Alexandros Margaritis

Alexandros (Alex, Alexander) Margaritis Greek: Αλέξανδρος Μαργαρίτης; (born 20 September 1984) is a racing driver who is best known for competing in the German-based Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters touring car championship. Prior to that, his career had focused on formula single seater racing in Europe. Margaritis has dual nationality as a result of his place of birth and Greek parentage.

Alexandros Margaritis
Margaritis in 2011.
Nationality Greek
 German
via dual nationality
Born (1984-09-20) 20 September 1984
Bonn, West Germany
ADAC GT Masters
Years active2011-12
TeamsTeam Heico
Liqui Moly Team Engstler
Starts32
Wins4
Poles2
Fastest laps1
Best finish1st in 2011
Previous series
2010
2004, 08
2005-2007
2003-2004
2002
2002
2001-2002
FIA GT1 World Championship
FIA GT Championship
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
Formula 3 Euro Series
Formula Renault 2.0 Germany
Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup
Formula BMW ADAC
Championship titles
2011ADAC GT Masters

Karting and formula racing

Margaritis had his first experience of karting in 1996, and in 1997, he competed in the ICA Junior class, in which he secured the championship runner-up position. He spent the next two seasons competing in the International Junior class in Germany, finishing 4th overall in 1999. In the following year, Margaritis made his single seater formula debut in the Formula BMW ADAC championship. In 2001, he achieved three podium finishes and one pole position on the way to 6th in the championship standings.

After one season in German Formula Renault, in which he finished 7th overall, Margaritis made his Formula Three debut in the first season of the new Formula 3 Euro Series. He achieved one podium finish and two pole positions during the first year and retained a place in the series in 2004.

Touring cars

Margaritis driving for Mercedes-Benz (Persson Motorsport) in the 2006 DTM season.

In 2005, Margaritis moved from formula racing to touring cars when an opportunity arose in one of Europe's most high-profile touring car championships. He was signed by Mücke Motorsport, which was making the same transition between disciplines.

In a 2004-specification AMG Mercedes C Klasse, Margaritis did not achieve any points finishes; his best finish was 9th place at Spa-Francorchamps. He then moved to Persson Motorsport as the third driver in its 2006 line-up alongside Mathias Lauda and Jean Alesi. He was classified 11th in the standings, with a total of 11 points, and achieved a best finish of 5th position in the season's first race. Persson retained his services in 2007 alongside Paul di Resta and Gary Paffett. He finished 10th in the overall drivers standings with 16 points, achieving two 4th places.

On 27 February 2008, Margaritis announced his intention to leave the DTM and seek a position in another championship or category, citing as a primary factor the handicap of competing in year-old cars against machinery of factory specification.[1]

Grand Tourers

In 2008, Margaritis switched his focus to GT cars: He competed in the 24 Hours of Spa for Phoenix Racing. The Corvette C6.R failed to finish the race and was classified 37th.

After one season without racing in major series, Margaritis participated in the newly created FIA GT1 World Championship.[2] He drove for Triple H Team Hegersport and Phoenix Racing. In spite of not participating in all events he finished 7th in the overall standings.

Margaritis switched to the ADAC GT Masters in 2011. He and his partner Dino Lunardi won the driver's championship in their BMW ALPINA B6 GT3. In 2012 Margaritis switched to Team Heico to share a car with Lance David Arnold. The pairing finished 18th in their Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. Heico hired Magaritis for the 2011 and 2012 editions of the 24 Hours Nürburgring as well.

2013 saw Margaritis getting a part-time drive for H&R Spezialfedern GmbH & Co in the VLN.

Racing record

Complete Formula 3 Euro Series results

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

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2003 MB Racing Performance Dallara F303/021 Spiess-Opel HOC
1

8
HOC
2

25
ADR
1

9
ADR
2

27
PAU
1

7
PAU
2

DNS
NOR
1

16
NOR
2

Ret
LMS
1

23
LMS
2

9
NÜR
1

10
NÜR
2

14
A1R
1

DSQ
A1R
2

17
ZAN
1

14
ZAN
2

13
HOC
1

2
HOC
2

4
MAG
1

26
MAG
2

4
13th 23
2004 Opel Team KMS Dallara F303/021 Spiess-Opel HOC
1

13
HOC
2

8
EST
1

6
EST
2

15
ADR
1

6
ADR
1

9
PAU
1

DSQ
PAU
2

DSQ
NOR
1

16
NOR
1

20
MAG
1

4
MAG
2

Ret
13th 18
AB Racing Performance NÜR
1

23
NÜR
2

13
ZAN
1

11
ZAN
2

10
BRN
1

Ret
BRN
2

16
HOC
1

7
HOC
2

5

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos Points
2005 Mücke Motorsport AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2004 HOC
Ret
LAU
Ret
SPA
9
BRN
17†
OSC
18
NOR
11
NÜR
16
ZAN
13
LAU
14
IST
11
HOC
Ret
19th 0
2006 Persson Motorsport AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2005 HOC
5
LAU
6
OSC
20†
BRH
8
NOR
Ret
NÜR
15
ZAN
Ret
CAT
8
BUG
7
HOC
13†
11th 11
2007 Persson Motorsport AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2006 HOC
4
OSC
8
LAU
Ret
BRH
9
NOR
7
MUG
Ret
ZAN
8
NÜR
13
CAT
4
HOC
7
10th 16
  •  — Retired, but was classified as he completed 90% of the winner's race distance.

Complete GT1 World Championship results

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos Points
2010 Triple H Team Hegersport Maserati ABU
QR

5
ABU
CR

9
SIL
QR

NC
SIL
CR

6
BRN
QR

13
BRN
CR

Ret
PRI
QR

8
PRI
CR

3
SPA
QR
SPA
CR
7th 84
Phoenix Racing/Carsport Corvette NÜR
QR

2
NÜR
CR

3
ALG
QR

3
ALG
CR

3
NAV
QR

11
NAV
CR

8
INT
QR

6
INT
CR

3
SAN
QR

18
SAN
CR

12

Sources

References

  1. Elizalde, P. "Margaritis leaves DTM", Autosport.com, 27 February 2008. Retrieved on 27 February 2008.
  2. "FIA Entry List" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Peter Kox
Albert von Thurn und Taxis
ADAC GT Masters Champion
2011 with:
Dino Lunardi
Succeeded by
Sebastian Asch
Maximilian Götz
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