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Getting to know Giorgio Pantano, the man who is in pole position to clinch Jordan's second, and F1's final, seat for 2004.
1 Born on 4 February 1979 in Padova Italy, where he still lives today, sharing his time between his home town and London, England.
2 Started racing karts when he was 11-years-old. Five years later, in 1993, Giorgio won three Junior Championships, the Italian, European and World Championships.
3 Went on to add two European Formula A Championship titles and the German F3 Championship title, which he won in his first year of racing in series, to his CV.
4 His accomplishments earned him a test drive with Benetton in 2000 and one with McLaren at the beginning of 2001.
5 In 2001 he made his International F3000 debut with Team Astromega, claiming two DNFs, one 8th-place, one 7th and one 5th plus his first race win, which was achieved at the last race of season in Monza. Overall, he finished the year ninth.
6 He climbed the standings in 2002 and finished in second place, two points behind Sebastien Bourdais. However, his runner-up position earned him the prestigious title of Autosprint International Driver of the Year, a title previously awarded to the likes of Michael Schumacher and Jarno Trulli.
7 On his way to the runner-up slot he won three races, which also led to Autosport Magazine heaping praise upon him. "In only his third season of car racing he became the complete package. Overcame pre-season disappointment to help build Coloni into a title contender. Three excellent wins, and racecraft is better than anyone's. Of this year's crop likely to go the furthest," the British magazine said in its Formula 3000 season review.
8 He also won the rather unusual Minardi Formula One two-seater race at Donington Park in 2002, clinched the "Best Relationship Driver With Team" award at the Winning Attitudes Awards, and tested with the BMW WilliamsF1 team.
9 Having finished the 2003 International Formula 3000 season once again in the top three, Pantano caught the eye of Eddie Jordan. The Irishman looks set to sign Pantano to his team for 2004, where he will partner Nick Heidfeld, who is also an ex-F3000 driver
10 He is reportedly having to pay Eddie Jordan $5million for the privilege of taking the last remaining seat in F1 for the 2004 season