96 » OpenRoad Driver
past two seasons. It definitely stacks up
the air miles! I haven’t fully confirmed my
schedule yet, but I will definitely stay in a
World Championship. The World Touring
Car Championship has been very nice
the past four seasons, but maybe I would
consider options in the World Endurance
Championship this year.
2013 has been a memorable year, taking
podium finishes at Le Mans 24, Daytona
24 and also the Dubai 24. So it has been
the year of 24-hour races for me!
Trois-Rivières was a new course to
you. Tell us how you eked out that
victory.
When learning a new street circuit, the best
thing to do is to look to local knowledge.
I was very fortunate to have a great driver
coach from the SpeedMerchants team,
local hero J-F Dumoulin. He walked the
circuit with me and explained to me every
bump and camber on the track surface. It
helped a lot and it was a big reason I was
able to adapt to the circuit so quickly.
Speaking of success, what is it
about Macau that has brought you
so many victories and so much
success over the years?
Macau Grand Prix is my favourite track
in the world. It is an amazing street circuit
carving through the streets of Macau
reaching speeds of 270 kph, literally driving
right by the ferry terminal and casinos!
I don’t really know what it is, but street
circuits have given me a lot of success.
All three of my victories at Macau came
behind the wheel of a Porsche, so maybe
there’s something that works for me
driving a Porsche on a street track.
What’s the significance of 55 as
your racing number?
It’s a good question! Growing up speaking
English and Chinese, I sometimes put
the two together. When I was younger, I
decided five in Chinese sounds like fast.
Five and 快 (fai), so I just started using 55
since.
You just started a new program
to introduce kids to motorsports
in Hong Kong. Tell us about the
O’Young Future Stars training
program.
I actually wish I had more time on my
calendar to introduce this program in
Vancouver, as it probably needs motorsport
promotion here just as much as Hong
Kong. I personally feel my career never
would have happened if I wasn’t so lucky
to have a dad that loved racing. He got
me my first kart at the age of eight and I
raced every year since then over the past
25 seasons. I just want to give a chance
to kids that never experienced karting to
have an opportunity, so I created the OFS
program as a non-profit program to give
kids the chance. Promoting motorsport
is something that my dad did for many
years in Vancouver, creating the Vancouver
Chinese Motorsport Club back in the 80s,
so I wanted to do something similar in my
dad’s memory.
Looking ahead what will 2014 bring
for you? Are you planning 27 race
weekends again for the year, and
maybe the 24 Hours of Le Mans
again?
The last couple of seasons have been a bit
hectic, with 27 race weekends each of the
I will definitely make a return to the 24
Hours of Le Mans this year. In 2013 it was
just too close missing victory in the race by
only one minute after 24 hours. I won’t feel
content until I finally take the top step of
the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans,
but it won’t be an easy task to get there.
What’s on the top of your list for
spare-time activities away from
motorsport?
Lately, I would definitely have to say golf.
If I can find some spare time – which is
practically never – I try to get in a round
of golf. A quick getaway to Thailand and
playing a few rounds is a great stress relief,
but my life is fully immersed in motorsport
right now, which makes it pretty full on.
We’re running out of time. Are
you wearing the new ORIS Darryl
O’Young watch?
Not yet! ORIS just made a new limited
edition watch for me to celebrate my ten
years of racing at the Macau Grand Prix. I
helped a little bit in the concept so I can’t
wait to finally get one on my wrist. I’ve
only seen the prototype earlie r this month
so it should be on the market in March this
year.
FAST LANE WITH DARRYL O’YOUNG
Be st gadget:
Favour ite s nack :
G ui lty pleasure :
Worst habit:
Be st laugh:
B lackbe r r y Z 10
al mond s
ski ppi ng the g ym
r ushi ng, e spe c i al ly dur i ng travel
Tal lade ga Nights