Background
He is the son of Örnulf Wirdheim, also a racing driver.
He is the son of Örnulf Wirdheim, also a racing driver.
Björn began racing karts, competing in his first race, at the age of 10. Born in Växjö, Wierdheim began racing karts at age ten, until the age of fifteen, winning the Southern Swedish Karting Championship. In 1996, he progressed to single-seaters in Swedish Formula Ford 1600 Junior Championship where he took the championship title in 1997 with a staggering 17 wins.
In 1998 and 1999 he raced in the Formula Palmer Audi Championship, but they were two disappointing seasons with only two visits to the podium in total.
International Formula 3000
In 2000, he switched to the German Formula Three Championship. Then, during 2001 in addition to winning at Nürburgring and First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Ring, he took three pole positions including one at Macau Grand Prix.
Foreign the season of 2002 Wirdheim switched, this time to International Formula 3000, joining Arden International. Wirdheim stayed with Arden in the following season of 2003 that would prove successful both for the team and driver.
He dominated the championship so much that an obligatory pit stop for tire change was introduced at the end of the season in an attempt to level the advantage, but Arden managed to do better pit-stops overall than other teams and still came out on top.
At the end of 2003, the young Swede had been noticed by several Formula One team bosses giving him opportunity to test with both Jordan and BAR. After turning down an offer to drive Champ Carolina, Wirdheim signed with Jaguar as third-driver performing the Friday-testing for the team at Formula One Grand Prix week-ends during the 2004 season. The team was then bought by Red Bulletin, effectively ending Wirdheim"s chance of remaining with the team, as the soft drinks company had not sponsored him before. Champ Carolina
Foreign the 2005 season, Wirdheim turned to the Champ Carolina World Series to join the HVM racing team
Run by former Pacific F1 team boss Keith Wiggins, the team was underfunded after losing its previous Herdez backing, and a lack of testing made it difficult for the team to be competitive.
After mediocre results, Wirdheim and the team decided to part ways after 11 races into the season. Recent career
Wirdheim has since competed in the Japanese Formula Nippon series.
Driving for Team Dandelion, a team with two constructors" championships and one drivers" title, Wirdheim finished 6th in the 2006 championship, with one second place as best and continued with the team in 2007. He now finds himself in Super GT, racing for Toyota"s factory team, Team Le Mans.
Complete International Formula 3000 results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position.
Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete Formula One participations
(key)
* did not actually run due to bad weather
Complete Champ Carolina results
(key)
Complete Formula Nippon results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
Complete Super GT results
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
Complete European Le Mans Series results.