45 Facts About Tom Coronel

Tom Romeo Coronel was born on 5 April 1972 and is a Dutch professional racing driver.

Tom Coronel is currently still racing in the WTCC, where he won his first WTCC race in Okayama, Japan in 2008.

In 2014 Tom Coronel stayed with ROAL Motorsport, but the team switched to Chevrolet Cruzes to be built by RML specially for the new TC1 technical regulations.

Tom Coronel has been racing for the Dutch Spyker Squadron in the Le Mans Series as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans for many years.

Furthermore, Tom Coronel is often invited to join one-off races like the 24 hours at the Nurburgring.

Tom Coronel moved up to the Dutch Touring Car Championship in 1992 competing in a BMW 320i.

Tom Coronel was crowned champion that same year, beating his older brother and teammate Raymond Coronel.

Tom Coronel started to compete in the Dutch Formula Ford championship, with team Fresh.

Tom Coronel stayed with team Fresh in 1993 and again was a strong competitor.

Tom Coronel finished ninth in that year's Formula Ford Festival.

In 1994 Tom Coronel debuted in the Euroseries Formula Opel Lotus, racing for the Dutch Van Amersfoort Racing team.

Tom Coronel won the nations cup for the Netherlands together with Donny Crevels and was elected 'Dutch Driver of the year'.

Tom Coronel did not perform well in the international Formula Three classics, failing to finish in Macau and Monaco and finishing fifth in the Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort.

Tom Coronel scored his first victory at the Sugo circuit, and this along with five second places earned him the third spot in that year's championship.

Tom Coronel came in second with the Italian Prema Power team at the annual Monaco Formula Three race.

Tom Coronel stayed with TOM'S for the next season, the team traded in their own chassis for a more competitive Dallara and used Toyota engines.

Tom Coronel dominated the championship, winning six out of the seven races he competed in.

Tom Coronel's lead was so comfortable that he could afford to miss two races to compete in the Macau Grand Prix and Marlboro Masters.

Tom Coronel stayed in Japan in 1998 competing in the Formula Nippon and Japanese GT championship, both for team Nakajima owned by former Formula One driver Satoru Nakajima.

Tom Coronel had a relatively poor season, due to some bad luck and the team having never previously worked with a non-Japanese driver.

Since there were no other competitors for the title Tom Coronel was instantly champion.

Tom Coronel was not as successful in the Japanese GT that year, having no chances on the title.

When Tom Coronel would become successful in Formula One, investors would be repaid.

Tom Coronel tested once for the Arrows team, but lost the chance for a seat in favour of Jos Verstappen and Pedro de la Rosa.

Since Tom Coronel had focused his full attention to Formula One, he found himself without a drive for the beginning of the 2000 racing season.

Tom Coronel drove the 24 hours of Le Mans for the second time with Racing for Holland and competed in some FIA GT races with Mike Hezemans.

Tom Coronel signed up for the works BMW team to compete in the Dutch Touring Car Championship.

Tom Coronel agreed but had to miss some races since he already signed for BMW.

Tom Coronel moved to the European Touring Car Championship in 2002, he participated for Carly Motors alongside Peter Kox and Gianni Morbidelli.

Tom Coronel stayed with Carly in 2003 but had a 2002 spec chassis for most of the season and struggling to keep up.

Tom Coronel made a one-year return to the Japanese GT, winning one race in a now outdated Honda NSX.

Tom Coronel finished his first Le Mans race with Racing for Holland in 2002, finishing eighth in the overall standings.

Tom Coronel made the finish in 2003, this time with a Spyker C8.

Tom Coronel left Carly to join up with Team GR Asia, which used the SEAT Toledo.

Tom Coronel had a strong year in which he just missed the Independents trophy in the last race.

Tom Coronel continued his participation with team GR Asia in 2007, though less successful.

In 2008, Tom Coronel competed in the brand-new SUNRED SEAT Team in another Leon.

Tom Coronel got his podium in Oschersleben and remains one of the most popular WTCC drivers.

In 2011 Tom Coronel changed teams to join ROAL Motorsport, formerly running the works-team BMW Italy-Spain.

Tom Coronel won the second race at Suzuka, Japan, his second WTCC overall victory.

Tom Coronel stayed with ROAL Motorsport for 2012, this time as part of a two car effort with Alberto Cerqui joining him in the team.

The Tom Coronel family owns two indoor go-karting tracks in Huizen and Enschede.

Tom Coronel co-hosts an automotive programme with Tim and was a regular guest on the Dutch Formula One broadcast until RTL decided not to go on with the studio shows, in favour of more "on track" time during the broadcast.

Tom Coronel is in a relationship with racing driver Paulien Zwart and they have a daughter and a son together.

Rocco Tom Coronel is a racing driver currently racing in karting and the Ginetta Junior Championship and member of the Red Bull Junior Team.