MARTIN PLOWMAN
Birthday: October 3, 1987
Hometown: Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England
Residence: Indianapolis, IN
Nickname: Plowey
Personal Website: http://www.plowey.com
ABOUT MARTIN:
From the moment he first stepped into a kart at the age of eight, Martin Plowman showed race-winning prowess.
Plowey’s second-place finish in the 1999 MSA British Cadet Karting Championship was recognized by renowned talent-spotter Martin Hines, who signed the youngster for his Ford Racing Young Guns team. Plowey repaid that leap of faith by promptly winning the British Formula Yamaha Open title.
After tasting that success, Plowey dominated the 2003 French International Open Championship with four wins and seven podiums in ten events, crediting him as the first Briton and youngest winner of the series. His potential was further acknowledged in 2004 when he was elected as a member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club’s Rising Star program.
Plowey was selected as the sole factory driver for the newly formed Team Zanardi, and once again, he was quick to show results–winning the coveted CIK/FIA Asia Pacific Championship in only the team’s third outing.
Stepping up to single-seaters for 2006, Plowey joined Prema Powerteam and Toyota’s Young Driver Program to contest Formula Renault Italia and the Formula Eurocup series. Finishing an impressive fifth overall in Formula Renault Italia, Plowey was ranked Top Rookie and notched up his first podium at Hockenheim amid an encouraging string of top-six finishes.
Plowey caught the eye of Volkswagen and signed for the closely-fought Formula 3 Euroseries with RC Motorsport for 2008, showing plenty of potential at elite events such as the Zolder F3 Masters. With VW’s blessing, Plowey joined Panther Racing to contest the Indy Lights Series in 2009. A move into Indy Lights was more profound than just a change of class; 2009 would see Plowey relocate to the United States and emerge himself into a year full of learning new tracks, cars, drivers, and of course, American culture.
2009 went by with many high points. Plowey’s most memorable performances came at Long Beach where he battled for the Pole Position in only his second-ever race where he eventually qualified sixth. He also impressed by taking a very strong top-5 in tricky conditions on his very first oval race at Kansas, backing up that result with a solid drive at the Mid-Ohio road course, where he held off strong competition to gift Panther racing their first road course top 5 for nearly two years.
By the close of the season Plowey was invited to drive in a shoot out to compete for a ride with the championship-winning team Andretti Green Racing/AFS at Mid-Ohio. On the day, he successfully outpaced the other drivers and matched the times set by the reigning Indy Lights champion set at the previous race. He was subsequently offered a chance to drive for the team in 2010.
Joining forces with Michael Andretti, Plowey’s 2010 career was even more successful than his rookie year in Indy Lights. He dominated at Mid-Ohio, where he won the Sunoco Pole Award, set the Indy Lights track record, and took the checkered flag for his first Indy Lights victory. His hard work and willingness to learn earned him podium finished at Iowa Speedway and Edmonton, along with a pole position at Chicagoland Speedway. Plowey finished the season in third place in the championship.
The results spoke for themselves – Plowey was ready to move into the IZOD IndyCar Series. During the off-season, Martin and “Team Plowey” worked tirelessly to secure a full-time ride in IndyCar. He tested in January with Dale Coyne Racing, getting up to speed in under 10 laps and continuously leading the time charts. Team owners took notice of Plowey’s abilities in an IndyCar, and by mid-season he had signed to run three races with Sam Schmidt Motorsports.
Plowey once again impressed during his three races in the #17 car at Mid-Ohio, Sonoma, and Baltimore. He earned top-12 finishes at the Grand Prix of Sonoma and the Grand Prix of Baltimore, where he was also the top rookie finisher. His performance at Sonoma earned him the presitgious Firestone Tire-riffic Award for most impressive race performance.
2012 brings great challenges and exciting prospects for the young Brit. Plowey has recently signed with Conquest Racing to drive in the American Le Mans Series. He looks forward to living his dream and continuing his successful career in yet another top racing series.
