The Joker! (Gerhard Berger)

Member Name: andycharger

Product:	Gerhard Berger
Date:	03/04/01 (65 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great driver

Disadvantages: not enough wins for his talents

Who was it that decided to empty the entire contents of Ayrton Senna's briefcase out of a helicopter window?
Gerhard Berger thats who!
The last major Playboy and Joke of a chivalrous era before the sport became the major corporare circus that it is today.
Gerhard came to Formula 1 in 1984 driving for the lowly ATS-BMW team.
By 1984, the Turbo power that had powered BMW to the championship with Brabham had become old and tired and very heavy by modern standards. Gerhard was basically driving around in a tank while everyone else was benefitting from nice new technology.
He switched in 1985 to Arrows but with his deep BMW roots was using their power yet again. Still trundling around at the back, he finished 17th in the championship.
The following season he went to Bennetton but again the BMW power joined him. These units were now well past their prime but Gerhard would again have this close association with their power in the future.
After struggling the BMW up to 7th in the championship, it was obvious he was a future star.It was during this season with Bennetton he collected his first Formula 1 win in Mexico while battling hard on Pirelli tyres.
Ferrari therefore signed him up for the 1987 season and he finished 5th. More victories followed until the crash that almost robbed him of hs life.
In 1989, while battling for the lead, he spun off the ciruit on the same corner that would take the life of his great friend, Ayrton Senna 5 years later. The car exploded into a huge fireball and berger was taken from the car unconcious.
Return to the cockpit, he became a campaigner for better safety at tracks.
A move to Mclaren in 1990 for 3 seasons saw him reunited with friend Senna. It was during this time that their deep friendship developed. The paddock jokers remained firm friends after Bergers departure back to Ferrari for the 1993 season.
In 1994 the world was shocked as Senna was killed in Imola and with it, a piece of B
erger died. More victories came but he lost his driving force. A total of 8 were gained with Ferarri and Mclaren
He drove for Bennetton in 1996 and earned his final victory with the team that had provided his first.
He is still an active part of Formula 1 heading up the development programme for the BMW team powering the Williams team.
A dedicated professional as always, he has become a very successful businessman.

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