Frederic Makowiecki

Frederic Makowiecki is a French racing driver who spent almost the entire career in the sports car racing, achieving lots of success at the national and international level.

Earlier in a career, he won French GT Championship in 2004 and Porsche Carrera Cup France in 2010. He was among the front-runners in the FIA GT1 World Championship, finishing third in 2010 and second in 2012.

Makowiecki participated eight times at Le Mans 24 Hours, scoring three GTE Pro class podiums in 2012, 2014 and 2018. In 2014, he also finished second in the GT standings of the FIA World Endurance Championship. He was second again among FIA WEC GT drivers in 2017.

Frederic Makowiecki

Successful rookie season in the French GT Championship

Born in November 1980 in Arras, Makowiecki spent some time in karting competitions before he made a debut in the French Formula 3 Championship in 2000. He contested just one season in the single-seater category, switching to sports car racing in 2001.

He joined Nourry Competition to drive a Porsche 996 GT3 Cup in the Cup class of the French GT Championship. He was successful in his rookie season, scoring three wins and finishing second in the points together with Frederic Dedours.

In 2002, Makowiecki joined Chateau Sport to drive Porsche 911 GT2 in the French GT Championship, still sharing a car with Frederic Dedours. Scoring four podiums, they were 11th in the overall standings. Makowiecki stayed one more season with Chateau Sport, sharing a car with Cyril Chateau, but also made a debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup France in 2003.

French GT Cup champion in 2004, third in the Carrera Cup

In 2004, Makowiecki had a double programme, spending a season with CD Sport team in the French GT Championship but also participating full season in the Carrera Cup with Nourry Competition. He was successful in both series.

Driving the #64 Porsche 996 GT3 Cup, he and Frederic Dedours scored six wins in the GT Cup class of the French GT Championship, dominantly taking the championship title. In the Carrera Cup, Makowiecki scored one victory and eight podiums to finish third in the points.

Switching to Chrysler Viper in 2005

In November 2004, Makowiecki participated in two events with Chrysler Viper GTS-R before joining MTO Mirabeau Competition to drive Viper in the 2005 French GT Championship. Sharing a car with Jean-Claude Lagniez, he won one race, finishing 6th in the points.

In 2006, besides driving Chrysler in the French GT Championship, Makowiecki expanded his racing activities with Chrysler to FIA GT3 European Championship but also returned to Porsche Carrera Cup France. He was most successful in the Carrera Cup, ending a season in the second place.

Mako was successful whatever he was driving

Competing with three teams in 2007

In November 2006, Makowiecki participated in one round of the FIA GT Championship with Larbre Competition, driving Ferrari 550 Maranello at Dubai and finishing first in class. In 2007, he joined Larbre Competition to drive an Aston Martin DBR9 in the French GT Championship. He and Patrick Bornhauser scored two wins, finishing 5th in the points.

In 2007, Makowiecki was also driving an Aston Martin DBRS9 for Hexis Racing in the FIA GT3 Championship, finishing 10th in the final standings. His third competition in 2007 was the French Carrera Cup, in which he was the runner-up again, finishing second behind Patrick Pilet.

2008 – double programme with Aston Martin and Saleen

In 2008, Makowiecki reduced his driving duties to two teams/manufacturers. He was driving Saleen S7-R for Larbre Competition in the French GT Championship, finishing 8th, but also in few races of the FIA GT Championship and Le Mans Series.

His second car was an Aston Martin DBRS9 which he was driving for Hexis Racing in the FIA GT3 Championship and one round of the ADAC GT Masters.

Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche in 2009

In 2009, Makowiecki again had racing schedule with three manufacturers. For the first time, he was driving a Ferrari F430 GT3, joining AS Events team in the French GT Championship and International GT Open.

He stayed with Hexis Racing in the FIA GT3 European Championship to drive an Aston Martin DBRS9 but also participated in the FIA GT2 Championship with Aston Martin Vantage GT2. In 2009, Makowiecki also returned to French Carrera Cup, scoring three wins and finishing in the third place.

French Carrera Cup champion in 2010

In 2010, Makowiecki had a similar schedule as in 2009, achieving his best result in the French Carrera Cup. Driving for Luxury Racing, he won six races and finally became the champion, beating Kevin Estre by two points.

He was also driving Ferrari F430 GT3 for Luxury Racing in the French GT Championship but also an Aston Martin DBRS9 for Hexis AMR in the FIA GT3 European Championship and FIA GT1 World Championship. He was good in both competitions with Aston Martin, finishing fifth in the GT3 category and third in the GT1 World Championship.

Le Mans 24h debut with Ferrari in 2011

In 2011, Makowiecki joined Marc VDS Racing Team to drive the #41 Matech Ford GT in the FIA GT1 World Championship. He scored four wins to finish 11th in the points.