RESUME
2000
Karting-Formula Yamaha
British Open Champion
- 1st-place finish at Fulbeck Kart Track
Karting – Junior ICA
- Debuted in Junior ICA for the Tropheo Industriale, Parma, Italy, at the end of the season
- 4th Industrial Trophy, Parma, Italy
2001
Karting- Junior ICA
Competed in Italian Open International Championship
- 3 Podium finishes
- 7 Top-5 finishes
- 7th-place finish in South Garda Winter Cup
2002
Karting – Junior ICA
Partial Season
- 2nd-place finish in Coppa di Campeones, Spain
- 2nd-place finish in French Open International Championship, Grand Prix de Salbris
Karting – Formula A
Competed for the final 5 races of the season
- 1 win
- 1 pole position
- 4 Top-5 finishes
- 5 Top-10 finishes
- 1st-place finish in Formula A French Open International Championship, Grand Prix de Varennes
- 3rd-place finish in Formula A French Open International Championship, Grand Prix de Lavelenet
- 5th-place finish CIK/FIA Formula A Asia Pacific Championship (Suzuka-Japan)
- 6th-place finish in the French Open International Championship, Grand Prix de Laval – debut Formula A race
2003
Karting – Formula A
French Open Champion
- Youngest and first British driver ever to win the French Formula A Open International, clinching the title on his 16th Birthday
- 4 wins
- 7 podium-finishes
- 3rd- place finish in the Pre-Final CIK/FIA Formula A Asia Pacific Championship (Note: established comfortable lead in the main final before suffering engine failure on the last lap)
- 3rd-place finish in Formula A Coppa di Campeones, Spain
- 6th-place finish in CIK/FIA Formula A World Kart Championship
2004
Karting – Formula A
CIK/FIA Formula A Asia Pacific Champion (Suzuka, Japan)
- Selected by motorsport legend Alex Zanardi as sole works driver for Team Zanardi, World Championship Karting Team
- Elected as a member of the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) as a Rising Star
- 3rd-place finish at Margutti Memorial Trophy, Italy
- 2nd-place finish at the Italian Open, Jesolo
2005
Karting -Formula A
Note- Martin sustained a major accident in the opening round of the Italian Open International Championship at Lonato, where he suffered a punctured lung. Out of action for two months, Martin spent much of 2005 recovering, competing in selected races.
- 2nd-place finish at Formula A French Open International Kart Championship, Ostricourt
- 7th-place finish at Formula A Italian Open International Kart Championship, Ugento
- 12th-place finish at Formula A Italian Open International Kart Championship, Muro Leccesse
- CIK/FIA Formula A World Kart Championship – ran as high as 8th before suffering engine failure
2006
Formula Renault Italia - Rookie season (Prema Powerteam)
5th in Championship Points
- Rookie of the Year
- Signed by Toyota as part of the ‘Toyota Young Driver Program’
- 1 pole position
- 1 podium finish
- 4 Top-5 finishes
- 9 Top-10 finishes
2007
Formula Renault Italia (Prema Powerteam)
7th in Championship Points
- Signed by Toyota as part of the ‘Toyota Young Driver Program’
- 3 Podium finishes
- 4 Top-5 finishes
- 8 Top-10 finishes
- Formula Renault Italia, Spa-Franchorchamps, started 32nd to finish 11th
2008
Formula 3 Euro Series – Rookie Season (RC Motorsport)
Partial Season
- Volkswagen Official Junior Driver
- Finished 14th at Zandvoort Masters of F3 at Zolder
2009
Firestone Indy Lights – Rookie Season (Panther Racing)
11th in Championship Points
- 2 Top-5 finishes (Kansas, Mid-Ohio)
- 8 Top-10 finishes
2010
Firestone Indy Lights (Andretti Autosport)
3rd in Championship Points
- Won the Mid-Ohio 100
- Broke the Indy Lights track record at Mid Ohio Sports car course
- 2 Pole positions
- 7 Top-5 finishes
- 11 Top-10 finishes
2011
IZOD IndyCar Series (Snowball Express/AFS/Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Competed in 3 races* (Mid-Ohio, Sonoma, Baltimore)
- 12th at the Grand Prix of Sonoma
- 11th at the Grand Prix of Baltimore *Top Rookie finisher
- Recipient of the Firestone Tire-riffic award for most impressive performance at Sonoma for 5 brave overtaking moves
2012
American Le Mans Series (Morgan LMP2-Conquest Endurance)