Dion von Moltke
| File:DionVonMoltkeProfileImage.JPG | |
| Nationality |  South African American |
|---|---|
| Born | July 27, 1990 The Woodlands, Texas |
| Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series American Le Mans Series career | |
| Current team | APR Motorsports Alex Job Racing |
| Former teams | Racers Edge, MCM Racing, Starworks Motorsport, Doran Racing, Flat 6 Motorsports, Mühlner Motorsport, The Racer's Group, Alex Job Racing |
| Wins | 9[citation needed] |
| Best finish | 1st in |
Dion von Moltke (born July 27, 1990 in The Woodlands, Texas) is an American-born race car driver who participates under a South African racing license.[1] Von Moltke current races professionally in the Rolex Sports Car Series driving an Audi R8 LMS for APR Motorsport and American Le Mans Series with Alex Job Racing in a Porsche 911 GT3. His early career involved an upbringing in karts and the Skip Barber National Championship.[2]
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.
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][2]
Von Moltke finished fourth in the Stars of Karting Series standings in 2006 while racing in the Spec Racer class. He earned several pole positions and race wins in the series. He also won the EasyKart 125 cc Grand National Championship race and also placed in the top ten in the EasyKart World 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. In 2008 von Moltke won the inaugural Skip Barber Mazda Speed Challenge at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.[3][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[5] He also made his Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series debut at New Jersey Motorsports Park in with Racers Edge Motorsports.[6]
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. He competed in the season finale of the Super Modified V8 Series at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa.[3] In 2010, von Moltke participated in the Daytona Prototype class of the Rolex Series with Starworks Motorsport for the full season, and won the Rookie of the Year award in the category.[1]
Von Moltke returned to the GT category in 2001, driving for the German Mühlner Motorsport Porsche team at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.[6] He also began racing in the American Le Mans Series' GTC category for Porsches with The Racer's Group. He completed the American Le Mans Series season with a win at Lime Rock Park and was fifth in the championship standings.[7]
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.[8] 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.
Personal life
Von Moltke currently attends Florida International University while participating in motorsport. He is a member of one of the university's fraternities. Von Moltke is also involved in a training program for new drivers in motorsport. He is also involved with the Best Buddies International charity.[9]
References
- ^ a b AOL. "Car Racing Dream Comes True for Teenager Dion von Moltke". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ a b Player Management International. "Fittipaldi and Papis form kart team". Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- ^ a b c d von Moltke, Dion. "Biography". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ The Race Site. "Dion von Moltke Dominates Inaugural Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge Race Weekend at Laguna Seca". Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ Grand Am Road Racing. "APR Motorport Announces Signing of Dion von Moltke For 2008 Season". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ a b Grand-Am. "Grand-Am Drivers - Dion von Moltke". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ TRG. "TRG Take Commanding 1-2 At Lime Rock". Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ Racecar.com. "Dion von Moltke's blog: New car, new opportunity". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ FIU News. "Dion von Moltke feels the need for speed". Retrieved 6 August 2012.