Daniel Juncadella

Daniel Juncadella Perez-Sala is a racing driver from Spain who started a career in formula racing but later switched to the sports cars and touring cars. He spent four seasons in the DTM between 2013 and 2016, driving for Mercedes, and then returned to DTM in 2018. For the 2019 DTM season, he joined Aston Martin.

Earlier in a career, he was the European Formula 3 champion in 2012 and won the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix in 2011.

Daniel Juncadella

Early career

He was born in May 1991 in Barcelona and at the age of eight, he began to drive karting. In 2004 began to compete in the various local and national events but until the end of 2006, he failed to score notable results. The Spaniard left karting racing with a slightly bitter taste but resolute to make progress in other categories.

In 2007, Daniel switched to formula racing and competed in Master Formula Junior. He won 7 out of 21 races and had other 6 podiums before finishing the season as a runner-up. The same year he also appeared in selected Formula BMW ADAC events, but without too much success.

Juncadella was Formula BMW runner-up

Juncadella moved to Formula BMW Europe in 2008. Driving for the EuroInternational team, Daniel won two races and had a total of five podiums before finishing 4th in the final standings. The same position he won in the Formula BMW World Final. Juncadella also drove in six races of Formula BMW Americas and scored one win and three podiums.

Daniel stayed in the Formula BMW Europe for another year and continued his progress. With one win and seven podiums on his account, Juncadella finished the season as a vice-champion, losing to Felipe Nasr who was superior that year.

Daniel Juncadella, 2008 Formula BMW

Move to Formula 3 and triumph in Macau Grand Prix

In 2010 Spanish driver moved to Formula 3. He became a driver of Prema Powerteam and did pretty well in his rookie season, scoring one win and three podiums to finish 8th in the Drivers’ championship. Driving for the same team, Juncadella appeared as a guest in British Formula 3, winning one out of three races.

The following year was better. In Formula 3 Euro Series, Daniel had four wins and 14 podiums before taking 3rd place in the final classification, behind Roberto Merhi and Marco Wittmann. Juncadella also was 3rd in the FIA Formula 3 International Trophy, while the peak of the season was a triumph in the Macau Grand Prix.

Daniel Juncadella, Prema Powerteam, 2011

The 2012 was the best so far

In 2012 Daniel was brilliant. He won three trophies as a driver of Prema Powerteam and caught the eyes of many teams and manufacturers. Interestingly, that year was his last in the open-wheels racing.

Juncadella was crowned as the Formula 3 Euro Series and the FIA European Formula 3 champion, finishing ahead of some well-known names like Pascal Wehrlein, Raffaele Marciello, Carlos Sainz Jr, Felix Rosenqvist, Sven Muller, etc. In the Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort Circuit, Daniel confirmed fine form by winning the race ahead of Sainz Jr and Marciello.

Daniel Juncadella, 2012 Formula 3 champion

Daniel Juncadella made a switch to DTM in 2013

A bit surprisingly, Juncadella signed with Mercedes to drive for Mucke Motorsport team in the popular DTM championship. In 2013 and 2014 Spanish driver struggled and failed to score a single podium finish. In his first year, he finished 16th in the standings, while in 2014 Daniel dropped to the 18th position.

In 2014, Juncadella tasted the Formula 1 as a reserve driver for Force India Team. He attended all races and took part in a couple of Friday practice sessions and that probably was his last opportunity to make an impact in the most popular racing championship.

Juncadella spent four seasons in DTM from 2013 to 2016 and then returned in 2018

Blancpain GT Series debut in 2015

In 2015 and 2016 Juncadella continued to struggle in DTM. Especially bad was the season of 2016 when Juncadella had the worst results of all drivers who competed in all races of the season what was a pretty frustrating.

The things were slightly better in the Blancpain GT Series. Driving for Rowe Racing in the Endurance Cup, Juncadella collected 42 points out from five races and finished 9th in the Drivers’ championship. In the following year, he was a member of Black Falcon team in the 24 Hours of Spa which finished 28th in one of the most prestigious endurance races in the world.

In 2017, Juncadella left DTM and fully focused on GT racing, spending a season with Akka ASP team in a Mercedes-AMG GT3. He was without win in the Sprint Cup but won one race in the Endurance Cup, finishing in the sixth place at the end of the season.

Dani Juncadella Aston Martin

Return to DTM in 2018, joining Aston Martin in 2019

In 2018, he stayed with Akka ASP but also returned to DTM, rejoining Mercedes to drive the #23 car. He was a race winner once, at Brands Hatch, finishing 15th in the points at the end of the season.

Following Mercedes' withdrawal from DTM, Juncadella joined Aston Martin/R-Motorsportfor the 2019 DTM season. He ended the season 14th in the points, the best of four Aston Martin drivers.

Photo: automobilsport.com danieljuncadella.es rowe-mineraloel.com