In 2011, he stayed with Hexis AMR to drive an Aston Martin DBRS9 in the Blancpain Endurance Series but also with Luxury Racing to drive a Ferrari 458 GTC in different competitions, including his first participations at Sebring 12 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours. At Sebring, he was 28th, at Le Mans, he didn't finish the race.

Fred Makowiecki and Step Dusseldorp (right) were teammates in 2012

Second place in the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship

The season 2012 was one of the most successful in a career. Makowiecki finished second in the FIA GT1 World Championship, driving the #1 McLaren MP4-12C for Hexis Racing.

He and Step Dusseldorp were the race winners five times, losing a world's title by one point to Marc Basseng and Markus Winkelhock. Makowiecki and Dusseldorp were also winners in the non-championship Baku City Challenge.

2012 - GT class podium in the second attempt at Le Mans

In 2012, Makowiecki also stayed with Luxury Racing to drive Ferrari in selected rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship, including Le Mans 24 Hours.

In his second attempt at Circuit de la Sarthe, Makowiecki reached a podium, finishing second in the GTE Pro class, sharing the #59 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 with Jaime Melo and Dominik Farnbacher.

2013 – Super GT season with Honda

In 2013, Makowiecki decided to try something completely different and he joined Weider Modulo Dome Racing in the Japanese Super GT Series. He was sharing the #18 Honda HSV-010 GT with Naoki Yamamoto. Scoring one victory, at Suzuka 1000km, they finished fourth in the GT500 standings.

Makowiecki was also driving for Aston Martin Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and Blancpain Endurance Series. At Le Mans 24 Hours, he was sharing the #99 Aston Martin Vantage GTE with Bruno Senna and Rob Bell. They retired after 252 laps. Makowiecki scored FIA WEC wins at COTA and Fuji, ending a season in the ninth place.

Fred Makowiecki is Porsche factory driver since 2014

2014 FIA WEC GT class vice-champion with Porsche

In 2014, Makowiecki participated in four races of the Super GT Series but his main programme was with Porsche Team Manthey in the FIA World Endurance Championship. As Porsche factory driver, he scored one more GTE Pro podium at Le Mans (3rd) and finished second in the final FIA WEC standings for GT drivers. His teammates in the #92 Porsche 911 RSR at Le Mans were Richard Lietz and Marco Holzer, later he was joined by Patrick Pilet.

Makowiecki stayed in the FIA WEC for one more season, sharing the #92 Porsche mostly with Patrick Pilet. They were race winners once, in the season's finale at Bahrain, and Makowiecki finished fifth in the championship. In 2015, he also participated in four endurance rounds of the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Porsche North America.

2016 – full season in the IMSA Championship

In 2016, Makowiecki was transferred to the IMSA SportsCar Championship to drive the #912 Porsche 911 RSR. His full-time partner was Earl Bamber. After scoring four podiums, including Daytona 24h and Sebring 12h, they scored GTLM class victory at COTA to finish fourth in the final standings.

In the FIA WEC, Makowiecki had a one-off appearance at Le Mans, sharing a car with Earl Bamber and Jorg Bergmeister. They retired after 140 laps.

Richard Lietz and Fred Makowiecki finished second in the 2017 FIA WEC season

Second place in the FIA WEC return in 2017

In 2017, full-time FIA WEC return followed. Makowiecki was sharing the #91 Porsche with Richard Lietz. Scoring six podiums in nine races, they finished second in the GT standings.

At Le Mans, they were fourth in the GTE Pro class. In America, Makowiecki scored GTLM class podium at Daytona 24 Hours, finishing second in the #911 Porsche he was sharing with Patrick Pilet and Dirk Werner. At Sebring 12 Hours, they were 7th in the GTLM class.

Wins at Nürburgring, Sebring, Petit Le Mans in 2018

In 2018, Makowiecki raced again with Porsche all over the world. The most notable result was his victory at  24 Hours of Nürburgring in Manthey Racing's Porsche 911 GT3 R, together with Nick Tandy, Patrick Pilet and Richard Lietz.

In other competitions, he reached podium at Le Mans 24 Hours (2nd place GTE Pro) and scored two great endurance wins in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, at Sebring 12 Hours and Petit Le Mans.

Makowiecki celebrates Super GT victory at Sugo

2019 - full season with Nissan in the Japanese Super GT Series

In 2019, his main competition was the Japanese Super GT Series, driving the #3 Nissan GT-R for NDDP Racing. He and Kohei Hirate were the race winners once, at Sportsland Sugo, finishing ninth in the points at the end of the season.

Outside Super GT Series, he occasionally raced with different Porsche teams. He was second at Le Mans 24 Hours, second at Spa 24 Hours and won Sebring 12 Hours.

Photos: Fred Makowiecki FB, sportscar365.com, Nismo,