season he also lost his role as test and reserve driver for the BMW Formula 1 Team.Ovidiu Panzariu. [https://www.autoevolution.com/news/testing-ban-leaves-asmer-di-grassi-without-jobs-3475.html Testing Ban Leaves Asmer and Di Grassi Without Jobs] Autoevolution.com, 23 January 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2020. With no competitive race seat for the 2009 season Asmer became a test and reserve driver in Superleague Formula series.[http://formula-1.updatesport.com/magazine/article/Stars-of-Tomorrow-Where-are-they-now/1262350527.html Stars of Tomorrow – Where Are They Now?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924145647/http://formula-1.updatesport.com/magazine/article/Stars-of-Tomorrow-Where-are-they-now/1262350527.html|date=24 September 2011}}. Update F1, 1 January 2010.

On 8 April 2010 Toivo Asmer, the father of Marko Asmer, announced that Marko had ended his career in motorsport he had no race seat or test/reserve driver role for the 2010 season, and lack of funding meant that his son's career was finished.[http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/232047/asmer-career-is-over-says-father/ Asmer Career is over says Father]. GP Update, 8 April 2010. Despite this Asmer made a quick return to the cockpit the following week when he tested for the Atech team in a GP3 Series test session in Barcelona.[http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/232502/asmer-time-is-running-out/ Asmer – Time is Running Out]. GP Update, 15 April 2010.

Return to competitive racing

In February 2011 Asmer returned to motorsport when he tested a British Formula 3 car for the Double R Racing team at Silverstone, during which he set competitive times.[http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/253489/asmer-tests-for-double-r-at-silverstone/ Asmer Tests for Double R at Silverstone]. GP Update, 25 February 2011 Staying with Double R Asmer finally returned to competitive racing when he competed in the Pau Grand Prix on 21–22 May 2011. Asmer qualified 10th[http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2011/05/wittmann-takes-pole-position-at-pau/ Wittmann takes Pole Position at Pau]. The Checkered Flag, 21 May 2011 and after a bad start found himself in last place,[https://www.autosport.com/f3/news/91635/wittmann-dominates-pau-gp Wittmann Dominates Pau Grand Prix]. Autosport.com, 22 May 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2020. but showed good race pace and overtaking nous to finish 7th.[https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2011/05/wittmann-scores-dominant-pau-grand-prix-win/ Wittmann Scores Dominant Pau Grand Prix Win]. The Checkered Flag, 22 May 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2020.

Following his return to racing Asmer was interviewed by Autosport.com and revealed that he had spent his time out of professional motorsport "testing some cars, doing karting and ... doing some driver coaching".[https://www.autosport.com/f3/news/91569/q-and-a-asmer-on-his-f3-return Q & A: Asmer on his F3 Return] Autosport.com, 21 May 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2020. He went on to say that he had no firm plans for the future, although he did want to take part in the Macau Grand Prix. Asmer also said that he would welcome a return to racing "if something good comes up", although a full-time return to British F3 would not interest him.

Despite these claims it was announced on 28 July 2011 that Asmer would return to British Formula 3, again racing a Dallara-Mercedes for the Double R team at the Spa-Francorchamps round.[http://www.motorstv.com/car/single-seater/f3/28072011/former-champ-asmer-returns-british-f3 Former Champ Asmer Returns to British F3 for Spa] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824021632/http://www.motorstv.com/car/single-seater/f3/28072011/former-champ-asmer-returns-british-f3|date=24 August 2011}}. MotorsTV.com, 28 July 2011. Asmer qualified 18th (of 28 cars) for Race One at Spa, but then scored Double R's best qualifying result of the season, lining up second on the grid for the Feature Race. Asmer failed to finish in Race One[http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-results/5509/race-1-british-f3-spa-francorchamps-2011/ Race 1 Results – British F3 Spa]. GpUpdate.net, 30 July 2011 or Two,[http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-results/5510/race-2-british-f3-spa-francorchamps-2011/ Race 2 Results – British F3 Spa]. GpUpdate.net, 30 July 2011. but drove solidly to finish sixth in the Feature Race.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20200110211124/https://www.automobilsport.com/race-categories--24,91959,Merhi--Buller-star-in-Spa-curtain-closer,news.htm Merhi & Buller Star in Spa Curtain Closer]}}. Formula3.co, 30 July 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2020. However, his status as an invitational driver meant that he was not eligible to score championship points for this weekend.Ben Anderson. [https://www.autosport.com/f3/news/93456/merhi-takes-double-spa-pole Roberto Merhi Takes Double Pole Position for British F3 Races at Spa]. Autosport.com, 29 July 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2020. During this weekend it was also announced that Asmer had sponsorship in place to take part in the 2011 Macau Grand Prix,[http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93420 Marko Asmer to return to British Formula 3 Championship at Spa with Double R]. Autosport.com, 28 July 2011 where he would drive a Dallara-Mercedes for a three-man Double R Racing team, alongside GP3 champion Valtteri Bottas and current GP3 Series racer Mitch Evans.Mark Foley. [https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2011/10/entry-list-reveals-merhi-nasr-bottas-stanway-to-contest-2011-macau-gp/ Entry List Reveals Merhi, Nasr, Bottas, Stanway to Contest 2011 Macau GP] The Checkered Flag, 6 October 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2020.

