Christian Ebbesvik
Encyclopedia
Thor–Christian Ebbesvik (born 17 December 1983 in Bergen
) is a professional racing driver
from Norway
.
. He finished the year in sixth place and also took part in the end–of–season Formula Ford Festival
at Brands Hatch
, where he failed to finish. He continued in the series in 2006, improving to fourth place in the championship. He took four podium finishes during the season, including a win at Thruxton
. He again took part in the Formula Ford Festival, this time competing in the Duratec class, but once again retired from the race.
, Ebbesvik moved up to Formula Three
, competing in the Spanish championship for the British
outfit Team West–Tec
. He was entered into the secondary Copa de España class, which featured older–generation Dallara
chassis. At the end of the season, he finished tied on points with Peru
vian driver Juan Manuel Polar, but took the title by virtue of taking more second places than Polar after they scored seven class wins each.
For 2008
, he remained with Team West–Tec in Spanish Formula Three, beginning the year with a Dallara F306 chassis before switching to a newer F308 model after the first two rounds of the season. In August of that year, Ebbesvik dominated the most prestigious race of the season to win on the Valencia Street Circuit
, with the race acting as a support event for the Formula One
. He took a further race win at Jerez in October to finish the championship in tenth place, one position ahead of team–mate Jonathan Legris
.
Ebbesvik continued in the championship for a third year in 2009
, when the series was renamed as the European F3 Open Championship. He finished the season in fifth place, taking a single victory at Donington Park
with further podium places at Magny–Cours
and Monza
.
at Spa–Francorchamps
. Sharing an Oreca FLM09 with Swiss
driver Christophe Pillon, he finished both races in fifth position.
to sportscar racing in 2010, racing for Team Bruichladdich
in the LMP2
class of the Le Mans Series
and Le Mans 24 Hours
, sharing a Ginetta
–Zytek
GZ09SB/2 with Tim Greaves and Karim Ojjeh
. In the second event of the season, the Spa 1000 km
, Ebbesvik was injured after an accident involving a slower GT car
, sustaining a fractured vertebra which subsequently ruled him out of the following month's Le Mans 24 Hours. Two overall fifth–place finishes, including anchoring the team to its best ever podium position in LMP2, at the following two rounds in Portimão
and Hungaroring
ensured that he finished the year in fifth position in the LMP2 standings. Indeed at the season finale at Silverstone, Ebbesvik managed to take the Zytek into the LMP2 lead for the first time ever, although the car was subsequently crashed by Ojjeh.
Ebbesvik was due to continue with the team in 2011
, competing alongside Ojjeh and team newcomer Gary Chalandon, but was surprisingly and unexpectedly replaced by Tom Kimber–Smith
a few weeks before the start of the season. He did, however, sign a last–minute deal to race in the season–opening event at Paul Ricard
, where he finished 10th overall in an LMP2 class Oreca
03–Judd
entered by Race Performance.
For the second round of the season, the Spa 1000km, Ebbesvik was set to graduate to the premier LMP1 class, racing a Lola–Judd for the Guess Racing Europ team, but the entry was withdrawn as the car would not be ready in time for the event.
For the final two rounds of the 2011 Le Mans Series, Ebbesvik signed to Boutsen Energy to lead their LMP2 campaign, replacing their previous pro driver, Nicolas de Crem, in the team's Oreca-Nissan.
car when he tested for Racing Engineering
at the Jerez circuit. The following year, he once again took part in GP2 series testing, driving for Racing Engineering, Arden International
, DAMS
and Fisichella Motor Sport at both Paul Ricard
and Jerez. He had intended to race in GP2 in 2009
, but could not find the required budget to compete. In November 2008, Ebbesvik also took part in Formula Renault 3.5 Series testing, driving for both Comtec Racing
and Fortec Motorsport
in Valencia.
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
) is a professional racing driver
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Formula Ford
Ebbesvik began his racing career in 2005, driving for Team JLR in the British Formula Ford ChampionshipBritish Formula Ford Championship
The Formula Ford Championship single seater category is a motor sport category which gives many racing drivers their first step into car racing after karting...
