Just who is Jose Maria Lopez? - By Paul_Murtagh

According to reports surfacing on Saturday, Argetine driver Jose Maria Lopez is on the brink of signing for the new USF1 team. Reports state that he had agreed a deal with the team, and has around 80% of his funding secured to make his signing public. But just who is the driver ready to take one of the seats?

Very little is known about Jose Maria, especially in European racing. I recall seeing him race in the final Formula 3000 season against future Formula 1 drivers Robert Doornbos, Patrick Freisacher and that year's champion Vitantonio Liuzzi. Lopez did impress, scoring in 7 of the 10 races that season including two podiums finishes at the majestic Monaco and ever-challenging Spa-Francorchamps. He finished the season in 6th place, and was signed to the DAMS team for the new GP2 Series in 2005. Another strong season in 2005 seen him finish 9th in the final standings, and he replaced Adam Carroll at Super Nova for 2006. His success in F3000/GP2 also led to few test outings with Renault F1, giving him some experience of an F1 car, but a disappointing campaign in GP2 followed, with only two podiums in 21 races, compared to Carroll's 3 wins the previous year, meant he finished down in 10th in the final standings. And that was where his GP2 career, and what looked like his hopes of an F1 drive, ended.

For many it would be a tumble down the racing series from here, but in all fairness to Lopez he has kept at it. In 2007 he raced in the American Le Mans series and impressed once again, and also began racing in the TC2000, Argentina's premier Touring Car Championship. Lopez secured the TC2000 title in 2008, alongside racing the FIA GT championship on occassions, and defended his title in 2009, putting him back in the international racing frame.

So if Lopez secures the drive with USF1 what can we expect? In terms of single seater experience we can only go by his record in F3000 and GP2. From what I can remember he was a driver very similar to Nick Heidfeld - nothing spectacular but very consistent. He can put in steady performances and bring the car home, which is something that USF1 will be looking for in their maiden season. And as we seen in F3000 he can score consistent points when he has the machinery. On top of that his Argentine nationality, which has a rich F1 following due to the previous success of Juan Manuel Fangio and Carlos Reutermann, should help to attract sponsors to the team, plus give Bernie another market to which to flog a race in exchange for millions of dollars.

Lopez would be a good move for the team, and should help give the team a solid first campaign.

Comments

[flood1]

Does anyone have any info on how much seat time he had driving the Renault F1 car? he spent a lot of seat time in other renault driver development programs.

The one thing I remember about him is that in F3000 and GP2 he had a massive number of retirements. A look at the records indicates that he retired 21 times in 54 races. I don't know if those were mechanical or crashing out. Does anyone know?

[Paul_Murtagh]

There is very little evidence on his website ( http://www.pechitolopez.com.ar/ ) about his previous F1 testing experience so I had to dig through the internet to find most of my facts. I know he tested for Renault on three occassions in 2006, including the tests at Monza and Jerez, and also at Barcelona in 2005 but I am unsure of how many days or laps he done on each occassion.

Just for the record, he was very outspoken when he wasn't named amongst the official Renault test drivers in 2007, causing the end of his relationship with the team. Renault went with Nelsinho Piquet and Lucas Di Grassi instead, who Lopez joined the Renault Driver Development programme with in 2006

[sportsman]

Interesting choice.The comments regarding retirements,boy he has had a lot. For what reason, I cannot find any information.I remember him from his his F3000 racing,the very few times that I have seen him race.Steady rather than spectacular is how I would describe him.Never really looked that fast but certainly consistent.
I also cannot find any record of F1 seat time at Renault.
It will be interesting to see how well he does. My only concern is that as he has no record for us to compare, we will little idea,if the car is slow, whether it's the car or the driver at fault.

[flood1]

Racing career summary
The following numbers are a summary of the more detailed information available in the Career details. Seasons spanning over two years (for example 2009-10 championships) have their race results accounted for in the year the championship ends (2010 in the previous example).

2009 35 races. 9 wins. 16 podiums. 19 pole positions. 15 fastest race laps.

2008 31 races. 4 wins. 5 podiums. 5 pole positions. 3 fastest race laps.

2007 12 races. 3 wins. 5 podiums. 2 pole positions. 3 fastest race laps.

