Marcel Albers
Encyclopedia
Marcel Albers was a Dutch
motor racing
driver.
Having progressed through the ranks of the Dutch
formulae, including a Formula Ford
championship win in 1989, Albers moved to the Opel Euroseries for 1990, going on to finish a creditable sixth in the championship. A move to Formula Three
for 1991
followed and again impressed, finishing fifth in the championship. He also finished third at the prestigious Marlboro Masters
, finishing behind Scotsman
David Coulthard
and Spain
's Jordi Gené
. These performances had installed Albers to be one of the title favourites for the 1992 British championship. After a win in the opening round at Donington Park
, Marcel retired from the second round at Silverstone
and then qualified on the front row for round three.
Marcel was killed at Thruxton
in Hampshire
, during round 3 of the 1992 British Formula Three season
. Having recovered from earlier gearbox troubles, he was running behind his team-mate Elton Julian
on Woodham Hill, just before the braking area to the Club chicane, when he hit the back of Julian's car. His Ralt
cartwheeled across the track, and smashed into the safety fencing, where he lay stricken in his car for an hour. Having been extracted from his car, he died on the way to the medical centre. He posthumously finished 7th in the race (which had been stopped after the accident) and 11th in the championship.
He was no relation to fellow Dutch
motor racing
driver Christijan Albers
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
motor racing
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:...
driver.
Having progressed through the ranks of the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
formulae, including a Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
championship win in 1989, Albers moved to the Opel Euroseries for 1990, going on to finish a creditable sixth in the championship. A move 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...
for 1991
1991 British Formula Three season
The 1991 British Formula Three season was the 41st British Formula Three Championship, it was won by Brazilian Rubens Barrichello. The season started on March 17 at Silverstone and ended on October 13 at Thruxton following sixteen races.-Drivers and Teams:...
followed and again impressed, finishing fifth in the championship. He also finished third at the prestigious Marlboro Masters
Masters of Formula 3
The Masters of Formula 3 is a Formula Three race held annually, usually at the Circuit Park Zandvoort in the Netherlands. Due to noise restrictions in the Zandvoort area, the 2007 and 2008 races were held in the Belgian circuit of Zolder...
, finishing behind Scotsman
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
David Coulthard
David Coulthard
David Marshall Coulthard, MBE, , sometimes known as DC, is a British former Formula One racing driver from Scotland.Coulthard, who was born in Dumfries and raised nearby in Twynholm, made his Formula One debut in 1994 and won 13 Grands Prix in a career spanning 15 seasons...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's Jordi Gené
Jordi Gené
Jordi Gené Guerrero is a racing driver, who competed in the WTCC driving for SR-Sport in the 2010 WTCC season...
. These performances had installed Albers to be one of the title favourites for the 1992 British championship. After a win in the opening round 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...
, Marcel retired from the second round at Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
and then qualified on the front row for round three.
Marcel was killed 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....
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, during round 3 of the 1992 British Formula Three season
1992 British Formula Three season
The 1992 British Formula Three season was the 42nd British Formula Three Championship, won by Brazilian Gil de Ferran. The season started on March 22 at Donington Park and ended on October 4 at Silverstone following sixteen races...
. Having recovered from earlier gearbox troubles, he was running behind his team-mate Elton Julian
Elton Julian
Elton Julian is a professional racing driver and racing team owner born in the Canary Islands of Spain. He grew up in Ecuador and the United States. He speaks English, French and Spanish fluently.-Early career:...
on Woodham Hill, just before the braking area to the Club chicane, when he hit the back of Julian's car. His Ralt
Ralt
RALT was a manufacturer of single-seater racing cars, founded by ex-Jack Brabham associate Ron Tauranac after he sold out his interest in Brabham to Bernie Ecclestone. Ron and his brother had built some specials in Australia in the 1950s under the RALT name...
cartwheeled across the track, and smashed into the safety fencing, where he lay stricken in his car for an hour. Having been extracted from his car, he died on the way to the medical centre. He posthumously finished 7th in the race (which had been stopped after the accident) and 11th in the championship.
He was no relation to fellow Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
motor racing
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:...
driver Christijan Albers
Christijan Albers
Christijan Albers is a Dutch racing driver. After success in the DTM he drove in Formula One from until the 2007 British Grand Prix, shortly after which he was dropped by his Spyker F1 team...
.
