This year, Darren Law has frequently been under the spotlight, with his victory at the wheel of the Riley-Porsche No. 58, with David Donohue, Antonio Garcia and Buddy Rice, at the 24 Hours of Daytona and its crash at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Porsche 997 RSR Flying Lizard Motorsports. Darren is a talented driver and a fierce fighter. Yet it is little known in Europe. He kindly agreed to answer some questions.

First of all, Darren,you were born in Toronto. So, are you Canadian or American? Both?

Actually I am a US citizen not Canadian. My parents were traveling through the US and Canada at the time I was born. My father was working for Penske Racing as a mechanic for Mark Donohue. I was born when they were on the road and happen to be in Canada but I never lived there, I have been in the US all my life.

I believe that you have been racing in Europe during your early racing career. How many years have you been racing in Europe? Formula Renault, what else? When you were in Europe, did you come at Le Mans as a spectator?

Yes I lived in England for a year and drove for a formula car team. I ran Formula Ford and Formula Renault in 1991. I had never been to LeMans before though.

You have been an overall winner of the 2009 Rolex 24. Can you say some words about the race and this win? As it has been a very hardfighted race, with four cars nearly neck and neck, were you however confident? What have been the main troubles, if any, for the #58 Brumos Porsche Riley during the race?

Yes this was an amazing race. It means so much to me and for my team. It was very hard-fought. We had a great start and qualified on pole but only by about a tenth of a second. This series is very competitive. After running up front most of the night one of my teammates slid off track about 3am and had to come in for repairs to the nose of the car. We fought our way back to the front after being a couple of laps down. Then to have those 4 cars fighting for the last hour nose to tail was just amazing. My teammates and I sat outside the pits and couldn’t even watch. But the team did a great job, all of us drivers were pushing hard every single laps for 24 hours and things went out way.

You had some strong results in the first three events of the Rolex Series and, since Laguna Seca, it is more difficult. Is it due to the restrictions to the Porsche-powered DPs (engine and gearbox)? Do you think it will be better now for the rest of the season?

Yes the first 3 races we finished 1st, 3rd and 4th and yes we were hurt by the restrictions the series put on the Porsche powered prototypes for sure. It is unfortunate because it really hurt us from a competitive standpoint. The competitions is very hard in that series and we got most of the penalties removed so things are better, so I feel like we will be competitive again the rest of the season.

What could you say about your regular partner in the Grand-Am Series, David Donohue? About João Barbosa and JC France, Brumos Racing drivers as well?

My regular teammate David Donohue is a great guy. Very sincere, a great driver and we work very well together. Joao and JC are also great to work with. We are all really good friends both at the track and off the track and spend a lot of time together. As you know Joao races in Europe as well and he is always fast.

As you are racing in the Rolex Series with Brumos Racing and in the ALMS with Flying Lizard Motorsports, is it really tough to compete in both Series? Does it require a special fitness training?

Yes it can be tough. I really enjoy both series. One thing that makes it tough is when there are races on the same weekend. Sometimes I have to miss one of the races or, like next month I will fly between the two series and the same weekend and race them both. Yes, it is very physical and have a special training program that I do to try and stay fit and be able to race in both series.

You are now a long-time partner of the Lizards, what are your feelings about the team?

I have been with them since they started their first season in professional racing. They are very special to me. They are a great group of people and the team is the best run, most organized racing program I have been involved with. I enjoy coming to every race weekend with them.

You were a rookie at Le Mans, so what could you say about the track?

It was unbelievable! I had heard so much about it but words can’t really describe it. It was so much bigger and faster than I expected, I really enjoyed the track and I hope to go back again next year.

Had you high expectations for the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

Yes, I had very high expectations for this race, even though it was my first time there. Both my team and teammates had been there several times in the past, we had a good car and were running well.

Could you compare the Rolex 24 and Le Mans atmospheres? Are the fans different at Daytona and at Le Mans?

Well on race day they have some similarities, a big event about to start with a long grueling race ahead but that is where it stops. The fans are crazy, they are so much more into the event in Lemans. The media events leading up to LeMans are bigger, the whole town gets into it a lot more in LeMans. It was a different but great experience.

What are your feelings about the race week at Le Mans? Scrutineering, practice and qualifying session, drivers parade?

Well, as I mentioned before it was amazing. I have never been to a racing event ever that had so much fan support. I had never experienced a driver parade like the one In LeMans, it was the biggest racing event that I have ever been to.

What did exactly happen for your crash with the Porsche? Oil on the track, I believe?

Yes, that is what we believe to have happened. I came down the Mulsanne straight, full speed, which for us is around 190mph. and couldn’t stop and make the chicane so I went straight off into the tires. It was a big accident and the car was too wrecked to finish the race but I am glad Porsche built a strong car.

Would you like to come back at Le Mans?

For sure, I would do it again without question.

Is it very different to drive a prototype such as the Porsche Riley and a GT as the Porsche 997 GT3 RSR?
Yes, they are quite a bit different. The Porsche Riley Prototype is very stiff and quick reacting, the GT Porsche moves around a lot more and takes more work to control it.

What are your expectations for the end of the season, for the Rolex Series and the ALMS?

Well, for both series I would like to have some podium finishes, I would hope to have another win in the Rolex car and I hope to finish well in the points at the end of the season.

Is it very different to drive a prototype such as the Porsche Riley and a GT as the Porsche 997 GT3 RSR?

Yes, they are quite a bit different. The Porsche Riley Prototype is very stiff and quick reacting, the GT Porsche moves around a lot more and takes more work to control it.

Your favourite cars (past and present)?

I really enjoyed driving the Super Touring Cars. I ran a 2.0 litre BMW in the mid 1990′s, that was a lot of fun. The best car you have ever driven? I’m not done driving so I will have to wait to say which is the best ever.

Which race are you dreaming about?

I would love to win the 24 hours of Daytona, the 12 hours of Sebring and the 24 hours of LeMans in the same season.

Apart from the Rolex 24 of course, which is your best racing memory? Worst, if any?

Right now the Rolex 24 hour stands out to me as the best, one of my worst memories is when our team owner of Brumos racing Bob Snodgrass passed away a couple of years ago.

On a more personal point of view, what are your hobbies, apart from racing?

I cycle a lot on the road, and go off road driving in the mountains where I live.

We do warmly thank Darren for his kindness.

Claude Foubert