1984 - 1991	Karting - winner of Hong Kong GP in 1990. 2nd in 1989 and 1991 in European Championship and 1990 World Championship
1992	Italian F3 debut.
1993	Italian F3 – 3rd in championship with two victories.
1994	Italian F3 champion
1995	International Touring Car Championship contender – Alfa Romeo Junior team
1996	International Touring Car Championship contender – 6th in Championship, 5 podiums F1 Minardi Ford reserve driver – eigt raves in the early part of the season. Also Ferrari test driver – 0 points.
1997	F1 Jordan Peugoet (17 races) – second at Spa, third in Canada, fourth at Imola, Monza and Austria, sixth at Monaco – 20 points, 8th in championship
1998	F1 Benetton Mecachrome (16 races) – second in Monaco and Canada, fifth in Great Britain and sixth in Brazil and Luxembourg – 16 points, 9th in championship
1999	F1 Benetton Playlife (16 races) – second in Canada, fifth in Great Britain and sixth in Brazil and Luxembourg – 13 pionts, 9th in championship
2000	F1 Benetton Playlife (17 races) – second in Brazil, third in Europe and Canada and fifth in Australia and Spain – 18 points, 6th in championship
2001	F1 Benetton Renault (17 races) – third in Belgium , fourth in Germany and sixth in Brazil – 8 points, 11th in championship
2002	F1 Jordan Grand Prix

 

Fisichella’s racing career commenced when he was eleven years old, and despite lacking some of the financial support that some of his peers could muster, he progressed rapidly through the karting ranks between 1984 and 1991, winning a number of regional and national karting titles before moving to Italian F3 in 1992. It soon became evident that Fisichella was a quick driver and his talent and increasing experience saw him finish with an impressive third place in the championship in his second season in F3, claiming the championship title just one year later.

While in Italian F3, he attracted the support of Alfa Romeo who snapped him up for the International Touring Car series in which the manufacturers ran junior teams. Wisely opting for a gradual introduction into F1 in order to gain valuable experience, the Italian remained in touring cars for a second season in 1996, although under the mentoring of Minardi’s former team boss, Giancarlo Minardi, Fisichella also made his F1 debut that same year at the Australian Grand Prix and conducted a part season (8 races) with the team. He impressed, despite the car being a year old and underpowered, and attracted the attentions of Benetton boss, Flavio Briatore, who organised for Jordan to test Fisichella with a view to running him in 1997. Jordan recognised the young Italian’s talent and Fisichella found himself signed to one of the top teams after just half a season of racing in F1.

As Fisichella found his stride, he began to outpace Ralf Schumacher and at his debut German Grand Prix in 1997, lost out on pole by just two hundredths of a second, and was on course for victory when a damaged tyre caused him to crash with just seven laps of the race remaining.

In 1998, in accordance with his contract with Flavio Briatore, Fisichella moved to Benetton where he remained for four seasons. As in 1997, he started the year slowly but managed to secure back to back podium finishes in Monaco and Canada. His last three seasons at Benetton brought high and lows. With victory in his grasp at the European GP at Nurburgring in 1999, changing track conditions defeated Fisichella and he spun out from the lead into retirement. 2000 proved more fruitful however, and he scored 13 out of the team’s 16 Championship points. In a frustrating fourth and final year, Fisichella struggled with car competitiveness in the early stages of the season, although a superb drive in Belgium saw him claim third place and the ninth podium finish of his career.

Following the announcement in August 2001 of the Italian’s re-signing with the team, Giancarlo Fisichella returns to Jordan on a long term contract.