Michael Schumacher Profile
Day of birth: 03/01/1969Place of birth: Hürth-Hermülheim (D)
Nationality: German
Residence: Switzerland
Marital status: Married to Corinna
Children: Gina Maria, Mick
World Championships: 7
GP started: 270
GP wins: 91
Podium finishes: 154
Pole positions: 68
Fastest laps: 76
Points: 1,441
Biography:
Michael Schumacher drove in his first kart race at the age of five. Although father Rolf was not enthusiastic about his son's expensive kart ambitions, the boy was able to pursue his career because from time to time he received financial support from local sponsors. Rolf had built his first kart and registered him in the Kart-Club Kerpen-Horrem.His enthusiasm for kart-driving continued to grow. In 1980, the members of the Kerpen kart club built a new track in Manheim, a suburb of Kerpen. Michael and his brother Ralf spent every free minute there. Michael was still too young for championship races and he had to wait until 1983 for his German kart licence. In 1984, he promptly became German Junior Champion. In 1985 he won the German Junior Championships again and also came second in the Junior World Championships in Le Mans.
In 1986 he took part in the German Senior Kart Championships for the first time, and at his very first attempt came third in the final rankings. The same thing happened at the European Senior Championships. In 1987 he had his greatest triumph yet, Michael Schumacher won both the German and the European Senior Kart Championships.
In 1988, Michael Schumacher embarked on his first season in a Formula racing car. Finally he was able to show what he had learnt in his kart days. However, the step-up proved to be difficult, he had to turn down an offer of a test drive in a Formula Ford, because he didn't have the necessary DM 500 required to start.
At the next test opportunity, he signed a contract with the Euphra Formula Ford team. Team manager Jurgen Dilk also secured Michael Schumacher a place in Formula Konig. Here Michael showed his natural talent and easily won nine races out of ten, which also assured him of the championship.
In Formula Ford 1600 he was placed sixth in the final rankings, and in the European Championships he came second behind the Finn Mika Salo.
Pictures:
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher