Former Minardi F1 driver Tuero ends racing career

Esteban Tuero, who drove for Minardi during the 1998 Formula One season, has announced that he will retire from racing at the age of 38 this weekend.

Having learnt the ropes in Formula 3, Formula 3000 and Formula Nippon, Tuero graduated to grand prix racing with the small Italian outfit aged 19 and 320, which made him then the third youngest driver in F1 history behind Mike Thackwell and Ricardo Rodriguez.

The Argentine’s career in the top flight only lasted 16 races before he decided to head back home despite Minardi being ready to keep him for 1999.

His best result was the eighth-place finish he picked up at the 1998 San Marino Grand Prix, one of the four races where he was classified.

Following his surprise exit, Tuero competed in a variety of championships in Argentina, winning the 2008 Turismo Nacional Clase 3 series. He also returned to Europe that year to compete in the FIA GT championship.

“The final race of this year’s Turismo Nacional, which takes place in Viedma this weekend, will be very special for me, as it will mark my retirement from racing,” Tuero said in a message posted on his Twitter and Facebook accounts.

“I am 38 years old and have raced for 30 years. I can only thank all the people that have accompanied me throughout my career.

“Many thanks to the mechanics, sponsors, team bosses, press officers, coaches, championship directors, colleagues, journalists and friends - and, above all, to my family for their support from the very first moment.”

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