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Markus Winkelhock is the son of former F1 star, Manfred, who was killed during a Sportscar event at Mosport Park in 1985, in the days were drivers were (contractually) free to contest other race series in addition to their F1 commitments.
In 1998, Markus contested the German Formula König series, progressing to the German Formula Renault series a year later.
In 2000 he switched to the Formula Renault Eurocup, before spending two seasons in German F3 with the Mucke team. It was at this time that his raw pace - similar to that of his father - became apparent, particularly to rival team boss, Colin Kolles, who was to later become team principal at Midland F1 Racing.
For 2003 he moved to the Formula 3 Euroseries, before switching to DTM in 2004, driving the Persson Mercedes.
In 2005 he contested the Formula Renault 3.5 World Series, finishing third overall, driving for the Draco Multiracing USA Team, following three wins and some thrilling battles with Robert Kubica, who subsequently landed the test role with the BMW F1 team.
His performances led to a test drive with Midland F1 Racing in December 2005, and this subsequently led to the German being given the role of test, and reserve, driver with the Russian team in 2006. He was to take part in the Friday test sessions for the team at the Bahrain, Australian, German and Hungarian Grands Prix.
In 2007, with Midland now morphed into Spyker, Markus was retained as test driver. However, with test roles also doled out to Fairuz Fauzy, Giedo van der Garde and Adrian Valles, it was hardly likely that the young German would be getting too many outings.
As he looked ahead, one of four test drivers with a team with a very limited budget, and few real prospects, nothing could have prepared Markus for what was to happen on a wet day in July, a day when he was to make F1 history.
Following the sacking of Christijan Albers, Markus was drafted in for the European GP at the Nurburgring. As the field headed off on the warm up lap, it began to spit with rain, and at that point the decision was made to fit Markus - who was starting from the pitlane - with intermediates.
The race gets underway, and it is chaos. As the front-runners pit, Markus Winkelhock, in his first Grand Prix, and having started from the very back of the grid, is leading.
The race was eventually stopped, such were the conditions, and at the re-start it was Markus who led the field from 'pole position'. The team tried another outrageous gamble, opting to start the German on full wets, convinced that the conditions would change yet again, but they didn't. It was a brave gamble, but the team had already ridden its luck a little too far.
Markus quickly slipped down the lap charts until a hydraulics problem caused a small fire that forced him into retirement after 13 laps. It was over as quickly as it had begun, but for a few glorious laps Markus Winkelhock had led a Grand Prix, had headed Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa et al.
With Spyker in need of sponsorship money, Sakon Yamamoto was drafted in for the remainder of the season, Markus returning to his role as test driver.
It could well be that the 2007 European GP was the start and end of Markus' F1 race career, but at least he has something to tell the grandchildren, at least he can say he led a World Championship Grand Prix, if only for 6 laps, and how many of us can say that?
Statistics - Prior to 2008 Season
Drivers' Titles: 0
Seasons in F1: 1
Grand Prix: 1
Wins: 0
Points: 0
Poles: 0
Fastest Laps: 0
Best result in 2007: DNF (Europe)
Best qualifying 2007: 22nd (Europe)
Worst qualifying 2007: 22nd (Europe)
Average grid position 2007: 22
2007: Out-qualified Adrian Sutil 0 times
2007: Out-qualified by Adrian Sutil 1 time
2007: Completed 13 out of 60 laps (21.67%)
2007: Finished 0 times from 1 start (56%)
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