. He finished the year in sixth place and also took part in the end–of–season Formula Ford Festival
Formula Ford Festival
The Formula Ford Festival is an annual meeting of Ford powered single seat racing cars which is held at the end of the British racing season, at the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit in the county of Kent, in Southern England...
at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, where he failed to finish. He continued in the series in 2006, improving to fourth place in the championship. He took four podium finishes during the season, including a win at Thruxton
Thruxton Circuit
Thruxton Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England which is used to host a number of motorsport events including British Touring Cars and Formula 3 racing....
. He again took part in the Formula Ford Festival, this time competing in the Duratec class, but once again retired from the race.
Formula Three
In 20072007 Spanish Formula Three season
The 2007 Spanish Formula Three season was the 7th Spanish Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on March 31, 2007 and ended on November 11 after sixteen races, with Spanish driver Máximo Cortés crowned champion.-Teams and drivers:...
, Ebbesvik moved up to Formula Three
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
, competing in the Spanish championship for the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
outfit Team West–Tec
Team West-Tec
Team West-Tec F3 is a motor racing team owned by Gavin Wills and John Miller. The team currently operates from a base in Corby in the United Kingdom and is the most successful team in the history of the European Formula 3 Open series.-History:...
. He was entered into the secondary Copa de España class, which featured older–generation Dallara
Dallara
Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993...
chassis. At the end of the season, he finished tied on points with Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian driver Juan Manuel Polar, but took the title by virtue of taking more second places than Polar after they scored seven class wins each.
For 2008
2008 Spanish Formula Three season
The 2008 Spanish Formula Three season was the 8th Spanish Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on May 3, 2008 and ended on November 2. The Spanish driver Germán Sánchez was crowned champion, two points ahead of runner-up Nelson Panciatici, who was driving an older 'B-class' car...
, he remained with Team West–Tec in Spanish Formula Three, beginning the year with a Dallara F306 chassis before switching to a newer F308 model after the first two rounds of the season. In August of that year, Ebbesvik dominated the most prestigious race of the season to win on the Valencia Street Circuit
Valencia Street Circuit
The Valencia Street Circuit is a semi-permanent street circuit in Valencia, Spain which will host the Formula One European Grand Prix for seven years. The first race meeting on the circuit was held over the 23/24 August 2008 weekend, with Felipe Massa winning the main event, the European Grand...
, with the race acting as a support event for the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
. He took a further race win at Jerez in October to finish the championship in tenth place, one position ahead of team–mate Jonathan Legris
Jonathan Legris
Jonathan Legris is a British racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula BMW UK, the British Formula Three Championship and the European F3 Open Championship.-External links:* *...
.
Ebbesvik continued in the championship for a third year in 2009
2009 European F3 Open season
The 2009 European F3 Open season was the 9th Spanish Formula Three Championship season and 1st with the new championship denomination. It began on May 2, 2009 in Valencia and will end on November 1 in Montmeló after 16 rounds in five different countries. The main Class A title was claimed by Bruno...
, when the series was renamed as the European F3 Open Championship. He finished the season in fifth place, taking a single victory at Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
with further podium places at Magny–Cours
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a motor racing circuit located in central France, near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers, some 250 km from Paris...
and Monza
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a race track located near the town of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. The circuit's biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, which has been hosted there since the sport's inception....
.
Formula Le Mans Cup
In May 2009, Ebbesvik contested the opening two races of the new Formula Le Mans Cup2009 Formula Le Mans Cup season
The 2009 Formula Le Mans Cup season was the inaugural, and ultimately only, season of the Formula Le Mans Cup, a support series for the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. All competitors utilized the Oreca FLM09 spec prototype. The season featured ten races held over six events from 10...
at Spa–Francorchamps
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race. It is also home to the all Volkswagen club event, 25 Hours of Spa, run by the Uniroyal Fun Cup. It is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its...
. Sharing an Oreca FLM09 with Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
driver Christophe Pillon, he finished both races in fifth position.
