Alan van der Merwe


Alan van der Merwe is a South African former racing driver. From to, van der Merwe served as the medical car driver in Formula One.

Racing career

Van der Merwe won the 2001 Formula Ford Festival. In 2003, he was the British Formula 3 Champion, and drove for Super Nova Racing in Formula 3000 in 2004. His sponsorship money ran out mid-season and he took a contract as a part-time tester for BAR–Honda.
In 2005 and 2006, van der Merwe raced in the A1 Grand Prix series for A1 Team South Africa, with a best placed finish of 7th in New Zealand. In 2006, he joined the Bonneville 200 MPH Club, driving a modified BAR–Honda 007 car to speeds in excess of for their Bonneville 400 project; an attempt to set an official land speed record for a Formula One car on the famous Bonneville Salt Flats. In 2008, he drove for James Watt Automotive in the 1000 km of Silverstone, part of the 2008 Le Mans Series, finishing in 33rd place and completing 159 laps. He returned to A1 Grand Prix in 2009 in the final round at Brands Hatch.

FIA role

Van der Merwe was the official driver of the FIA medical car in Formula One events from 2009 until the end of the 2021 season, when he was replaced due to his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Racing record

Complete International Formula 3000 results

YearEntrant12345678910DCPointsRef
2004Super Nova RacingIMO
8		CAT
12		MON
9		NUR
Ret		MAG
9		SIL
8		HOC
Ret		HUNSPAMNZ14th2

Complete A1 Grand Prix results

YearEntrant12345678910111213141516171819202122DCPointsRef
2006–07A1 Team South AfricaNED
SPR		NED
FEA		CZE
SPR		CZE
FEA		BEI
SPR		BEI
FEA		MYS
SPR		MYS
FEA		IDN
SPR
9		IDN
FEA
Ret		NZL
SPR
7		NZL
FEA
16		AUS
SPR
16		AUS
FEA
Ret		RSA
SPR		RSA
FEA		MEX
SPR		MEX
FEA		SHA
SPR
8		SHA
FEA
12		GBR
SPR		GBR
SPR		NC0
2008–09A1 Team South AfricaNED
SPR		NED
FEA		CHN
SPR		CHN
FEA		MYS
SPR		MYS
FEA		NZL
SPR		NZL
FEA		RSA
SPR		RSA
FEA		POR
SPR		POR
FEA		GBR
SPR
15		GBR
SPR
11		14th19