In an interview with Autosport carried out over the Macau Grand Prix weekend Asmer reiterated his desire to get back into racing full-time, and said his future may lie in DTM.{{cite news|url=https://www.autosport.com/f3/news/96254/asmer-aims-to-revive-career-in-macau|title=Marko Asmer hopes to revive career in Macau GP|website=www.Autosport.com|date=16 November 2011|access-date=10 January 2020}}

Return to regular racing

In recent years Asmer has returned to actively racing in competitive international motorsport. He raced as part of a four-man team alongside Formula 2 race winner Kazim Vasiliauskas, driving a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 in the 2014 24 Hours of Spa with the GT Russian Team. He also competed in several rounds of the ADAC GT Masters.{{cite news|url=https://www.autosport.com/gt/news/115082/asmer-to-race-mrs-mclaren-at-spa|title=Ex-F1 test driver Marko Asmer to race McLaren in Spa 24 Hours|publisher=www.Autosport.com|date = 21 July 2014|access-date=10 January 2020}} Asmer continued to race for GT Russian Team, taking part in the 2015 Blancpain GT Series (the successor to FIA GT1 World Championship), with his best result being a 7th-place finish in the main race in the final round in Zandvoort. He also raced in the top A6 category of the Dubai 24 Hour, again for the GT Russia Team.{{cite web|url=https://www.fans24hour.org/2014-results.html|title=Result of 24H – Race|publisher =24hseries.com|date=21 July 2014|access-date=10 January 2020}}

Motorsport management

Since summer 2020 Marko Asmer is the manager of Estonian racing driver Jüri Vips.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/formula-regional-european-championship/news/vips-super-formula-mugen-2020/4813716/|title=Vips adds Formula Regional Europe to 2020 programme|publisher =motorsport.com|date=29 July 2020|access-date=4 August 2020}}

Racing record

File:Marko Asmer 2008 Goodwood.jpg at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed.]]

File:Marko Asmer 2008 GP2 Silverstone.jpg at the Silverstone round of the 2008 GP2 Series season.]]

=Career summary=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center" !Season !Series !Team name !Races !Poles !Wins !Points !Position
rowspan="3"\|2003 \|align=left\| Formula Renault V6 Eurocup \|align=left\| SRTS \|2 \|0 \|0 \|6 \|19th
align=left\| British Formula Ford \|align=left\| Panasonic Batteries Racing Team \|20 \|1 \|2 \|252 \|11th
align=left\| Formula Ford Festival \|align=left\| Hitech Racing \|1 \|0 \|0 \|N/A \|style="background:#DFDFDF;"\|2nd
rowspan="5"\| 2004 \|align=left\| British Formula 3 International Series \| rowspan="4" align=left\| Hitech Racing \|24 \|0 \|0 \|87 \|10th
align=left\| Formula 3 European Cup \|1 \|0 \|0 \|N/A \|7th
align=left\| Macau Grand Prix \|1 \|1 \|0 \|N/A \|11th
align=left\| Masters of Formula 3 \|1 \|0 \|0 \|N/A \|16th
align=left\| Bahrain Superprix \|align=left\| Carlin Motorsport \|1 \|0 \|0 \|N/A \|6th
rowspan="2"\|2005 \|align=left\| British Formula 3 International Series \| rowspan="2" align=left\| Hitech Racing \|22 \|2 \|0 \|163 \|4th
align=left\| Masters of Formula 3 \|1 \|0 \|0 \|N/A \|7th
rowspan="2"\|2006 \|align=left\| Japanese Formula 3 Championship \|align=left\| ThreeBond \|18 \|0 \|1 \|124 \|7th
align=left\| Macau Grand Prix \|align=left\| Hitech Racing \|1 \|1 \|0 \|N/A \|13th
rowspan="4"\|2007 \|align=left\| British Formula 3 International Series \| rowspan="3" align=left\| Hitech Racing \|22 \|13 \|11 \|293 \|style="background:#FBFFBF;" \|1st
align=left\| Macau Grand Prix \|1 \|1 \|0 \|N/A \|4th
align=left\| Masters of Formula 3 \|1 \|0 \|0 \|N/A \|10th
align=left\| Japanese Formula 3 Championship \|align=left\| ThreeBond \|8 \|0 \|0 \|31 \|10th
rowspan="2"\|2008 \|align=left\| GP2 Series \|align=left nowrap\| Fisichella Motor Sport International \|12 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|28th
align=left\| Formula One \|align=left\| BMW Sauber \|colspan=5\|Test driver
2009 \|align=left\| Superleague Formula \| \|align=center colspan=5\|Test driver
2010 \|align=left\| Austria Formula Renault Cup \|align=left\| Team Scuderia Nordica \|1 \|1 \|1 \|20 \|15th
rowspan="2"\|2011 \|align=left\| FIA Formula 3 International Trophy \| rowspan="2" align=left\| Double R Racing \|5 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|NC
align=left\| Macau Grand Prix \|1 \|0 \|0 \|N/A \|19th
rowspan="3"\|2014 \|align=left nowrap\| Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro-Am \| rowspan="2" align=left\| GT Russian Team \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0
align=left\| Blancpain GT Sprint Series \|4 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|NC
align=left\| ADAC GT Masters \|align=left\| MRS GT-Racing \|10 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|NC
rowspan="5"\|2015 \|align=left\| Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro-Am \| rowspan="4" align=left\| GT Russian Team \|5 \|0 \|0 \|47 \|5th
align=left\| Blancpain GT Sprint Series \|11 \|0 \|0 \|8 \|21st
align=left\| 24H Series - A6 \| \| \| \| \|
align=left\| Dubai 24 Hour \|1 \|0 \|0 \|N/A \|5th
align=left\| Super GT - GT300 \|align=left\| Team Up Garage with Bandoh \|2 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|NC
2017-18 \|align=left\| Asian Le Mans Series - LMP2 \|align=left\| Eurasia Motorsport \|2 \|1 \|0 \|16 \|8th

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

!Season

!Series

!Team name

!Races

!Poles

!Wins

!Points

!Position

rowspan="3"|2003

|align=left| Formula Renault V6 Eurocup

|align=left| SRTS