Sergey Yuryevich Zlobin (Russian: Серге́й Ю́рьевич Зло́бин, IPA: [sɪrˈɡʲej ˈjʉrʲjɪvʲɪdʑ ˈzlobʲɪn]; born 29 May 1970) is a Russian racing driver, who competed twice in the Le Mans 24h Endurance Race alongside being a test driver for Minardi.

Sergey Zlobin
NationalityRussia Russian
Full nameSergey Yuryevich Zlobin (Серге́й Ю́рьевич Зло́бин)
Born (1970-05-29) May 29, 1970 (age 54)
Moscow, Russian SFSR
Racing licence FIA Bronze
Years active2001-2014

Career

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The SMP Racing car which Zlobin, alongside Mika Salo and Anton Ladygin used in the 2014 Le Mans 24h

Zlobin began racing in 1996 at the later age of 26, and took part in several competitions, such as Danian Cup in rallycross. In 1998, he made a switch to single-seater racing, initially competing in Russian Formula Three Championship and Euro Formula 3000 for several years.[1]

In August 2002, he was announced as a test driver for the Minardi Formula One team, becoming the first Russian to test a Formula 1 car. His signing was a part of the sponsorship deal that Minardi made with Gazprom, brokered by Oksana Kosachenko. However, Gazprom paid only 2 million dollars out the promised 9 million during the season, which led to the contract breaking down.[2] After a one-year hiatus, Zlobin returned to motorsport in 2004, and continued the testing programme with Minardi.[3]

Zlobin competed at Le Mans twice, in 2005 and 2014. He competed in a number of GT and Endurance racing series, including the FIA GT Championship, Blancpain Endurance Series and European Le Mans Series.

Personal life

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On 24 September 2007, Zlobin survived a car bomb which had been planted in his Mercedes-Benz G500. The explosion caused minor injuries to Zlobin's legs, but he was able to get out of the vehicle himself to call police.[4]

Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2001 Euro Formula 3000 Championship ADM Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2002 Euro Formula 3000 Championship B&C Competition 6 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Formula One Minardi Test driver
2004 FIA GT Championship - GT Graham Nash Motorsport 3 0 0 0 0 1 50th
JMB Racing 3 0 0 0 0
Euro Formula 3000 Championship NBC Group 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Formula One Minardi Test driver
2005 24 Hours of Le Mans Intersport Racing/Cirtek Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 48th
3000 Pro Series CEK Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 22nd
2006 FIA GT Championship BMS Scuderia Italia 8 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2013 Blancpain Endurance Series SMP Racing 5 0 0 0 0 1 32nd
European Le Mans Series - LMP2 SMP Racing 3 0 0 0 9 28 12th
2014 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 SMP Racing 8 1 0 0 6 146 1st
European Le Mans Series - GTE SMP Racing 5 2 0 0 3 85 1st
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 SMP Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 12th

24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2005   Intersport Racing
  Cirtek Motorsport
  Juan Barazi
  Bastien Brière
Courage C65-AER LMP2 30 DNF DNF
2014   SMP Racing   Anton Ladygin
  Mika Salo
Oreca 03R-Nissan LMP2 303 37th 12th

References

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  1. ^ "В Москве взорван автомобиль гонщика Сергея Злобина". Kommersant (in Russian). 24 August 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Drivers take need for speed to Formula 1". Russia Beyond. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Zlobin to continue Minardi's F1 testing". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 10 August 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  4. ^ F1 News > Former F1 test driver survives bomb attack
Sporting positions
Preceded by FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Drivers
2014
Succeeded by