Christian Danner


Christian Danner is a former racing driver from Germany.

Career

Formula Two and Formula 3000

The son of car safety expert Max Danner, Danner started his motor racing career immediately after leaving school in 1977. After having raced in the Renault 5 cup Danner moved to the European Formula Two Championship for the season. During his years in Formula Two Danner was a constant frontrunner. He scored several podiums but failed to win a race. Danner also set the F2 lap record of the current configuration of the old Nürburgring. Danner moved to the Formula 3000 championship in 1985 which replaced the Formula Two championship. With four wins Danner became the inaugural Formula 3000 championship winner.

Formula One

saw Danner also made his Formula One debut with Zakspeed. He made two starts but failed to finish any races due to mechanical failures. For he signed with minor Italian outfit Osella but struggled to make an impression with the car and its under powered Alfa Romeo engine. After failing to finish a race in the first six races, Danner moved to Arrows with their powerful BMW turbo engines and scored his first point at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Danner returned to Zakspeed in. The car was both un-competitive and often unreliable and when Danner finished a race it was always outside the points. After having raced touring cars in 1988, Danner returned to Formula one in with Rial Racing. The car was highly uncompetitive and a fourth place due to a high attrition rate at the 1989 United States Grand Prix was the only highlight of the year. Danner was fired after the Portuguese Grand Prix after only qualifying for four races that year.

Touring cars

After his Formula one career Danner became a regular competitor in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft. He made his debut in 1988 after failing to find a ride in Formula one. Danner made an impressive start to his touring car career as he won both races at the Hockenheimring driving a BMW M3. After only making sporadic appearances in 1989 and 1990, Danner made a full-time return to the series in 1991. He had a disappointing season and only had one points scoring finish. In 1993 Danner had his best season. He scored six podium finishes and finished fifth in the points standings. He also won a race at the Non-Championship round in Donington Park. Danner returned to winning ways in 1995 when he won a race at the Norisring. Danner kept racing touring cars through 1997.
In 1991 he also started in one British Touring Car Championship race at Thruxton driving a BMW M3.

Other racing

Danner competed in Japanese Formula 3000 in 1990 driving for Leyton House's F3000 team. He scored 4 points and was ranked 14th. In the nineties Danner made several appearances in the Indy Car World Series. His best finish was a seventh place at Homestead Miami in 1995. He also took part in the now defunct series, Grand Prix Masters.

Media career

After his racing career Danner became an F1 commentator for the channel RTL in his native Germany.

Motorsports career results

Career summary

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910111213Pts
Cassani Racing TeamRalt RT1BMWTHRHOCNÜR
DNS		VALPAUSILZOLMUGZANPERMISHOCNC0
March RacingMarch 812BMWSIL
10		HOC
9		THR
5		NÜR
10		VAL
Ret		MUG
16		PAU
Ret		PER
Ret		SPA
Ret		DON
14		MIS
Ret		MAN
11		18th2
March RacingMarch 822BMWSIL
Ret		HOC
Ret		THR
Ret		NÜR
9		MUG
DNS		VAL
13		PAU
Ret		SPA
9		HOC
Ret		DON
7		MAN
6		PER
5		MIS
4		14th6
Onyx RacingMarch 832BMWSIL
3		THR
13		HOC
2		NÜR
3		VAL
10		PAU
5		JAR
9		DON
5		MIS
Ret		PER
7		ZOL
4		MUG
10		5th21
BS AutomotiveMarch 842BMWSIL
7		HOC
6		THR
2		VAL
3		MUG
3		PAU
4		HOC
Ret		MIS
6		PER
Ret		DON
3		BRH
10		5th23

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Complete International Formula 3000 results

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789101112Pts
1985BS AutomotiveMarch 85BCosworthSIL
4		THR
6		EST
9		NÜR
C		VAL
3		PAU
1		SPA
3		DIJ
1		PER
3		ÖST
16		ZAN
1		DON
1		1st51

