Dion_von_Moltke

Dion von Moltke

Dion von Moltke

American-born race car driver (born 1990)

Dion von Moltke (born July 27, 1990, in The Woodlands, Texas) is an American-born race car driver who has participated under a South African racing license[1] for the majority of his career. Von Moltke currently competes in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship GTD class with Paul Miller Racing in the #48 Audi R8 LMS with co-driver Christopher Haase.[2] His early career involved an upbringing in karts[3] and the Skip Barber National Championship.[4]

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Early life

Von Moltke was born on July 27, 1990, in The Woodlands, Texas. His parents are both from South Africa, and he has lived in Sydney, Australia, Los Angeles, California, and Dallas, Texas, before moving to Miami, Florida. While enrolled in a laptop-based school following their move to Miami in 2003, von Moltke's father offered him a choice of a gaming computer or a go kart to make up for the relocation, which led to the start of von Moltke's racing career. He later went on to attend Florida International University, joined the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, and began his professional career in 2008.[5]

Racing career

Karts

Von Moltke's karting career began in 2004, when he finished second in the EasyKart 100 cc Summer Championship Series. His first victory came at the Cope DeLas America's karting championship in San Carlos, Venezuela. In 2005, von Moltke won the EasyKart 100 cc Winter Championship Series and the WKA Florida State Regional Championship.[3]

Skip Barber

Von Moltke moved to the Skip Barber National Championship in 2007 after completing formula car schooling at the Skip Barber Racing School. He earned several podium finishes over the course of the season, and was named the most improved driver at the school in 2007.[6] In 2008 von Moltke won the inaugural Skip Barber Mazda Speed Challenge at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.[4]

Sports Car Racing

Von Moltke signed with APR Motorsports to drive a Volkswagen GTI in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in 2008.[7] He also made his Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series debut at New Jersey Motorsports Park with Racers Edge Motorsports.[8]

In 2009, von Moltke remained with APR in the Challenge Series, while also competing in Rolex with MCM Racing Porsche. He earned his first victory in Challenge at Watkins Glen International co-driving with Mike Sweeney, followed by victories at Mid-Ohio and Miller Motorsports Park. In 2010, von Moltke participated in the Daytona Prototype class of the Rolex Series with Doran Racing for the full season and earned the Rookie of the Year title.[9]

Von Moltke returned to the GT category in 2011, driving for the German Mühlner Motorsport Porsche team at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, backed by PR Newswire and South African Airways.[10] He also began racing in the American Le Mans Series' GTC category for Porsches with The Racer's Group.[11] He completed the American Le Mans Series season with a win at Lime Rock Park and was fifth in the championship standings.[12]

For 2012, von Moltke returned to APR Motorsport as the team moved into the Rolex GT category with an Audi R8 LMS, partnered with Jim Norman.[9] A switch to the Alex Job Racing team in the American Le Mans GTC category earned von Moltke a class victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring with co-drivers Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler.[5]

von Moltke in the Flying Lizard Porsche in 2013

In 2013, Dion von Moltke took the GT-class win at the 24 Hours of Daytona then a GTC class win at Sebring and followed it up with another GTC class win at the Grand Prix of Baltimore.

In 2014, Dion von Moltke signed [13] with the Flying Lizard Motorsports team for the full 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season behind the wheel of the No. 35 Audi R8 LMS. Although the #35 kicked off the season with three top five finishes, bad luck and Balance of Performance issues plagued the team, finishing 9th in the GTD championship standings.[14]

Dion von Moltke's 2015 Paul Miller Racing Audi R8 LMS

In January 2015, it was announced von Molkte would join Paul Miller Racing for the entirety of the race season, again competing in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship's GTD class.[2] Von Moltke earned his first career TUDOR United SportsCar Championship pole position at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, where he and co-driver Christopher Haase finished 3rd in the GTD class.[15] He earned his second pole position three races later at Lime Rock Park. Von Moltke led his entire stint, but the car was later taken out by another competitor, ending their race.[16] The Paul Miller Racing duo finished 3rd in the GTD class championship, with von Moltke earning a total of four pole positions.[17]

Personal life

Von Moltke currently attends Florida International University while participating in motorsport. He is a member of one of the university's fraternities.[1][5] Von Moltke is also involved in a training program for new drivers in motorsport. He is also involved with the Best Buddies International charity.[5] In November 2014, von Moltke spoke at a TEDx Talk night of Fearless Journeys at Florida International University.[18]

Results

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge

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Rolex SportsCar Series

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American Le Mans Series

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TUDOR United SportsCar Championship

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References

  1. [1]
    AOL. "Car Racing Dream Comes True for Teenager Dion von Moltke". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  2. [2]
    "von Moltke Maase Confirmed for Paul Miller Audi in 2015".
  3. [3]
    Player Management International. "Fittipaldi and Papis form kart team". Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  4. [4]
    The Race Site. "Dion von Moltke Dominates Inaugural Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge Race Weekend at Laguna Seca". Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  5. [5]
    FIU News (29 June 2012). "Dion von Moltke feels the need for speed". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  6. [6]
    SBRS (2 October 2007). "Midwest Series Finale at Road America". Retrieved 2 October 2007.
  7. [7]
    Grand Am Road Racing. "APR Motorport Announces Signing of Dion von Moltke For 2008 Season". Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  8. [8]
    Motorsport. "Millville: Penultimate round preview". Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  9. [9]
    Racecar.com. "Dion von Moltke's blog: New car, new opportunity". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  10. [10]
    PR Newswire. "Dion von Moltke Joins Muhlner Motorsport for the Rolex 24 Hour of Daytona". Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  11. [11]
    The Racer's Group. "Ludwig, Norman Join von Moltke to Round Out Second TRG Sebring Entry". Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  12. [12]
    TRG. "TRG Take Commanding 1-2 At Lime Rock". Archived from the original on 2 January 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  13. [13]
    "Dion von Moltke has been signed to return to Flying Lizard Motorsports". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  14. [14]
    IMSA Standings. "United SportsCar Team Standings". Archived from the original on 10 December 2014.
  15. [15]
    "von Moltke Scores First Total Pole Award". Archived from the original on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  16. [16]
    "Paul Miller Racing Knocked Out of Race Lead at Lime Rock Park".
  17. [17]
    "IMSA | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship | Driver Standings". Archived from the original on 4 November 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  18. [18]
    YouTube. "What does it take to be a race car driver". YouTube. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
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