The Road Racing Drivers' Club announced that BMW Motorsport factory driver Joey Hand will be the latest online instructor for its highly acclaimed SAFEisFAST.com initiative.
SAFEisFAST.com is a free online resource offering video tutorials on safety, fitness, mental skills, race craft, career development, sponsorship, marketing and more to assist the careers of drivers in all forms of racing. Hand will join an accomplished group of professionals who have served as online instructors for the website's “Ask a Pro” section, including Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button, Indianapolis 500 champions Dario Franchitti and Gil de Ferran and two-time Le Mans winner Alexander Wurz, as well as fitness guru Jim Leo and mental preparation expert Dr. Jacques Dallaire. Since its launch, there have been over a quarter of a million views of the online tutorials from visitors representing more than 130 countries.
Questions for Hand are being accepted now via SAFEisFAST.com. His answers will be posted beginning next Monday, Jan. 21.
Hand, 33, from Sacramento, Calif., is living proof that hard work, perseverance and talent are the primary attributes necessary to become a top-line professional driver. Hailing from a modest family background, Hand first sprung to prominence in karts, which he began racing at age 12. He made a rapid transition into cars, finishing second and claiming Rookie of the Year honors in the 1998 Star Mazda Championship, then winning the title in convincing fashion one year later.
After earning a Team USA Scholarship in 2000 and contesting the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy in England, Hand moved into the Atlantic Championship with DSTP Motorsports, earning top rookie honors in '01. He then took advantage of an opportunity to move across to the sports car ranks with Team PTG and BMW.
Almost a decade later, Hand's name is virtually synonymous with BMW. He has earned multiple wins in the American Le Mans Series and Rolex GT competition, including an ALMS GT2 championship and victory in the 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona. He was chosen by BMW to represent the marque on its return to the high-profile European DTM series last year (RIGHT), and will return for a second DTM campaign in 2013 alongside his various commitments in North America.
“I'm happy to be asked to do this and proud to do it,” said Hand, whose season will commence in earnest next week at Daytona when he suits up to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing in the ‘round-the-clock Rolex 24 sports car enduro. “When I was young and coming up, there was no program or website like SAFEisFAST but I had a lot of great people to bounce things off of and who gave me lots of support and knowledge, so I'm really looking forward to being able to give back a little bit and maybe help out some people who might be looking for answers.”