Interviews

Planetlemans talks to David Hart

© Planetlemans - Milo Kol

Some uninformed people have labelled him as a "gentleman driver" to indicate he would not be quick enough behind the wheel of an LMP1 car. But you just need to look at his track record to know that David Hart has experience aplenty on GT cars and certainly on the podium. Belcar champion in 2005, twice winner of the Zolder 24 Hours… We approach David in between qualifying and race at Monza and the advantage with him is you don’t need to ask questions, he starts firing the story at you right away!

© Planetlemans - Gabriel Portos

DH- I did drive a prototype before, with G-Force. I ran with them in the 2005 Le Mans Series at the Nürburgring 1000 km and we came in fourth !

PLM- So how did the deal with Racing for Holland (RfH) materialize? How did you get in contact with Jan (Lammers)?

DH- Well, I was not planning to race or looking for a seat in the LMS it was just that day in Brussels that got me here…

PLM- Brussels?

DH- So here’s the story. I get into this Antique shop in Brussels and somebody walks up to me and starts talking. He says he knows me from my Belcar past, etc. and he happens to be Michael Vergers’ father who said I should drive for the Barazi team. So here I am a week later getting a call to start talks on a deal and… well, I am a deal maker, that’s my job! (editor’s note: David owns a huge real estate company headquartered in the Netherlands)

PLM- But the deal was with Barazi?

DH- Listen, I drive for pleasure, I love driving but it needs to be in a environment that I know. I need to be able to learn from the guys that are quicker than I am, I need to feel comfortable. And I did not know the Barazi team. So, they were kind enough and invited me to join but I wanted to know the team better so I called Jeroen (Bleekemolen). And then he says he’s in talks with Jan and that RfH is such a great team so Jan calls me and I say "I don’t want the second car, I want the best" but it was not about the second car (laughs). Don’t get me wrong but if you love competing like I do and you have the financials then you want the best you can afford, so that conversation did it! It was an immediate deal and it was for both of us, Jeroen and myself. And to be honest I am extremely happy about it, I couldn’t have gotten myself in a better team, I love the roof thingy, an Aston is more my kind of car but to be able to drive a prototype and in a 100% Dutch drivers team, it cannot get any better!

PLM- What is Dome’s involvement in Racing for Holland?

DH- They are the boss! They are very supportive, in fact they own the car and they do everything to develop it with the RfH team’s know how as an important component. It feels like what it is: a factory team. I think Dome wants to be on the map as a main manufacturer, like, say, Lola and that is their objective and the reason they are working so hard to support RfH. I am used to having my own team so I have to get used to it a bit, it is different when you are the boss and you determine many things yourself (laughs).

© Planetlemans - Gabriel Portos

PLM- What about Le Mans, any special training for the race?

DH- These races are our road to Le Mans, actually we start tomorrow in the Monza 1000 km. It is the best way to prepare, of course you need to also work on your neck and arms but the races are the best way to get ready.

PLM- What were those comments about your performance?

DH- Jan always says that I am quicker than what I think myself. And basically, like Michael Vergers I have raced mostly out of the Netherlands so people do not really know me that much as a driver there. That’s why some people posted things in some forums about me just being a businessman and not knowing how to race. Normally I don’t care what people say but while driving for RfH I really want to perform. We will see if they were right after the race.

PLM- So how do you feel after Paul Ricard and two days here?

DH- The car feels very good. I’m not like Jeroen, he just jumps in the car and says "I feel very comfortable" and drives a fast lap just like that. I am learning, specially the down force and the braking which is much more powerful than in the GTs.

PLM- And what about these long races? Do you like night driving?

DH- I started to race long distances in 2000 so I am experienced in that sense. I respect the material, tyres, other drivers on the track and also my team-mates. The car is not just mine, I need to make sure they also receive it in good condition. On the night driving? I love thrill, danger: drizzle, wet track, night racing , give it to me!

PLM- What has been your value added to the team as a driver?

DH- Well, the new engine has lower revs so you have to attack corners slightly different. My experience with the Corvettes has helped Jan to understand how you drive with that kind of regime. I was faster in some corners at the Ricard in the beginning because of that, I am pretty quick right from the beginning so that was useful during testing. But testing is not my strongest point, racing is my thing. In races I can go immediately 1.5 seconds quicker than in practice, just like that.
PLM- How do you combine your business activities with racing?

DH- Well, it’s like the race just happens to me, I am in the office closing a deal and suddenly I find myself at Schiphol airport taking the plane and coming here. Only then I realize I am going to race that weekend.

PLM- So your objective for this year is…?

DH- Le Mans of course! The race of races. I’ve done it twice on GT classes and I’m really looking forward to it but I want to be well prepared. I am really honoured that I’ve been given the chance to be in this team, in the end you can bring your money but the team also needs to accept you and I feel really great in RfH. I told you already about neck and arms and I train them by driving in go-karts a lot. We do a lot of karting, this is a very good exercise and we need it…I was telling Jan that both of us together are already almost 100 years old!

On Sunday David did his job, the car had a number of issues in its first race but while he was on it he had comparable times to those of his team mates. Promise delivered and a big smile when we cross in the pit lane: "I am not tired at all!" he proudly says and it sounds to me like a good omen for June. He is a lot of fun, a gentleman but also certainly a driver.

Thanks David for your time, it was real fun and good luck next race.

gabriel@planetlemans.com