Frank Diefenbacher
Encyclopedia
Frank Diefenbacher is a German
auto racing
driver.
in Germany in 1998, where he finished third. He finished fourth in Formula König in 1999.
Diefenbacher stepped up to the German Formula Three Championship
in 2000. He finished tenth in his first year, but improved in 2001 to finish third, before finishing fourth in 2002.
In 2003 Diefenbacher was signed by SEAT Sport
for their European Touring Car Championship
campaign. In 2003 he beat teammate Jordi Gené
in the final standings to finish 15th, and finished 11th in 2004, tied on points with new teammate and experienced touring car driver Rickard Rydell
.
He was not retained by SEAT for their World Touring Car Championship
campaign in 2005. He did join the RS Line team to compete in selected rounds. However, Diefenbacher suffered a heavy accident during practice for the his first race of the season, the Race of France
at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
, which kept him on the sidelines for the rest of the year.
Diefenbacher returned to racing in 2006, competing in the first race of the FIA GT Championship
for the Race Alliance
team, although his car retired on the first lap.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
auto 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.
Career
Diefenbacher won the German Junior Kart Championship in 1996. His first steps out of karting were in Formula FordFormula 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....
in Germany in 1998, where he finished third. He finished fourth in Formula König in 1999.
Diefenbacher stepped up to the German Formula Three Championship
German Formula Three Championship
The German Formula Three Championship – currently titled the ATS Formel 3 Cup – is Germany's national Formula Three series. In the hierarchy of motor racing formulae, Formula Three is placed between national Formula Renault and championships such as GP2...
in 2000. He finished tenth in his first year, but improved in 2001 to finish third, before finishing fourth in 2002.
In 2003 Diefenbacher was signed by SEAT Sport
SEAT Sport
SEAT Sport is the motorsport division of the Spanish automobile manufacturer SEAT, founded in 1985 , succeeding the 'SEAT Special Vehicles department' which had been formed in 1971 with the mission to enforce the brand's participation in rally championships, followed by 11 titles between 1979 and...
for their European Touring Car Championship
European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
campaign. In 2003 he beat teammate 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...
in the final standings to finish 15th, and finished 11th in 2004, tied on points with new teammate and experienced touring car driver Rickard Rydell
Rickard Rydell
Rickard Rydell is a Swedish racing driver. He won the 1998 British Touring Car Championship, the 2011 Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, and has also been a frontrunner in the European/World Touring Car Championship.-Early career:In the early 1990s, Rydell raced in various Formula Three series...
.
He was not retained by SEAT for their World Touring Car Championship
World Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
campaign in 2005. He did join the RS Line team to compete in selected rounds. However, Diefenbacher suffered a heavy accident during practice for the his first race of the season, the Race of France
FIA WTCC Race of France
The FIA WTCC Race of France was a round of the World Touring Car Championship, which has been held at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours and the Circuit de Pau....
at Circuit de Nevers 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...
, which kept him on the sidelines for the rest of the year.
Diefenbacher returned to racing in 2006, competing in the first race of the FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
for the Race Alliance
Jetalliance Racing
Jetalliance Racing is an Austrian racing team which currently competes in the FIA GT Championship. Founded by Lucas Lichtner-Hoyer, former CEO of Jetalliance airlines, in 2006 under the name Race Alliance Motorsport, the team has run two privateer Aston Martin DBR9s in FIA GT as well as making...
team, although his car retired on the first lap.