Plamen Kralev

Plamen Kralev
Nationality Bulgarian
Born (1973-02-22) 22 February 1973
Sofia (Bulgaria)
Previous series
201012
2009–10
2009
2008–09
2008
FIA Formula Two Championship
GP2 Asia Series
Le Mans Series
ADAC GT Masters
International GT Open

Plamen Simeonov Kralev[1] (Bulgarian: Пламен Симеонов Кралев, born 22 February 1973 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian racing driver and businessman. He has participated in the FIA GT3 European Championship and European Ferrari Challenge series as an amateur driver for Kessel Racing. He and Vladimir Arabadzhiev became the first Bulgarian drivers to participate in the GP2 Asia Series when they made their débuts during the 2009–10 season, with Kralev competing with the Trident Racing team.[2] Now he is competing in the European Touring Car Cup for Engstler Motorsport with BMW 320si.

Biography

In 1999 Kralev graduated from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy with a specialty in construction.

Career

Kralev began his competitive career in 2007 in the European Ferrari Challenge series as part of the Coppa Shell Challenge and driving for Team Rosokorso. In his first season Kralev recorded two wins: Hockenheimring and Mugello. At the end of the season he was ranked 11th place with 112 points.

In 2008, Kralev moved to Kessel Racing. He participated both in the Ferrari Challenge as well as in the FIA GT3 European Championship. Kralev was initially partnered with Dimitar Iliev and was later teamed with Niki Cadei. Kralev and Kessel Racing also participated in the German ADAC GT Masters series with their GT3 car. During 2008 Kralev recorded two wins in the Ferrari Challenge and was ranked fifth at the end of the season. Kralev ran as high as third in the Ferrari Challenge World Cup event at the end of the season but was fell back with tire problems. Kralev also participated in the final round of the International GT Open in Barcelona with Matteo Cressoni. The two earned tenth and fourth-place finishes in the two races.

On 8 September 2008 Kralev signed a cooperation agreement with the Bulgaria State Tourism Agency to serve as the country's ambassador to the world of motorsport. Kralev's GT3 Ferrari bears the Bulgarian rose as a tourism promotion.[3]

In 2009 Kralev became the first Bulgarian to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race driving the Endurance Asia Team Porsche, but failed to complete enough laps to be classified.

He participated in the GP2 Asia Series in the 2009–10 season with the Trident Racing team.[2] He moved into the FIA Formula Two Championship for the 2010 season,[4] and continued in the series in 2011.[5]

Racing career

Career Summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2008 FIA GT3 European Championship Kessel Racing 7 0 0 0 0 0 NC
ADAC GT Masters 2 0 0 0 1 10 22nd
Ferrari Challenge Italy 2 ? ? ? ? 37 22nd
International GT Open GTA class Racing Team EdilCris 2 0 0 0 0 4 26th
International GT Open ? ? ? ? ? 10 40th
2009 International GT Open Vittoria Competizioni 6 0 0 0 0 7 43rd
International GT Open Super GT class 6 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans GT2 class Endurance Asia Team 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 11th
Le Mans Series GT2 class JMB Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2009–10 GP2 Asia Series Trident Racing 8 0 0 0 0 0 33rd
2010 FIA Formula Two Championship MotorSport Vision 18 0 0 0 0 1 21st
2011 FIA Formula Two Championship MotorSport Vision 16 0 0 0 0 1 24th

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2009 China Endurance Asia Team
France Perspective Racing
Hong Kong Darryl O'Young
France Philippe Hesnault
Porsche 997 GT3-RSR GT2 186 NC NC

Complete GP2 Series results

Complete GP2 Asia Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DC Points
2009–10 Trident Racing ABU1
FEA

Ret
ABU1
SPR

Ret
ABU2
FEA

16
ABU2
SPR

20
BHR1
FEA

22
BHR1
SPR

16
BHR2
FEA

Ret
BHR2
SPR

18
33rd 0

Complete Formula Two results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Points
2010 8 SIL
1

15
SIL
2

17
MAR
1

12
MAR
2

12
MNZ
1

10
MNZ
2

11
ZOL
1

Ret
ZOL
2

14
ALG
1

Ret
ALG
2

Ret
BRH
1

Ret
BRH
2

15
BRN
1

15
BRN
2

17
OSC
1

15
OSC
2

14
VAL
1

17
VAL
2

17
20th 1
2011 8 SIL
1

Ret
SIL
2

17
MAG
1

Ret
MAG
2

18
SPA
1

Ret
SPA
2

18
NÜR
1

17
NÜR
2

17
BRH
1

12
BRH
2

13
SPL
1

10
SPL
2

15
MNZ
1

12
MNZ
2

13
CAT
1

16
CAT
2

17
24th 1
2012 8 SIL
1

15
SIL
2

15
ALG
1

15
ALG
2

13
NÜR
1

11
NÜR
2

DNS
SPA
1

13
SPA
2

17
BRH
1

11
BRH
2

Ret
LEC
1

12
LEC
2

9
HUN
1

9
HUN
2

13
MNZ
1

13
MNZ
2

13
17th 4

References

  1. "Plamen Simeonov Kralev". gp2series.com (GP2 Series). Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  2. 1 2 "Plamen Kralev secures GP2 Asia drive". Plamen Kralev. 2009-08-24. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  3. "Plamen Kralev Advertising Face in Bulgaria" (in Bulgarian). Don Balon. 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  4. "Formula Two welcomes Plamen Kralev for 2010". FIA Formula Two Championship (MotorSport Vision). 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  5. "Plamen Kralev confirms F2 return". FIA Formula Two Championship (MotorSport Vision). 10 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.

External links

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