Le Mans Series
Ebbesvik made a full time switch from single–seatersOpen wheel car
Open-wheel car, formula car, or often single-seater car in British English, describes cars with the wheels outside the car's main body and, in most cases, one seat. Open-wheel cars contrast with street cars, sports cars, stock cars, and touring cars, which have their wheels below the body or fenders...
to sportscar racing in 2010, racing for Team Bruichladdich
Bruichladdich
Bruichladdich Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery on the Rhinns of the isle of Islay. It is one of eight distilleries on the island, and until the recent opening of Kilchoman farm distillery, the only independent one....
in the LMP2
Le Mans Prototype
A Le Mans Prototype is a type of sports prototype race car most notably used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series...
class of the Le Mans Series
2010 Le Mans Series season
The 2010 Le Mans Series season was the seventh season of Automobile Club de l'Ouest's Le Mans Series. It featured five events between 11 April and 12 September 2010. For the first time in 2010, Formula Le Mans cars were run in a fifth class in the series, running alongside Le Mans Prototype cars...
and Le Mans 24 Hours
2010 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 78th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, also known as the Grand Prix of Endurance. The race took place on 12–13 June 2010 at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France, and was organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . Fifty-six cars participated in the...
, sharing a Ginetta
Ginetta Cars
Ginetta Cars is a Garforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire based British specialist builder of racing and sports cars.-20th century:Ginetta was founded in 1958 by the four Walklett brothers in Woodbridge, Suffolk...
–Zytek
Zytek
Zytek Group Ltd is an automotive and motorsport company founded in 1981 and based in Fradley and Repton, United Kingdom. Zytek Group has two main division: Zytek Automotive, which is based at Fradley, Staffordshire; and Zytek Engineering, which is based at Repton, Derbyshire.-Zytek Automotive:Zytek...
GZ09SB/2 with Tim Greaves and Karim Ojjeh
Karim Ojjeh
Karim Ojjeh is a Saudi Arabian businessman and racing driver. He is the younger brother of Mansour Ojjeh and son of Akram Ojjeh. He is a director of TAG Finance S.A.. In his spare time he races in the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.-Racing career:Between 1991 and 1994, Ojjeh attended...
. In the second event of the season, the Spa 1000 km
2010 1000 km of Spa
The 2010 1000 km of Spa was the second round of the 2010 Le Mans Series season. It took place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on 9 May 2010.-Qualifying:...
, Ebbesvik was injured after an accident involving a slower GT car
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
, sustaining a fractured vertebra which subsequently ruled him out of the following month's Le Mans 24 Hours. Two overall fifth–place finishes, including anchoring the team to its best ever podium position in LMP2, at the following two rounds in Portimão
2010 1000 km of Algarve
The 2010 1000 km of Algarve was the thirs round of the 2010 Le Mans Series season. It took place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve on 17 July 2010.-Qualifying:...
and Hungaroring
2010 1000 km of Hungaroring
The 2010 1000 km of Hungaroring was the fourth round of the 2010 Le Mans Series season. It took place at the Hungaroring, Hungary on 22 August 2010. It was the first time a Le Mans Series event will take place at the Hungarian track....
ensured that he finished the year in fifth position in the LMP2 standings. Indeed at the season finale at Silverstone, Ebbesvik managed to take the Zytek into the LMP2 lead for the first time ever, although the car was subsequently crashed by Ojjeh.
Ebbesvik was due to continue with the team in 2011
2011 Le Mans Series season
The 2011 Le Mans Series season was the eighth season of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's Le Mans Series. The series began on 3 April with the 6 Hours of Castellet and ended after five rounds on 25 September. It is a series for Le Mans Prototype and Grand Touring style cars broken into 4 classes...
, competing alongside Ojjeh and team newcomer Gary Chalandon, but was surprisingly and unexpectedly replaced by Tom Kimber–Smith
Tom Kimber-Smith
Tom Kimber-Smith is a British race car driver.He was the 2003 British Formula Ford Champion. He is the son of Geoff Kimber-Smith.-Career summary:-Complete Formula Three Series results:...
a few weeks before the start of the season. He did, however, sign a last–minute deal to race in the season–opening event at Paul Ricard
2011 6 Hours of Castellet
The 2011 6 Hours of Castellet was the opening round of the 2011 Le Mans Series season. It will take place at Circuit Paul Ricard on April 3, 2011...
