Modena, so talented

Stefano Modena, born May 12, 1963, is a former Italian racing driver, who raced in Formula 1 from 1987 to 1992 for the Brabham (pictured above taken in 1990), EuroBrun, Tyrrell and Jordan teams, and scored 17 championship points in 70 Grand Prix starts.

In 1987, Modena joined the Onyx Formula 3000 team, won three races, and took the championship. His speed was undeniable, and many saw him as a future Formula 1 champion.

After a one-off appearance for Brabham at the 1987 Australian Grand Prix, he tested for Benetton, but missed out on good drives and had to settle for a modest EuroBrun for the 1988 season.

Modena found a seat at Brabham in 1989, alongside Martin Brundle, and it was there that he confirmed the high expectations placed upon him. Frequently qualifying in the top 10 in his car equipped with Pirelli tires but powered by the modest Judd engine, Modena achieved the feat of finishing third in Monaco (photo below).

The 1990 season at Brabham was difficult, as the team’s new owner, Joachim Luthi, was imprisoned for fraud, and Modena could only manage fifth place at the United States Grand Prix, the only significant result of the season for the financially struggling team. The Italian then decided to accept Ken Tyrrell’s offer for the 1991 season.