Name: Norberto Fontana
Date of Birth: January 20, 1975
Nationality: Argentina
Machine: Volkswagen Amarok
Dakar Debut: 2011 Buenos Aires (Argentina) to Buenos Aires. Did not finish
Best Dakar: 2011, crashed out on third stage
2012 Dakar Number: #368
After dominating the Formula Three scene in the 1990s, Norberto Fontana followed in the footsteps of Argentina’s greatest ever motoring superstar Juan Fangio and raced in Formula One.
Fontana may have only raced four F1 grands prix, but he has many fond memories of his time behind the wheel of the Red Bull Sauber Petronas car.
After Formula Three and Formula One, a successful career in Argentina’s Touring Car Championship has followed. When the Dakar Rally relocated to his homeland, Norberto was not about to miss out on motorsport’s toughest challenge.
Despite having his preparations cut short, Norberto got his McRae ProDakar Buggy to the start line in Buenos Aires for the 2011 edition of the desert classic. Unfortunately the race only lasted three days for El Gigante de Arrecifes.
Now, Norberto returns for a second attempt at the Dakar in a specially remoulded Volkswagen Amarok. He will be assisted in the race by his co-pilot Gerardo Scicolone.
Fast Fact: Norberto was at the centre of one of the most talked-about Formula One season finales of all time in 1997. Jacques Villeneuve still feels Norberto blocked him off to help Michael Schumacher win the championship for Ferrari.
Best quote: “I definitely want to do better than last year. We’ve been practising with our car in the dunes of El Nihuil in the Argentinian province of Mendoza. We have been getting a good level of performance out of the Amarok and getting over the dunes has not been a problem at all. The Amarok we will use in the race has been given some very special modifications to get it prepared for the race, but the engine we’ll use is the same as the regular one. I’m confident this car will help me prove the point I want to make at this year’s race.”
Norberto on his planned dune landings
Gustavo Cherro/Red Bull Content Pool
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