Vitantonio Liuzzi  Born: 08.06.81  Birthplace:Locorotondo, Italy  Team: Toro Rosso  2006 Car Number: 20  Last Season: equal 23rd  GP Pedigree (After Japanese GP)  Starts: 21  Victories: 0  Poles: 0  Fastest Laps: 0  Points: 2  GP Debut: 2005 San Marino GP, Red Bull   Five-year Stats

Tonio Liuzzi is one of the brightest talents to emerge from International Karting in recent years.

He was a resounding winner of the prestigious 2001 FIA/CIK Karting World Championship series before progressing to single-seater cars.

He finished second in his debut season in the 2001 German Formula Renault Championship before moving to the German Formula Three series the following year.

From there he switched to the FIA International Formula 3000 Championship, finishing fourth in his first season.

Liuzzi's second season - 2004 - saw his progress culminate in championship glory with the Arden International team.

During that time he also earned a test drive with the Williams team and in 2005 was snapped up by Red Bull Racing as their official test driver.

Intent on letting all their drivers gain a bit of F1 experience, Liuzzi replaced Christian Klien at four of the European races and earned his first F1 world championship point when he finished eighth in San Marino.

But overall it has to be said that the underwhelming Liuzzi was something of a disappointment.

At the end of the year Liuzzi was handed a permanent race seat by RBR thanks to the team’s decision to purchase rival F1 team, Minardi, which they will run as a junior outfit named Scuderia Toro Rosso.

An improvement on his performances last season will be demanded and expected.

Formula One Career:

2006:	GP with Toro Rosso.
2005:	GP with Red Bull (1pt from 4 races - tied 23rd in championship).

Background:

2004:	Won FIA International Formula 3000 Championship.
2003:	Finished fourth in FIA International Formula 3000 Championship.
2002:	Finished ninth in German Formula Three Championship.
2001:	Finished second in German Formula Renault Championship.