, where he finished 10th overall in an LMP2 class Oreca
Oreca
Oreca is a French racing team, founded and run by Hugues de Chaunac, former team manager of F1 team AGS. Oreca has had success in many areas of motorsport including Formula Three where drivers including Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite and Jean Alesi have won the French Formula Three Championship for...
03–Judd
Judd (engine)
Judd is a name brand of engines produced by Engine Developments Ltd., a company founded in 1971 by John Judd and Jack Brabham in Rugby, Warwickshire, England...
entered by Race Performance.
For the second round of the season, the Spa 1000km, Ebbesvik was set to graduate to the premier LMP1 class, racing a Lola–Judd for the Guess Racing Europ team, but the entry was withdrawn as the car would not be ready in time for the event.
For the final two rounds of the 2011 Le Mans Series, Ebbesvik signed to Boutsen Energy to lead their LMP2 campaign, replacing their previous pro driver, Nicolas de Crem, in the team's Oreca-Nissan.
Other series
In September 2007, Ebbesvik became the first ever Norwegian to drive a GP2GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
car when he tested for Racing Engineering
Racing Engineering
Racing Engineering is a Spanish racing team founded in 1999 by Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón. The team's headquarters are located in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, near Jerez, in a state-of-the-art factory, where all car preparation and race team organization is based....
at the Jerez circuit. The following year, he once again took part in GP2 series testing, driving for Racing Engineering, Arden International
Arden International
Arden International is an GP2 Series team, created by Christian Horner.Initially created to raise up Horner's career, and then reliant on sponsorship from Viktor Maslov, the team began to get good results and was the best team of Formula 3000 in its last years, showing new talents to motorsport...
, DAMS
DAMS
Driot-Arnoux Motorsport is a racing team from France, involved in many areas of motorsports. DAMS was founded in 1988 by Jean-Paul Driot and former Formula One driver René Arnoux. It is headquartered near Le Mans, only 2 km from the Bugatti Circuit.- History :The year after its foundation,...
and Fisichella Motor Sport at both Paul Ricard
Circuit Paul Ricard
The Paul Ricard Circuit is a motorsport race track built at Le Castellet, near Marseille, France, in 1969 with finance from the eccentric drinks magnate Paul Ricard, who created what essentially became Pernod Ricard...
and Jerez. He had intended to race in GP2 in 2009
2009 GP2 Series season
The 2009 GP2 Series season was the fifth GP2 Series season. The season consisted of twenty races at ten rounds, beginning on May 9 at the Circuit de Catalunya and finishing on September 20 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. The Algarve circuit hosted its first GP2 weekend, and was the only...
, but could not find the required budget to compete. In November 2008, Ebbesvik also took part in Formula Renault 3.5 Series testing, driving for both Comtec Racing
Comtec Racing
Comtec Racing is a motor racing team based in the United Kingdom. It competes in two championships — Formula Renault and World Series by Renault.-History:The team started out in Formula Ford before moving to Formula Renault UK...
and Fortec Motorsport
Fortec Motorsport
Fortec Motorsport Ltd. is a motor-racing team that races in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, the British Formula Three Championship, and several junior formulae categories at a British and pan-European level...
in Valencia.
