Showing a strong character and a will-power since his childhood,
Roman was always keen on extreme sports — mountain skiing, climbing.
And his ultimate dream was car racing. He inherited his passion for
motor sports from his father, Alexander Rusinov, a well known
mountaineer and a three time participant in the Paris-Dakar race,
equally famous as an co-organiser of the rallye
Paris-Moscow-Beijing, 1992.
In 1997, Roman came to Paris to continue his studies and tried his
hand at karting for the first time. The mean year he took part in
the "Trophee des Stars" Championship in karting, and scored the 10th
overall, out of 150 participants.
In 1998, competed in the France Open Championship in karting, and
received the 3rd place in the Essone Karting Grand Prix.
In 1999, took part in French Formula Campus Championship with "La
Filiere ELF" team, and scored within the 10th best ones.
Roman"s talent was highly estimated by Jean-Philippe Grand, the
manager of the Graff Racing, one of the Europe"s best teams in
Formula Renault and Formula 3, having a 20-year experience in motor
racing. He invited Roman to compete with his team in the French and
Euro Formula Renault.
The next 2000 season, Roman brightly performed in the French and
Euro Formula Renault Championship with Graff Racing. He was the
winner of the International Renault Finals in Valencia leaving
behind the future champion of France 2000. In this championship he
became a vice-champion among the juniors (he was bellow 20 by then)
and scored 7 overall.
The same year he entered the Institute Superior de Gestion (ISG) in
Paris and took up the BBA courses.
In 2001, continues his studies while competing with Graff Racing in
the French and European Formula Renault. Gained the 3rd place in the
prestigious city track race Grand Prix Pau.
In 2002, Roman made a stunning performance in British Formula Palmer
Audi championship, being the leader through the season. Up to the
final race weekend Roman hold the first place on the grid. Finally
he scored 3rd in the championship and became the first Russian to
step on the podium of grave and prestigious single-seater series in
Europe.
In 2003 Roman successfully performed in Euro 3000 Series. Russian
pilot has made sensation on his first race – at unfamiliar circuits
of Nurburgring Roman has shown the best time of qualification and
became the first Russian racer to start from the pole position in
such prestigious Series. Foreign mass-media name Roman Rusinov one
of the main applicants for a place in Formula 1 after his win at Le
Mans 1000Km. The Russian press on a regular basis shines Roman`s
success.
2004 season Roman raced with the French team JMB Racing. 4 rounds, 1
win, 2 podiums and 3 fastest laps - these results "went" to the
title for Roman, first ever Russian champion in the world.
