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Formula 1 Features & Interviews (2006)
F1 Feature - Magical Montagny
25/09/2006
Franck Montagny is a very lucky man. Last winter he left his position as Renault test driver and his Formula One career looked far from certain. In fact, the only entry in his diary was a drive at Le Mans in the summer.
How things change. Just nine months later, he’s one of the most sought after test and third drivers in the F1 pitlane.
First came the call from Super Aguri, who asked him to replace Yuji Ide from the European GP onwards, and then Toyota approached him as well.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Montagny. “Things have turned around for me this year, so I am very pleased. I am working hard and doing a good job.”
Despite driving the three-year-old SA05 off the back of the grid, his seven races with Super Aguri – from the European GP to the French GP inclusive – did much to further build his character. Much of his efforts were focused on designing and building the team’s all-new SA06 chassis.
Montagny’s hard work didn’t pass unnoticed. When he was replaced with Japanese driver Sakon Yamamoto at the German GP, he was kept on as the team’s third driver. And Toyota noticed his good work too.
The possibility of Montagny switching to Toyota in 2007 first arose at the Turkish GP, when Ricardo Zonta announced that he would leave the Cologne-based team at the end of the season. But, before committing Montagny, the Toyota team wanted to try him out, which he did at Silverstone this week.
During his two days behind the wheel of the Bridgestone-shod TF106, Montagny impressed immensely - on Day One, he set lap times just 0.1s slower than Zonta, and on Day Two he was 0.5s faster than six-time race winner Ralf Schumacher. Not even a mechanical failure on the second afternoon – and resultant high-speed spin – could dampen his enthusiasm.
“I have enjoyed my two days with the team,” he said. “The car seems quite sensitive to track conditions, which made it quite difficult to find a good set-up, but once we’d managed this on each day we were able to have a productive time. I think we have found the right choice of Bridgestones for the upcoming races.
“I would be happy to return and drive again for the team, but only once we have signed a contract for me to take over testing duties next year.”
The team was equally enthusiastic. “He made a positive impact over those two days,” said test team manager Gerd Pfeiffer. “We are grateful for his help in preparing the cars for the Chinese and Japanese GPs.”
For now, though, Montagny must turn his attention back to Super Aguri, for whom he will be the third driver at next weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. And there won’t be much time for Chinese whispers because Toyota could announce Montagny in its 2007 driver line-up shortly after.
Franck Montagny is a very lucky man.
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