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearTeamChassisEngine12345678910111213141516Pts
1985West Zakspeed RacingZakspeed 841Zakspeed 1500/4 1.5 L4tBRAPORSMRMONCANDETFRAGBRGERAUTNEDITABEL
Ret		EUR
Ret		RSAAUSNC0
1986Osella Squadra CorseOsella FA1GAlfa Romeo 890T 1.5 V8tBRA
Ret		ESP
Ret		SMR
Ret		MON
DNQ		CAN
Ret		18th1
1986Osella Squadra CorseOsella FA1HAlfa Romeo 890T 1.5 V8tBEL
Ret		18th1
1986Barclay Arrows BMWArrows A8BMW M12/13 1.5 L4tDET
Ret		FRA
11		GBR
Ret		GER
Ret		AUT
6		ITA
8		POR
11		MEX
9		AUS
Ret		18th1
1986Barclay Arrows BMWArrows A9BMW M12/13 1.5 L4tHUN
Ret		18th1
1987West Zakspeed RacingZakspeed 861Zakspeed 1500/4 1.5 L4tBRA
9		SMR
7		NC0
1987West Zakspeed RacingZakspeed 871Zakspeed 1500/4 1.5 L4tBEL
Ret		MON
EX		DET
8		FRA
Ret		GBR
Ret		GER
Ret		HUN
Ret		AUT
9		ITA
9		POR
Ret		ESP
Ret		MEX
Ret		JPN
Ret		AUS
7		NC0
1989Rial RacingRial ARC2Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8BRA
14		SMR
DNQ		MON
DNQ		MEX
12		USA
4		CAN
8		FRA
DNQ		GBR
DNQ		GER
DNQ		HUN
DNQ		BEL
DNQ		ITA
DNQ		POR
DNQ		ESPJPNAUS21st3

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

YearTeamCar123456789101112131415161718192021222324Pts
1988AlpinaBMW M3ZOL
1
26		ZOL
2
8		HOC
1
1		HOC
2
1		NÜR
1
Ret		NÜR
2
14		BRN
1
34		BRN
2
Ret		AVU
1
11		AVU
2
Ret		MFA
1
4		MFA
2
6		NÜR
1
9		NÜR
2
3		NOR
1
24		NOR
2
Ret		WUN
1
24		WUN
2
26		SAL
1
C		SAL
2
C		HUN
1
11		HUN
2
13		HOC
1
12		HOC
2
7		11th151
1989Linder RennsportBMW M3ZOL
1
17		ZOL
2
4		HOC
1		HOC
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		MFA
1		MFA
2		AVU
1		AVU
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		NOR
1
22		NOR
2
8		HOC
1		HOC
2		DIE
1		DIE
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		HOC
1
13		HOC
2
7		21st46
1990Schnitzer MotorsportBMW M3ZOL
1		ZOL
2		HOC
1		HOC
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		AVU
1		AVU
2		MFA
1		MFA
2		WUN
1		WUN
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		NOR
1
Ret		NOR
2		DIE
1		DIE
2		NÜR
1		NÜR
2		HOC
1
18		HOC
2
14		NC0
1991MM-DiebelsBMW M3ZOL
1
23		ZOL
2
6		HOC
1
18		HOC
2
14		NÜR
1
16		NÜR
2
12		AVU
1
Ret		AVU
2
DNS		WUN
1
22		WUN
2
Ret		NOR
1		NOR
2		DIE
1		DIE
2		NÜR
1
Ret		NÜR
2
12		ALE
1
14		ALE
2
Ret		HOC
1
29		HOC
2
19		BRN
1		BRN
2		DON
1		DON
2		21st6
1993Schübel EngineeringAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiZOL
1
2		ZOL
2
2		HOC
1
8		HOC
2
6		NÜR
1
6		NÜR
2
Ret		WUN
1
4		WUN
2
5		NÜR
1
6		NÜR
2
2		NOR
1
3		NOR
2
3		DON
1
1		DON
2
2		DIE
1
7		DIE
2
Ret		ALE
1
6		ALE
2
4		AVU
1
4		AVU
2
2		HOC
1
Ret		HOC
2
5		5th161
1994Schübel EngineeringAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiZOL
1
10		ZOL
2
9		HOC
1
6		HOC
2
5		NÜR
1
2		NÜR
2
2		MUG
1
3		MUG
2
Ret		NÜR
1
4		NÜR
2
8		NOR
1
Ret		NOR
2
11		DON
1
9		DON
2
DSQ		DIE
1
7		DIE
2
5		NÜR
1
Ret		NÜR
2
DNS		AVU
1
10		AVU
2
18		ALE
1
5		ALE
2
Ret		HOC
1
10		HOC
2
6		9th88
1995Schübel EngineeringAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiHOC
1
16		HOC
2
9		AVU
1
8		AVU
2
3		NOR
1
1		NOR
2
6		DIE
1
8		DIE
2
Ret		NÜR
1
12		NÜR
2
14		ALE
1
7		ALE
2
4		HOC
1
15		HOC
2
16		9th48