2006 21 races. 0 wins. 3 podiums. 1 pole position. 1 fastest race lap.

2005 22 races. 0 wins. 2 podiums. 0 pole positions. 0 fastest race laps.

2004 14 races. 0 wins. 2 podiums. 1 pole position. 2 fastest race laps.

2003 18 races. 5 wins. 12 podiums. 8 pole positions. 8 fastest race laps.

2002 16 races. 5 wins. 10 podiums. 6 pole positions. 4 fastest race laps.

2001 10 races. 0 wins. 0 podiums. 1 pole position. 1 fastest race lap.

[ENRIQUE VASS]

HE PERFORMED DURING 2005 AND 2006 SEASON
ALL THE TEST OF THE R-26 RENAULT F1 OF
FERNANDO ALONSO.
MOST OF THE TESTS WERE MADE IN SILVERSTONE
AND ALSO HE WAS DRIVING IN SOME COMMUNITY
TEST

[MATIAS]

MARIA JOSE LOPEZ INFORMATION SO THAT IT WILL KNOW

Date and place of birth:
April 26, 1983, Río III, Córdoba
Resides: Cordoba, Argentina
Marital Status: Single
Nationality: Argentina

Carrera Sport

European 2001 FR
2002 FR 2000 Winner
European FR (4th, with 4 races less)
European CAMPEON 2003 FR V6
2004 F3000 (2 Podiums)
Driver Development Program from Renault F1
2005 GP2 Series
1 wins (Barcelona) and 3 podiums.
Driver Development Program from Renault F1
2006 GP2 Series
1 Pole, 3 podiums.
Driver Development Program from Renault F1
Test driver for Renault F1 Team

2007 TC2000 (Arg) Honda Racing
5th with 3 runs less.
2008 TC2000 (Arg) Honda Racing CHAMPION
TOURISM ROAD (Arg) s Racing Team

2009 TC2000 (Arg) Team Petrobras CHAMPION
TOURISM ROAD (Arg) s Racing Team SUBCHAMPION
TOP RACE V6 (Arg) AS CHAMPION

[flood1]

Thanks Enrique and Matias. I appreciate the information. I feel favorably toward Jose Maria Lopez(Matias, Maria Jose Lopez is not a race car driver). He is like many drivers who have the talent but have had no opportunity in F1. I hope and trust that he will do well.

I consider all Americans should be considered for an American team, whether they be South, Central, or North American, they are all Americans as I see things.

Jose fits well with a team from North carolina, USA. I hope him and the team well. I know he has talent, let's hope he can race well and has a good car.

[Cesar]

what do you mean with "jose is not a race car driver"? In fact, he feels the car like no other driver. he takes very short time to adapt himself to the car. and he doesn´t feel satisfied with his performace if he only brings the car home.

Since, he went back to argentina he managed to reach the victory very soon and this year he won 2 of 3 championships he was racing in (and in the other he reached second place!). in spite of the competitive Argentina´s motorsport

I agree that he is quite talented and had no opportunity in F1, but he has adquired many things in Argentina (as well as madurity, consistency,and other psychological aspects) so I think he is now at his best moment ever.

[ricardo]

Jose Maria ' Pechito ' Lopez is a talented, very winning and devilishly rapid driver, it was tester of Renault F1, it has many kilometers there, it belonged tester to the champion car R26, of Fernando Alonso who values it as the best collaborator. But it returned to Argentina for lack of economic support that now it has. Excellent pilot and big person, Windsor and Anderson define it as the ideal pilot
This year triumphed with all the Argentine categories and it comes in entire growth.
Skilful, temperamental, winning and very fast, surely not only will be our pride, but it will represent with passion the colors of the American Eagle

[flood1]

I think you misunderstood me. When I googles Lopez I got Maria lopez the cabaret dancer Maria Lopez. I had typed Maria Jose rather than Jose Maria. When I said Maria was not a race driver I was talking about her. It was joke.

I do respect Jose and his skills and I am happy to have him in F1. I look forward to seeing him race for USF1.

[Juan]

Jose Maria ¨pechito¨Lopez is the best Argentine pilot of last decades, the time he will be a witness of his aptitude to guide a F1