One characteristic Robert Doornbos possesses in great amounts is understanding, and he aims to use that to great effect as he plots a quiet path to success in next weekend's Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort.
The Dutchman knows that his lack of experience gives him a disadvantage, but he refuses to let it affect him. He sees himself as true inhabitant of Rotterdam, which means his motto is 'let deeds do the talking’.
Doornbos does not know where his career will lead to and refuses to talk about
Formula One already. His first aim is to do well in the new Formula Three Euro Series and, next, the Marlboro Masters. If he performs well there, he firmly believes that the right doors will open for him.
As an added incentive, Doornbos will compete in Marlboro colours during this year' Masters, after parent company Philip Morris International decided to sponsor the Italian Ghinzani team which fields the Dutch ace in the Euroseries. Doornbos, a team member since 2002, will be joined by Portuguese colleague Alvaro Parente in sporting the famous red-and-white livery.
With karting experience almost a pre-requisite for success in modern motorsport, it is somewhat surprising that Doornbos' star is rising so rapidly. When he was young, the Dutchman's passion was for playing tennis, but this all changed when he and his father were invited by
Williams to visit the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix. Young Robert did not know what to expect but, at Spa-Francorchamps, he got hooked on a new sport.
Impressed by the speed, sound, and smell of the cars, he went to see Jacques Villeneuve that Sunday morning. Doornbos had only one question for the reigning world champion - 'what do I need to do to get behind the wheel of a Formula One car?’
The answer was quite simple - start soon and drive as much as possible.
Doornbos immediately registered for a racing course, although his parents insisted that he finished his education first. In 1999, however, he debuted in the British Opel Lotus Winter Series. There, he immediately scored four poles, four fastest lap times and four victories to finish as runner-up in the championship. The following year, buoyed by his success, he switched to Formula Ford, where he finished fifth in the Benelux championship and second in the Belgian national series. His education did not appear to suffer either as, in the same period, he finished the first year of a business management course in Antwerp.
