One of Ireland’s greatest motor racing drivers is returning home this week to advise aspiring young drivers on how to build a successful career in the sport.

Originally from Dublin, Derek Daly drove in Formula One for the Hesketh, Tyrrell, March, Theodore and Williams teams between 1978 and 1982, before moving to the United States and competing in Indycar and IMSA Sports Cars until 1992.

In 1984, he defied death in one of the worst Indycar crashes ever seen and endured 14 surgeries and three years of therapy before returning to full time racing in 1987. Since retiring, Derek has become a much-loved motorsport commentator on ESPN, Fox Sports and NBC Sports in the US.

 

Derek will be part of the Mondello Park Historic Festival race meeting this Saturday (17th August) where he will be hosting a seminar in association with Motorsport Ireland entitled; What if It’s You?

 

He will share his vast experience in the international motorsport circuit to help young drivers and their families map out a plan to progress in professional motorsport.  Attendees will get an acute understanding of the challenges and opportunities they can expect to face when transitioning from grassroots racing to the professional ranks.

Derek Daly said: “I’m delighted to be back in Mondello Park and to share my personal insights with young drivers aspiring to compete professionally in motorsports. I understand the challenges they face and am hopeful my seminar can help manage the daunting transitioning from grassroots racing to the professional ranks.”

Derek’s own story of success is in itself remarkable. He funded his early motorsport career by laboring in the iron ore mines of Australia in 1973 and spent some time living in a school bus in 1976 before making his breakthrough. He won the British Formula Ford Festival and the British Formula Three championship on his way to finishing 10th in the Formula One World Championship in 1980. In 1983, Derek made his first of six starts at the Indianapolis 500. He also raced at the Le Mans 24-hour race in France and won the prestigious Sebring 12-hour endurance in 1990. Just for good measure, he won it again in 1991. Derek retired from competing in 1992.

 

In 2000 he was inducted into the Irish Motorsports Hall of Fame

In 2010 he was inducted into the Sebring International Raceway Hall of Fame.

The Mondello Historic festival will take place on the 17th and 18th August. The festival will pay tribute to 60 years of MINI which will include Classic MINI Racing and demonstration laps. As part of the weekends activities visitors will experience not only historic racing cars but will be entertained with music, period dress, classic air displays and of course, motorsport. Alongside the track activities there will be displays of Classic Cars, Motorcycles and Classic Planes, with the Mondello Park Museum of Motorsport also open to visitors, allowing free access to this unique collection of rare machinery.

Derek Daly in Summary

Special Awards

In 1993, he received the Joules Goux Award from Moet & Chandon champagne for his outstanding contributions to motor sports television. He was also nominated in the same year for an Ace Award by ESPN. In December 2000, Derek received the prestigious Hall of Fame Award from “Motor Sport Ireland” for his leadership of Irish motor sport. In 2010 Derek was inducted into the Sebring International Raceway Hall of Fame.

 

Television & Radio

 

In 1985 Derek started a 10-year association as a motor sport color analyst on ESPN – America’s premier cable sports channel. In 1992 USA Today’s television critic Rudy Martzke, highlighted Derek as “the best new face on sports television”. A poll sponsored by and featured in IndyCar Racing magazine, voted Derek “the most popular motor sports television announcer”. Derek has worked for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Fox, ESPN and Speed Channel.

 

Derek Daly Academy

 

Partnering with BMW North America in 1996, Derek opened the most advanced driver training / racing school in the USA – Derek Daly Performance Driving Academy. DDA was voted “the best driving school in America” by MOTOR TREND and AUTOMOBILE magazines. DDA became a Race Driver Career Development and consulting company in 2008.

 

MotorVation

 

In 2002, Derek founded MotorVation, a unique provider of consulting and learning solutions. His belief was that the pace of doing business would only get faster in the future and that the ideal model for developing fast and efficient companies of the future was motor sports.  Hence the creation of a company that overlaid the motor sports model over the business model to produce energized learning and enabling environments that focused on speed, agility and flawless execution.

 

Derek Daly-Author

 

In 2008, MBI Publishing released Derek’s first book, Race to Win: How to become a Complete Champion. Derek was honored to have Mario Andretti pen the foreword. Although the book was written in the context of a motor sports champion, Mario says; “Derek’s book teaches lessons it took guys like me years to learn. Quite honestly, I believe the advice in this book resonates far beyond the racing industry.” – Mario Andretti.

In 2017, his second book, A Champions Path: Race Team Tactics for Business, was released by Octane Press.

Derek Daly-Speaker

 

Derek has become one of the most sought-after International speakers. His use of sports analogies to explain the business message is powerful. For years he has taught the timeless principles of his most valuable asset – speed. Companies like Xerox, Bayer, Deloitte, Growmark, USDA, Department of Defense, Federal Reserve Bank, Pepsico, State Farm, Zurich Insurance and Lilly have depended on Derek’s Complete Champion Model to motivate, inspire and enlighten their teams.

 

Derek, and three sons reside outside of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Derek became an American Citizen on September 28, 1993.

 

Anyone wishing to attend can register here https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/what-if-its-you-driver-development-seminar-tickets-65252472903