Markus Niemelä
| Markus Niemelä | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |
 Finnish
|
| Born | March 20, 1984 |
| Atlantic Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2008 |
| Current team | Jensen MotorSport |
| Car no. | 1 |
| Former teams |
Brooks Associates Newman Wachs Racing |
| Starts | 24 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Poles | 1 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 1st in 2008 Atlantic Championship season |
| Championship titles | |
| 1998 2002 2004 2004 2004 2008 |
Finland Junior Champion Formula A Finland Champion Formula Ford STCC Champion Formula Ford Sweden Champion Formula Ford Finland Champion Champ Car Atlantic Champion |
Markus Niemelä (born 20 March 1984 in Rauma) is a Finnish race car driver, currently in the Atlantic Championship series in North America. He is the 2008 series champion after winning the final round at Road Atlanta. His international racing career has been volatile due to a number of injuries he has sustained during his career.
In 1998, Niemelä won the Finnish junior karting championship with maximum points. In 2001, injury of left arm in a snowboarding accident before the start of season prevented participation in the Formula A European/World Championship. He won the one race where he participated, driving practically one-handed against top Finnish karters (ICA).
The following year, Niemelä was the Finnish champion in Formula A. He set the fastest laptime in at least one heat of every European Championship round. He also qualified in World Cup final but technical problems caused a retirement in pre-final and final. In 2003, because of an accident in a European championship race, Niemelä could not drive for three months. He returned for the World Championships to finish fifth.
Markus became the Finnish and Swedish Champion and the winner of STCC Formula Ford championship. Led Scandinavian Championship before the last round but finished 2nd overall because did not participate on the last round. Nominated as a ”Young Champion” by Finnish ASN. Tested for Formula BMW and was fastest at several unofficial tests.
Markus finished 7th in championship points with one victory and one pole position. Many crashes resulting to damaged car during the season (12 out of 20 races). He was also 5th in UK Formula Renault Winter Championship, 3rd best qualifier of the championship (3rd, 4th, 9th and 3rd in qualifyings). Markus drove Formula Renault first time ever in free practice of first race meeting.
One victory, fastest lap and pole position. Multiple Driver Of The Day Awards - awarded by Renault Sport. Markus finished 7th in the final standings with best positions 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2x4th.
In Formula Renault Eurocup, he did 6 starts with best result of second at Hungaroring, while in the Asian series, he did 4 starts with 2 wins and one second place. His 3rd win of the 4 races was later penalized from jumping the start. He joined BCN Competicion in the GP2 Series to replace Sakon Yamamoto who moved to F1 during the season. During his first race, also at the Hungaroring, he was forced to retire when his left shoulder unexpectedly dislocated after 11 laps, which also prevented him from taking part in the second race of the meeting.
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Wikipedia