Driver Spotlight on Rolex Sports Car Series GT class Darren Law

Driver Spotlight on Darren Law

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2001) -- Darren Law is only one race away from capturing his second-straight driver championship in the Rolex Sports Car Series GT class. He needs only one lap under green-flag conditions at the Grand-Am Finale at Daytona International Speedway, Nov. 3, to clinch the championship. With the Finale being postponed from its originally scheduled September date due to the national tragedy, Law is anxious to get back behind the wheel and start focusing on what lies ahead in 2002. 

THE BASICS
Series - Rolex Sports Car Series
Class - GT
Team - G&W Motorsports
Car - #81 Porsche GT3 R
Date of Birth - April 4, 1968 (Age 33)
Hometown - Phoenix, Ariz.
Birthplace - Canada
Spouse - Karrie (married 1993)
Children - Megan (1995) & Hannah (1997)

2001 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS 
Nextel 250 - 2nd GT (12th Overall)
Sun Automotive 200 - 2nd GT (7th Overall)
Six Hours of The Glen - 1st GT (8th Overall)
Road America 500 - 3rd GT (10th Overall)
Le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières GT Race - 2nd GT (2nd Overall)
Currently 1st in GT Driver Point Standings

IN HIS WORDS...
When did you begin racing?
I began racing in 1979 when I was 11 years old. I started out in go-karts and stayed in go-karts until basically '86. 

When did you know that you wanted to pursue racing professionally?
It's been in my family forever. So as I got better and better in karting, and we kept going, I chose that to pursue. And it's gone on ever since. 

Do you have any superstitions?
I don't know if I want to divulge all my superstitions. Some of its stupid stuff. When I was growing up, every time my mother would bring fried chicken to the racetrack, I would always do bad. So I never eat fried chicken. But I don't have any major superstitions. 

What are you thoughts on 2001 season?
We've had a good year. I would say we've had a more competitive year than the inaugural year of Grand-Am. It's been good for us. We've had a number of podium finishes. We won the Six Hours (of The Glen), which was big deal for us. Obviously it could have been better, and we would have liked to have seen a few more wins. But, all in all it's been a good season. 

What was your most memorable racing moment in 2001?
I would have to say the Watkins Glen six-hour race. In qualifying, Terry Borcheller (in the JET Motorsports BMW M3) and I both went out, and it was raining. We both went off track within a corner of each other. I banged up the car. Even after having the car banged up, the crew put it back together, and we won the race. So, that was a big highlight for us.

Tell us about the rivalry between you and Terry Borcheller in the JET Motorsports BMW M3. 
It's a friendly rivalry. Terry and I have followed very similar career paths. We both started karting about the same time. We went through the same basic things and have progressed through racing probably very similar. He and I live close together. We both work at Bondurant Driving School. We've been around together for quite a while. We do stuff together. We go karting in-between races. Even though it's competitive on track and we want to be faster than each other, when we get together we give each other racing room and there is nothing dirty out there. So, it's great racing. 

What is your team's plan for the Finale?
I don't know if we want to divulge strategy. Obviously its key for me that I get a lap of green (to clinch the GT driver championship.) So that will be a priority for the race. Once that happens, we are going to run it like any other race. Obviously we don't have to win it, but we do have to finish well, because (my co-driver) Matt (Drendel) is also in the points hunt. He's got Terry really close to him. He's second and Terry's third. So, we've got to get Matt a decent finish to make sure he finishes ahead of the BMW. It will be a real feather in (team owner) Cole Scrogham's hat for G&W if we can pull this off. It will be team and driver championships two years in a row. 

How does it feel to be one race away from winning back-to-back GT driver championships?
It feels great. I just have my fingers crossed and hope that nothing goes wrong. I hope we get there. I just want to get it done now, after being delayed for a month. 

What are your plans for the 2002 season?
I am still working on that. I have a bunch of irons in the fire. I am talking to a lot of people, and I'm obviously talking to G&W again. Until everybody has their sponsorship money and things firmed up, I don't have anything nailed down for sure. Hopefully by the time we get ready for Daytona, I'll have a contract finished here. 

What goals have you set for yourself?
As far as me personally, to obviously do the best I can. I want to be the best out there. Eventually I would like to move out of GT and get into prototypes, and someday maybe have a factory deal. That's kind of what I am hoping to do. 

Talk about the importance of your family in your life. 
That's number one. Other than racing, that's it. Racing is tough because we are gone a lot on the weekends. We spend a lot of time away from the family. But, its also good as a profession, because when I'm home, I'm actually home with the kids. I get to spend time with them. 

What hobbies do you have outside of racing?
It's all involved in racing. Other than karting, I do a lot of ATV riding out in the desert mountains out here in Arizona. I enjoy snow skiing. Almost everything I do I would say has some kind of competitive nature to it. 

Who or what has been the biggest influence in your life?
I wouldn't pin it down to one thing or person in general. There have been a number of things that have influenced me. My family. My parents. My father has been involved in racing forever. My wife is an inspiration, because she really supports everything I do. I definitely wouldn't nail down any one professional driver as a total influence, because there are a number of people I follow and watch. 

Tickets to the Grand-Am Finale, being held as part of the Manheim's Daytona Auto Auction Presents The Brumos Continental Historics at Daytona International Speedway, Nov. 1-4, are currently on sale at the Speedway ticket office. They may be purchased by calling 386-253-RACE (7223) or by logging on to www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.