Jarno Trulli has been a Panasonic Toyota Racing driver since October 2004, bringing not only speed and race craft, but also the benefit of his vast experience of Formula 1, and life itself.
Motorsport is his passion, but that only tells half of the Jarno Trulli story. As well as racing, he produces his own wine, now a flourishing international business, while also building his own karts and - not to forget - enjoying a happy family life with wife Barbara and their two sons, Enzo and Marco.
He says: "I think I just see life in a different way. We all have different personalities and now I have a family I understand a bit more about certain things."Family is important for Jarno, so it was natural that when he looked for an opportunity away from motorsport, he chose to produce wine, a family tradition from his grandfather's time.
And success comes naturally to the quiet Italian so, after buying the vineyard in the Podere Castorani region in 2000, he has rapidly expanded from around 18,000 bottles a year, to an impressive 600,000 now.
"The year 2000 vintage was our first season and it was a really good season," Jarno says. "It was strange for me to drink a bottle of my own wine but I was happy because it was produced from my land and my passion.
"It is a really good feeling, especially when people appreciate my wine. It is great because when I travel around the world to Australia or to Canada and many other places I find my wine!"
Jarno, who has scored three podiums and one pole position for the team, has made 181 Grands Prix starts since his debut as a 22-year-old, following an impressive career in junior racing, including the 1995 world kart championship and the German Formula 3 title a year later.
In that first season, he started with Minardi but caught the eye of former world champion Alain Prost, who signed him as a temporary replacement for the injured Olivier Panis. That proved a good decision and Jarno scored a fine fourth place at the Nürburgring before sensationally leading in Austria.
After such impressive performances, Prost signed Jarno permanently for 1998 and 1999. Times were not always easy at his new team, but in the torrential rain at the Nürburgring, his hard work paid off with second place. Jordan was Jarno's home for the next two seasons and he continued to catch the eye, his reputation as one of the fastest drivers over one lap blossoming thanks to front row starts at Monaco and Spa-Francorchamps - both famed as the ultimate test for drivers - in 2000 and four more in 2001. Bad luck kept him from the podium, with fourth his best result at Jordan before a change of scenery for 2002 with a move to Renault. He outshone his team-mate but fourth was again his best result. Matters improved in 2003 and Jarno was third in Hockenheim, twice starting from the front row.
The 2004 season saw the greatest day so far in Jarno's career, when he won from pole position at Monaco. But, despite another pole at Spa, he left Renault before the season's end, joining Toyota for the last two races.
After achieving a personal milestone with his Monaco win, in 2005 he delivered more for his new team, taking Toyota's first Formula 1 podiums with second places in Malaysia and Bahrain, and third in Spain, as well as the team's maiden pole position, at Indianapolis.
Seventh place in the World Championship was his reward while Toyota's best season yet saw the team finish fourth in the Constructors' Championship.
Points were harder to come by in 2006, but a battling fourth place at Indianapolis delivered some return on his usual impressive qualifying pace, which included third on the grid at the final race in Brazil.
Jarno showed his speed again in 2007 by qualifying in the top 10 on 14 occasions, with a best result of sixth.
Motorsport is his passion, but that only tells half of the Jarno Trulli story. As well as racing, he produces his own wine, now a flourishing international business, while also building his own karts and - not to forget - enjoying a happy family life with wife Barbara and their two sons, Enzo and Marco.
He says: "I think I just see life in a different way. We all have different personalities and now I have a family I understand a bit more about certain things."Family is important for Jarno, so it was natural that when he looked for an opportunity away from motorsport, he chose to produce wine, a family tradition from his grandfather's time.
And success comes naturally to the quiet Italian so, after buying the vineyard in the Podere Castorani region in 2000, he has rapidly expanded from around 18,000 bottles a year, to an impressive 600,000 now.
"The year 2000 vintage was our first season and it was a really good season," Jarno says. "It was strange for me to drink a bottle of my own wine but I was happy because it was produced from my land and my passion.
"It is a really good feeling, especially when people appreciate my wine. It is great because when I travel around the world to Australia or to Canada and many other places I find my wine!"
Jarno, who has scored three podiums and one pole position for the team, has made 181 Grands Prix starts since his debut as a 22-year-old, following an impressive career in junior racing, including the 1995 world kart championship and the German Formula 3 title a year later.
In that first season, he started with Minardi but caught the eye of former world champion Alain Prost, who signed him as a temporary replacement for the injured Olivier Panis. That proved a good decision and Jarno scored a fine fourth place at the Nürburgring before sensationally leading in Austria.
After such impressive performances, Prost signed Jarno permanently for 1998 and 1999. Times were not always easy at his new team, but in the torrential rain at the Nürburgring, his hard work paid off with second place. Jordan was Jarno's home for the next two seasons and he continued to catch the eye, his reputation as one of the fastest drivers over one lap blossoming thanks to front row starts at Monaco and Spa-Francorchamps - both famed as the ultimate test for drivers - in 2000 and four more in 2001. Bad luck kept him from the podium, with fourth his best result at Jordan before a change of scenery for 2002 with a move to Renault. He outshone his team-mate but fourth was again his best result. Matters improved in 2003 and Jarno was third in Hockenheim, twice starting from the front row.
The 2004 season saw the greatest day so far in Jarno's career, when he won from pole position at Monaco. But, despite another pole at Spa, he left Renault before the season's end, joining Toyota for the last two races.
After achieving a personal milestone with his Monaco win, in 2005 he delivered more for his new team, taking Toyota's first Formula 1 podiums with second places in Malaysia and Bahrain, and third in Spain, as well as the team's maiden pole position, at Indianapolis.
Seventh place in the World Championship was his reward while Toyota's best season yet saw the team finish fourth in the Constructors' Championship.
Points were harder to come by in 2006, but a battling fourth place at Indianapolis delivered some return on his usual impressive qualifying pace, which included third on the grid at the final race in Brazil.
Jarno showed his speed again in 2007 by qualifying in the top 10 on 14 occasions, with a best result of sixth.
Role : Race Driver, Car Number 11
Nationality : Italian
Born : 13 July 1974 - Pescara, Italy
Marital Status : married to Barbara, 2 sons (Enzo and Marco)
Height : 1.73m
Weight : 60kg
Hobbies : Music, karting and fitness
Favourite food : Italian
Favourite drink : Cola
Favourite music : Jazz, pop, rock, lots of variety
Favourite circuit : Spa-Francorchamps
Favourite holiday : Maldives
Person most admired : The Pope
Bad habits : Arriving early
Drives : Lexus RX400, Harley Davidson
Favourite F1 driver : Niki Lauda
Best F1 moment : Winning Monaco 2004
