Dion von Moltke

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 Tudor United SportsCar 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]

Race car driver Dion von Moltke in 2013
Nationality South African
American
Born (1990-07-27) July 27, 1990
The Woodlands, Texas
United SportsCar Championship career
Current teamPaul Miller Racing
Car number48
Former teamsFlying Lizard Motorsports, Racers Edge, MCM Racing, Starworks Motorsport, Doran Racing, Flat 6 Motorsports, Mühlner Motorsport, The Racer's Group,APR Motorsports, Alex Job Racing
Wins5 (1 Rolex Sports Car Series, 4 American Le Mans Series)
Poles4
Previous series
Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Rolex Sports Car Series, American Le Mans Series

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 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

Year Team Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points
2008 APR Motorsport ST DIS
41
LRP
14
MOS
29
MOH
31
WGI
NA
BAR
NA
IOW
23
TRR
32
NJP
15
UTA
2
VIR
24
44th 82
Rehagen Racing GS DIS
NA
LRP
NA
MOS
NA
MOH
NA
WGI
NA
BAR
12
IOW
NA
TRR
NA
NJP
NA
UTA
NA
VIR
NA
70th 19
2009 APR Motorsport ST DIS
NA
HOM
NA
NJP
NA
LAG
15
LRP
21
WGI
1
MOH
1
BAR
15
TRR
7
UTA
1
VIR
NA
44th 112
2010 Mitchum Motorsports GS DIS
NA
HOM
NA
BAR
NA
VIR
NA
LRP
8
WGI
NA
MOH
NA
NJP
NA
TRR
NA
UTA
NA
71st 23
2011 Doran Racing ST DIS
NA
HOM
19
BAR
NA
VIR
NA
LRP
NA
WGI
NA
ROA
NA
LAG
NA
NJP
NA
MOH
NA
78th 12
2012 APR Motorsport ST DIS
NA
BAR
NA
HOM
19
NJP
NA
MOH
NA
ROA
NA
WGI
NA
IND
NA
LAG
NA
LRP
NA
81st 12

Rolex SportsCar Series

Year Team Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Rank Points
2008 Racers Edge Motorsports GT DIS
NA
HOM
NA
MEX
NA
VIR
NA
LAG
NA
LRP
NA
WGI
NA
MOH
NA
DIS
NA
BAR
NA
MON
NA
WGI
NA
SNO
NA
NJP
13
UTA
NA
89th 18
2009 Racers Edge Motorsports GT DIS
12
VIR
NA
NJP
NA
LAG
NA
WGI
NA
MOH
NA
DIS
NA
BAR
NA
WGI
NA
MON
NA
UTA
NA
HOM
NA
34th 62
Battery Tender/MCM Racing GT DIS
NA
VIR
12
NJP
6
LAG
NA
WGI
NA
MOH
NA
DIS
NA
BAR
NA
WGI
NA
MON
NA
UTA
NA
HOM
NA
BMW Riley DP DIS
NA
VIR
NA
NJP
NA
LAG
NA
WGI
NA
MOH
NA
DIS
NA
BAR
NA
WGI
NA
MON
NA
UTA
NA
HOM
13
48th 18
2010 Starworks Motorsport DP DIS
12
VIR
NA
NJP
NA
LAG
NA
WGI
NA
MOH
NA
DIS
NA
BAR
NA
WGI
NA
MON
NA
UTA
NA
HOM
NA
12th 277
Doran Racing DP DIS
NA
HOM
9
BAR
4
VIR
8
LRP
11
WGI
9
MOH
7
DIS
5
NJP
6
WGI
9
MON
9
UTA
7
2011 Muehlner Motorsports GT DIS
9
HOM
NA
BAR
NA
VIR
NA
LRP
NA
WGI
NA
ROA
NA
LAG
NA
NJP
NA
WGI
NA
MON
NA
MOH
NA
51st 22
2012 APR Motorsport GT DIS
31
BAR
11
HOM
17
NJP
14
DET
11
MOH
13
ROA
12
WGI
18
IMS
18
WGI
13
MON
9
LAG
12
LRP
2
13th 241
2013 Alex Job Racing GT DIS
1
AUS
NA
BAR
NA
ATL
NA
DET
NA
MOH
NA
WGI
NA
IMS
NA
ROA
NA
KAN
NA
LAG
NA
LRP
NA
16th 145
Muehlner Motorsports GT DIS
NA
AUS
9
BAR
7
ATL
NA
DET
9
MOH
11
WGI
NA
IMS
NA
ROA
NA
KAN
NA
LAG
NA
LRP
NA
Audi Sport Customer Racing GT DIS
NA
AUS
NA
BAR
NA
ATL
NA
DET
NA
MOH
NA
WGI
9
IMS
NA
ROA
NA
KAN
NA
LAG
NA
LRP
NA