Career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | British Formula Ford Championship British Formula Ford Championship The Formula Ford Championship single seater category is a motor sport category which gives many racing drivers their first step into car racing after karting... |
Team JLR | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 321 | 6th |
| Formula Ford Festival Formula Ford Festival The Formula Ford Festival is an annual meeting of Ford powered single seat racing cars which is held at the end of the British racing season, at the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit in the county of Kent, in Southern England... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | NC | ||
| 2006 | British Formula Ford Championship British Formula Ford Championship The Formula Ford Championship single seater category is a motor sport category which gives many racing drivers their first step into car racing after karting... |
Team JLR | 20 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 357 | 4th |
| Formula Ford Festival Formula Ford Festival The Formula Ford Festival is an annual meeting of Ford powered single seat racing cars which is held at the end of the British racing season, at the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit in the county of Kent, in Southern England... – Duratec Class |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | NC | ||
| 2007 | Spanish Formula Three Championship – Copa de España 2007 Spanish Formula Three season The 2007 Spanish Formula Three season was the 7th Spanish Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on March 31, 2007 and ended on November 11 after sixteen races, with Spanish driver Máximo Cortés crowned champion.-Teams and drivers:... |
Team West–Tec Team West-Tec Team West-Tec F3 is a motor racing team owned by Gavin Wills and John Miller. The team currently operates from a base in Corby in the United Kingdom and is the most successful team in the history of the European Formula 3 Open series.-History:... |
14 | 7 | 3 | ? | 12 | 118 | 1st |
| Spanish Formula Three Championship 2007 Spanish Formula Three season The 2007 Spanish Formula Three season was the 7th Spanish Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on March 31, 2007 and ended on November 11 after sixteen races, with Spanish driver Máximo Cortés crowned champion.-Teams and drivers:... |
14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16th | ||
| 2008 | Spanish Formula Three Championship – Copa de España 2008 Spanish Formula Three season The 2008 Spanish Formula Three season was the 8th Spanish Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on May 3, 2008 and ended on November 2. The Spanish driver Germán Sánchez was crowned champion, two points ahead of runner-up Nelson Panciatici, who was driving an older 'B-class' car... |
Team West–Tec Team West-Tec Team West-Tec F3 is a motor racing team owned by Gavin Wills and John Miller. The team currently operates from a base in Corby in the United Kingdom and is the most successful team in the history of the European Formula 3 Open series.-History:... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 12th |
| Spanish Formula Three Championship 2008 Spanish Formula Three season The 2008 Spanish Formula Three season was the 8th Spanish Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on May 3, 2008 and ended on November 2. The Spanish driver Germán Sánchez was crowned champion, two points ahead of runner-up Nelson Panciatici, who was driving an older 'B-class' car... |
17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 10th | ||
| 2009 | European F3 Open Championship 2009 European F3 Open season The 2009 European F3 Open season was the 9th Spanish Formula Three Championship season and 1st with the new championship denomination. It began on May 2, 2009 in Valencia and will end on November 1 in Montmeló after 16 rounds in five different countries. The main Class A title was claimed by Bruno... |
Team West–Tec Team West-Tec Team West-Tec F3 is a motor racing team owned by Gavin Wills and John Miller. The team currently operates from a base in Corby in the United Kingdom and is the most successful team in the history of the European Formula 3 Open series.-History:... |
16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 64 | 5th |
| Formula Le Mans Cup 2009 Formula Le Mans Cup season The 2009 Formula Le Mans Cup season was the inaugural, and ultimately only, season of the Formula Le Mans Cup, a support series for the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. All competitors utilized the Oreca FLM09 spec prototype. The season featured ten races held over six events from 10... |
Hope Polevision Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 20th | |
| 2010 | Le Mans Series – LMP2 2010 Le Mans Series season The 2010 Le Mans Series season was the seventh season of Automobile Club de l'Ouest's Le Mans Series. It featured five events between 11 April and 12 September 2010. For the first time in 2010, Formula Le Mans cars were run in a fifth class in the series, running alongside Le Mans Prototype cars... |
Team Bruichladdich Bruichladdich Bruichladdich Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery on the Rhinns of the isle of Islay. It is one of eight distilleries on the island, and until the recent opening of Kilchoman farm distillery, the only independent one.... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 5th |
| 2011 | Le Mans Series – LMP2 2011 Le Mans Series season The 2011 Le Mans Series season was the eighth season of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's Le Mans Series. The series began on 3 April with the 6 Hours of Castellet and ended after five rounds on 25 September. It is a series for Le Mans Prototype and Grand Touring style cars broken into 4 classes... |
Race Performance | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7* | 6th* |
- * Season in progress.