Romain Grosjean had a brilliant 2011 season, dominating both the GP2 Series and the winter’s GP2 Asia Series to become a double champion.
The results set up the Frenchman's return to F1 with Lotus in 2012. Grosjean previously made the step up to motor racing’s highest echelon for the second half of 2009 after a similarly strong start to that GP2 season. But the timing was poor as he faced a baptism of fire against team-mate Fernando Alonso.
He stepped back to AutoGP in 2010, duly winning the title before doing the same in GP2 Asia. Then, facing a very strong field in the 2011 GP2 Series he reached the podium ten times including five visits to the top step. There were some shaky moments on his return to the top flight, but he still took three F1 podiums in 2012.
Grosjean holds dual French/Swiss nationality but competes under a French racing licence. He made his Race Of Champions debut in 2011 for Team France in partnership with Sébastien Ogier, reaching the semi-final.
The French pair went one step further in 2012 before Grosjean had his day of days. In the individual Race Of Champions he beat Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher in quick succession, then defeated Tom Kristensen in the Grand Final to become Champion of Champions.
Career Highlights
- 2011 GP2 Series and GP2 Asia Champion
- Ten GP2 podiums in 2011 including five wins
- Made his Formula 1 debut for Renault in 2009
Other Achievements
2010 AutoGP champion
2009 GP2 Asia champion
2007 F3 Euro Series champion
ROC Highlights
- Years contested: 2011, 2012
2012: Individual Champion of Champions; ROC Nations Cup finalist for Team France