American Le Mans Series

Year Team Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank Points
2011 The Racers Group GTC SEB
5
LBGP
5
LRP
1
MOS
2
MOH
7
ROA
6
BAL
5
LAG
6
RAT
4
5th 108
2012 Battery Tender/William Rast GTC SEB
1
LBGP
NA
LAG
NA
LRP
NA
MOS
NA
MOH
NA
ROA
NA
BAL
NA
VIR
NA
RAT
NA
16th 38
Alex Job Racing GTC SEB
NA
LBGP
NA
LAG
NA
LRP
NA
MOS
NA
MOH
NA
ROA
NA
BAL
NA
VIR
NA
RAT
5
2013 Alex Job Racing GTC SEB
1
LBGP
NA
LAG
NA
LRP
NA
MOS
NA
ROA
NA
BAL
NA
AUS
NA
VIR
NA
RAT
NA
9th 81
Flying Lizard Motorsports GTC SEB
NA
LBGP
3
LAG
9
LRP
6
MOS
7
ROA
5
BAL
1
AUS
7
VIR
5
RAT
5

TUDOR United SportsCar Championship

Year Team Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points
2014 Flying Lizard Motorsports GTD DIS
5
SEB
5
LAG
5
DET
13
WGI
7
MOS
14
IND
13
ROA
8
VIR
7
AUS
13
RAT
12
11th 252
2015 Paul Miller Racing GTD DIS
5
SEB
5
LAG
2
DET
3
WGI
3
MOS
-
LRP
10
ROA
6
VIR
5
AUS
3
RAT
10
3rd 277

References

  1. AOL. "Car Racing Dream Comes True for Teenager Dion von Moltke". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  2. "von Moltke Maase Confirmed for Paul Miller Audi in 2015".
  3. Player Management International. "Fittipaldi and Papis form kart team". Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  4. The Race Site. "Dion von Moltke Dominates Inaugural Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge Race Weekend at Laguna Seca". Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  5. FIU News. "Dion von Moltke feels the need for speed". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  6. SBRS. "Midwest Series Finale at Road America". Retrieved 2 October 2007.
  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. Motorsport. "Millville: Penultimate round preview". Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  9. Racecar.com. "Dion von Moltke's blog: New car, new opportunity". Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  10. PR Newswire. "Dion von Moltke Joins Muhlner Motorsport for the Rolex 24 Hour of Daytona". Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  11. The Racer's Group. "Ludwig, Norman Join von Moltke to Round Out Second TRG Sebring Entry". Retrieved 14 March 11. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. TRG. "TRG Take Commanding 1-2 At Lime Rock". Archived from the original on 2 January 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  13. "Dion von Moltke has been signed to return to Flying Lizard Motorsports".
  14. IMSA Standings. "United SportsCar Team Standings". Archived from the original on 2014-12-10.
  15. "von Moltke Scores First Total Pole Award".
  16. "Paul Miller Racing Knocked Out of Race Lead at Lime Rock Park".
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-11-04. Retrieved 2015-10-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. YouTube. "What does it take to be a race car driver". Retrieved 26 November 2014.
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