Derek Hill (racing driver) explained

Derek Hill
Nationality: United States
Birth Date:28 March 1975
Birth Place:Santa Monica, California
Related To:Phil Hill (father)
Racing Licence: FIA Silver
Prev Series:348 Ferrari Challenge
Ferrari Challenge International
Formula Dodge
Barber Dodge Pro Series
American Le Mans Series
Toyota Atlantic Series
Formula Palmer Audi
Italian Formula 3000
International Formula 3000
Grand Am Sportscar
American Le Mans Series
Prev Series Years:1995
1995
1995-1996
1996-1997
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001-2003
2002
2004
Titles:Ferrari Challenge International
Formula Dodge West Coast
Barber Dodge Pro Series Drivers' Champion
Title Years:1995
1996
1997
Awards:Rookie of the Year
AARWBA All America Team
Goodwood Revival Driver of the Weekend
Award Years:1996
1997
1999

Derek John Hill (born March 28, 1975, in Santa Monica, California) is an American racing driver. He is the son of Formula One World Champion Phil Hill.

Career

Early career

Hill initially raced karts in California and Ferrari sports cars (his father won his F1 title with the team).[1] Winning three of three races in the championship runoffs in Italy at the Mugello circuit in the Ferrari 355, Hill attracted the attention of the Alfa Romeo Factory DTM team and was invited to test the DTM car at Mugello in November 1995.

Barber Dodge Pro Series

Hill competed in the US-based Barber Dodge Pro Series in 1996, finishing third overall, taking Rookie-of-the-Year honors. In 1997, he took the championship title, winning four races in the process.

Professional Sports Car / IMSA

Also in 1997, Hill raced the Factory BMW M3 for the Prototype Technology Group in GTS3 Class. He won the GTS3 class at the Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours as well as scoring two other wins with teammate, Javier Quiros.

Formula Toyota Atlantic

Hill moved up to Formula Toyota Atlantic for 1998, finishing 13th in the championship.

Formula Palmer Audi

Hill moved into European racing in 1999 by taking part in the second season of the Formula Palmer Audi series, organised by former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer. He finished 19th in that year's championship.

Formula 3000

For 2000, Hill competed in six races of the Italian Formula 3000 series, failing to score any points. The following year, he moved up to the more prestigious FIA-backed series with the DAMS team with teammate, Sébastien Bourdais, and remained there in 2002 (a part-season with Durango, replacing Alexander Müller) and 2003 (with Super Nova). In three years, he scored a total of four points and was dropped midway through 2003 in favour of Nicolas Kiesa, who had been left without a drive due to the withdrawal of the Super Nova-run Den Blå Avis outfit.[2]

Nonetheless, Hill was often the most prominent American driver competing in Europe at this time.[3] During this period he also entered into a management contract with Anthony Haas and Brigitte Hill  - daughter and sister of Formula 1 champion namesakes Graham and Damon respectively  - to act as his managers.[1] He is currently involved in historic racing and working as a racing instructor after moving back to the United States to help look after his elderly father,[4] who died in August 2008.

Other career highlights

In 1996, Hill competed in the 1996 Daytona 24 Hours in a Bugatti EB110 Competizione in the GT1 category, setting fastest lap in the Daytona Test Days. Leading the class in the seventh hour, the car experienced mechanical failure. This was the last time a Bugatti raced professionally in the United States.

In 2002, Hill raced in the Grand Am, Fontana Four-Hour California Grand Prix, in the Saleen S7. He won the category and finished fourth overall.

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeam NameRacesPolesWinsPointsFinal Placing
1995348 Ferrari Challenge North AmericaFerrari of Beverly Hills9135852nd
1995Ferrari Challenge InternationalTeam Fitti3331st
1995Formula DodgeN/A14?11?1st
1996Barber Dodge Pro SeriesN/A?45?3rd
1997Barber Dodge Pro SeriesN/A12341571st
1997American Le Mans SeriesBMW Prototype Technology Group??4?2nd
1998Toyota Atlantic ChampionshipP1 Racing11004713th
1999Goodwood Revival/TTShelby1102nd
2000Italian Formula 3000Da Vinci Team6000NC
2001International Formula 3000DAMS12000NC
2002International Formula 3000Durango Formula7000NC
2003International Formula 3000Super Nova Racing600416th
2006Goodwood Revival/Freddie March CupN/A1111st

Complete Italian Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete International Formula 3000 results

YearEntrant123456789101112DCPoints
2001DAMSINT
IMO
CAT
A1R
MON
NÜR
MAG
SIL
HOC
HUN
SPA
MNZ
NC0
2002Durango FormulaINTIMOCATA1RMONNÜR
SIL
MAG
HOC
HUN
SPA
MNZ
NC0
2003Super Nova RacingIMO
CAT
A1R
MON
NÜR
MAG
SILHOCHUNMNZ16th4

References

Books

Websites

Notes and References

  1. News: The Hills are alive.... grandprix.com. 2002-08-10. 2007-09-13.
  2. News: Double points haul for new-look Super Nova. crash.net. https://archive.today/20120724090213/http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~7~id~71794.htm. dead. 2012-07-24. 2003-07-20. 2007-09-13.
  3. News: Formula 1 on American television. grandprix.com. 2001-03-16. 2007-09-13.
  4. Web site: Jenkins. Richard. The Formula 3000 drivers — Where are they now?. oldracingcars.com. 2007-09-13.