Complete International Touring Car Championship results

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526Pts
1995Schübel EngineeringAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiMUG
1
Ret		MUG
2
12		HEL
1
1		HEL
2
13†		DON
1
12		DON
2
9		EST
1
15		EST
2
DNS		MAG
1
Ret		MAG
2
13		15th48
1996TV Spielfilm Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 155 V6 TiHOC
1
13		HOC
2
Ret		NÜR
1
9		NÜR
2
10		EST
1
12		EST
2
13		HEL
1
8		HEL
2
Ret		NOR
1
Ret		NOR
2
DNS		DIE
1
15		DIE
2
Ret		SIL
1
10		SIL
2
13		NÜR
1
18		NÜR
2
20		MAG
1
Ret		MAG
2
DNS		MUG
1
12		MUG
2
Ret		HOC
1
7		HOC
2
6		INT
1
3		INT
2
Ret		SUZ
1
2		SUZ
2
7		15th48

Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617181920Pts
1997JAS EngineeringAlfa Romeo 155 TSHOC
1
17		HOC
2
23		ZOL
2
23		ZOL
2
23		NÜR
1
17		NÜR
2
Ret		SAC
1
Ret		SAC
2
Ret		NOR
1
17		NOR
1
Ret		WUN
1
18		WUN
2
Ret		ZWE
1
24		ZWE
2
21		SAL
1
20		SAL
2
21		REG
1
20		REG
1
18		NÜR
1
23		NÜR
1
18		29th37

Complete Japanese Formula 3000 Championship results

YearEntrant12345678910DCPoints
1990Leyton House RacingSUZ
13		FUJ
Ret		MIN
9		SUZ
15		SUG
17		FUJ
Ret		FUJ
10		SUZ
16		FUJ
3		SUZ15th4

American Open-Wheel racing results

PPG Indycar Series

YearTeam1234567891011121314151617RankPoints
1992EuromotorsportSRFPHXLBHINDYDET
18		PORMILNHATOR
16		MCHCLE
16		ROA
16		VAN
21		MDO
19		NAZ
13		LAG
20		39th0
1993EuromotorsportSRFPHXLBHINDYMILDETPORCLE
25		TORMCHNHAROA
11		VANMDONAZLAG
26		31st2
1994Project IndySRFPHXLBHINDYMILDET
12		PORCLE
Wth		TORMCHMDONHAVANROA
12		NAZLAG30th2
1995Project IndyMIA
7		SRFPHXLBHNAZINDYMILDET
22		PORROATORCLEMCHMDONHAVANLAG25th6
1997Payton/CoyneMIASRFLBHNAZRIOGATMILDET
12		POR
27		CLETORMCHMDOROAVAN
23		LAGFON31st1