André François (race car driver)
| André François | |
|---|---|
| Born |
René-François A'Jean (1979-11-14)14 November 1979 Lyon, France |
| Occupation | Race Car Driver |
| Nationality |
 French |
| André François |
|---|
André (René)-François (A'Jean) (November 14, 1979, in Lyon, France) is a French racing driver who took part in the FIA Formula Two Championship.
Career
Early time
It has been said he started his career at age 7, when he took the family car for a joyride. At 13, François began his motorsport career, initially racing his mother's Hillman-Hunter against friends, before graduating to his own at the age of 16. After completing his National Service, François switched his attention to cars. He completed a training course at the Le Mans school, before enrolling at the Magny-Cours racing school. At the same time he registered for the national scholarship competition, which offered the top finisher the prize of an Formula Project Equipe Formula Three car. Duly François qualified for the final race and despite his horrific crash he qualified for the scholarship as a 1st runner-up in the overall standings.
Formula Three
His first season in F3, at the wheel of his prize car, did not go well. He lacked the funds and experience to properly set up and maintain his car. After finding sponsorship for the next season, François traded in his prize car for a more competitive La Filiere car. With his new mount François finally started to win races, and by the end of the season he was a force not to be overlooked.
Formula Two
After winning few Championship races, François joined the works Formula Ford Kent France Formula Two team in 2004, and finished third overall with 164 points, as well as driving in the F2 class of the 2004 German Grand Prix. At the time, Formula Two was an ideal training ground for ambitious drivers, as many top Grand Prix drivers also competed in the F2 class, when their Formula One schedules permitted. In 2006 François finally earned his 1st win; two more were to follow together with a total of 9 podium finishes. He went on to tie with Manuel Béguinot for 2nd place in the 2006 season, both drivers earning 243 points. François enjoyed another good consistent season the following year, scoring 242 points, but finishing 5th in 2007 well short of expectations. He never achieved the heights of the 2006 season, as his extra curricular activities on and off the track via sponsorship and advertisement obligations and charming personality took their toll on his career as he raced only 5 races gaining only 49 points to finish 4th. Some have compared him to the formula one legend 7 time World Champion Michael Schumacher with his over the top no nonsense, aggressive driving skills.
Racing career in detail
| Year | Championship | Position | Points | No. races | No. wins | No. pole positions | No. podiums | No. fastest laps | Car | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Formula Ford 1800 France | 4 | 49 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Van Diemen RF00 | |
| 2011 | Formula Ford 1800 France | 7 | 85 points | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Van Diemen RF00 | |
| 2010 | Formula Ford 1800 France | 5 | 74 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Van Diemen RF00 | |
| 2007 | Formula Ford Kent France | 5 | 242 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Complete results needed | |
| 2006 | Formula Ford Kent France | 3 | 243 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3 | Complete results needed. | |
| 2005 | Formula Ford Kent France | 3 | 107 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Complete results needed. | |
| 2004 | Formula Ford Kent France | 5 | 164 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | Complete results needed. |
Personal life
As talented as François has been and even though he has maintained his personal life, privet his physical charm which has enhanced his advertising success, is also ironically the main reason of his professional inconsistency.