DOSBoot wrote:I'm surprised no one has mentioned Sebastien Loeb. He did test a Torro Rosso once, but from what I heard, he doesn't qualify for a superlicence. (Despite being a seven time going on eight WRC champion.)
That is correct - the idea of having him test one of the Toro Rosso cars during the post season test sessions was that he'd complete over 300km in an F1 car, which in theory should have proved he was capable of handling one of those cars. However, there were a few issues with Loeb's application - for a start, essentially no experience with open wheeled cars (which seemed to be the main sticking point with the WMSC).
And even though Loeb has driven at the Le Mans 24 Hours in a LMP1 car (and his team finished 2nd overall, just behind one of the Audi R10's), he did say that, when asked about the idea recently, that his physical fitness was probably not quite high enough to drive at full speed for an entire race weekend. After all, if he was on the grid now, at 37 he'd be the third oldest driver there (only Schumacher and Barrichello, at 42 and 38 respectively, would be older, and Trulli almost the same age (about 4 months younger)) - it might not be impossible to match the fitness of the current drivers, but it'd have been harder, and clashed too much with his duties in rallying.
Anyway, speaking of the licences, here are the licence requirements for a super licence, according to Appendix L of the FIA's regulations on International Drivers licences:
5. Qualifi cation and conditions of issue for the Super Licence
The FIA Formula One Driver Super Licence is issued by the FIA.
5.1 Qualifi cations
5.1.1 The driver must be the holder of a current FIA International Grade A licence.
5.1.2 The driver must also satisfy at least one of the following requirements:
a) have made at least 5 starts in races counting for the FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers the previous year, or at least 15 starts within the previous 3 years.
b) have previously held the Super Licence and have been the regular test driver with an F1 World Championship team for the previous year.
c) have been classified, within the previous 2 years, in the first 3 of the final classification of: the F2 Championship, or the International F3 Trophy, or the GP2 Series, or the GP2 Asia Series or the Japanese F/Nippon Championship,
d) have been classified in the first 4 of the final classification of the Indycar IRL series within the previous 2 years,
e) be the current champion of one of the following:
- Formula 3 Euro Series
- The principal national F3 championships of: Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Spain
- World Series F/Renault V6
N.B.: the title of Champion is considered valid for 12 months from the last race of the relevant series or championship season.
f) be judged by the FIA to have consistently demonstrated outstanding ability in single-seater formula cars, but with no opportunity to qualify under any of c) to e) above. In this case the F1 team concerned must show that the applicant has driven at least 300 km in a current Formula One car consistently at racing speeds, over a maximum period of 2 days, completed not more than 90 days prior to the application and certifi ed by the ASN of the country in which the test took place.
By exception, if supported by the FIA Safety Commission, the FIA World Motor Sport Council may approve the issue of the Super Licence to persons judged by the Council to have met the intent of the qualification process.
So, looking at the regulations, Loeb will hold licence Grade R (which is used for FIA rallying and hill climbing events), and given that he briefly drove in the French GT championship, at some point he must have held a Grade B licence (which covers GT racing).