Born on August 6th 1981, Vitantonio Liuzzi had a most impressive rise through the ranks to Formula One. At the age of ten the Italian began his karting career spending the next decade in various karting categories before moving to Formula Renault in 2001. Liuzzi finished second in the championship, an impressive feat given that it was his first season in single-seaters.

2002 was a busy year for Liuzzi who tested with BMW Williams and competed in the German Formula 3 championship, claiming three pole positions and victory at San Marino. Liuzzi graduated to the F3000 series in 2003 with Coloni motorsport taking top Rookie honours and finishing fourth in the championship. A move to Arden International in 2004 saw Liuzzi really come of age as he claimed no less than nine pole positions and seven wins en route to the title.

A winter test with Sauber Petronas followed but it was Red Bull Racing who snapped up the Italian's services following the buyout of what was Jaguar Racing. Liuzzi began the 2005 season as the Friday test driver but at San Marino the team opted to run the Italian alongside David Coulthard. Liuzzi secured the final point at Imola before competing in Spanish, Monaco and European Grand Prix with Christian Klien taking over the seat again in Montreal.

Liuzzi remained a Red Bull driver but was farmed out to sister squad Scuderia Toro Rossi in 2006. While rivals switched to the new 2.4 litre V8 engines, the former Minardi squad, ran rev-restricted 3.0 litre V10 engines throughout the season.

Liuzzi was never in a position to challenge for points, but despite one too many off track moments and spins, was generally able to hold off team-mate Scott Speed and also take the challenge to sister team Red Bull Ferrari.

The first half of the year with Toro Rosso was a tense affair for Liuzzi as the team management blamed the drivers rather than themselves for the lack of results. Speed was axed to make way for rising star Sebastian Vettel while Liuzzi was informed that his services would not be required in 2008.

The news that he would not race with the team came as no surprise, but what was a surprise was Liuzzi's performances. With a rapid and highly rated new team-mate, Liuzzi raised his game and was unfortunate to score just three points in the closing stages of the season.

Now out of the Red Bull family, Liuzzi tested with Force India and did enough to secure the test role with the squad for the 2008 season. Liuzzi has a proven track record and he will be hoping that he will get a second chance to race sooner rather than later.