Ricardo Zunino

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Zunino.jpg
If only his driving was as good as his hair.
Details
Name Ricardo Héctor Zunino
Born 13th Apr 1949
Nationality Flag of Argentina svg.png Argentine
F1 Teams
Flag of France svg.png Ligier Gitanes

Ricardo Zunino (born 13th April 1949 in San Juan, Argentina) is a Formula One driver who drove for Ligier in 1979.

Before Formula One

Ricardo Zunino made a rather late start to international motorsport, not making his first Formula Two appearances until 1977, by which time he was 28 years old. Despite this, he was an attractive signing for March and BMW factory teams, owing to his excellent funding from the Automobile Club of Argentina. Over the course of 1977 and 1978, he recorded five points finishes, but also failed to qualify for the Estoril race. Many drivers with better results have failed to reach Formula One, but most of those who didn't make it were not nearly so well-funded as Zunino.

Formula One Career

The Ligier team was always on the lookout for ways to make money, and in the 1979 season their scheme was to sign the high-paying Zunino for their second seat, with most of the team's resources being funnelled to Jacques Laffite's side of the garage. Zunino's performances did not stand out for the right reasons: at the European Grand Prix, Laffite claimed the team's first points of the season. Zunino, meanwhile did not finish the race - not due to a retirement, but due to not even qualifying to start it. By this time, Zunino's contract had been amended to run in only nine of the season's seventeen races in the 26 car.

In spite of this poor start to his career, there were expected to be plenty of suitors for his signature in the 1980 season as several lower-ranked Formula One teams were feeling the financial squeeze of the FISA-FOCA War.



Results

Season Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pts Pos
1979 Flag of France svg.png Ligier Gitanes Ligier-Matra ARG
14
BRA
Ret
RSA
15
USW
10
ESP
Ret
BEL MON EUR
DNQ
SMR FRA GBR GER
ENT
AUT
ENT
NED
ENT
ITA CAN USA 0* -