15 questions to: BMW’s Joey Hand

On a weekend when his BMW stablemates finished 1-2-3 on the podium, Joey Hand, the Munich manufacturer’s one and only American DTM driver, didn’t experience such luck as he retired his M3 with a loose wheel after his first pitstop.

However, he recently caught up with with TouringCarTimes to talk about his improved 2013 form, the balancing act between living in the US but racing in the Europe, and the series’ American adventure which is set to start within three years.

1. In 2012 you scored just 6 points over the whole DTM season. In 2013, you have scored almost three times that after just two races. What has been the key to this up-turn in form? Have the new tyres had anything to do with this?

The biggest thing for me is it is my second year so I know the tracks now and it makes a really big difference. There are lots of things from start procedures to pit lane procedures. Just all this stuff that in the second year you know. Small things that make driving the track easier and your can focus on the driving.

2. Since switching to the RBM team over the winter, have you managed to learn anything from having Augusto as your team-mate? How do you compliment each other at work?

I havent necessarily learned from Augusto, but I do think we have a similar driving style and our approach to the weekend is similar. We are both just about the race and focus on that and making the race car go faster. Then getting some rest and coming back and doing it again. We are similar

3. How do you manage to keep an equal amount of focus on DTM, as well as limited ALMS/Grand Am and Aussie V8 programmes throughout the season? 

We changed how we have done it this year. I am not doing the Aussie V8s. I did three races before the DTM season started and now I will only do three races to finish the year in the ALMS. The biggest thing is for any DTM weekend I have a week off prior to that so I am not constantly travelling back and forth. I could have done every ALMS race but for the last one and that would have been a lot of back and forth. I have definitely made a conscious effort to put the DTM first and a lot of focus on that.  I knew in my second season it would be a much better year.

4. Whilst many drivers come from Formula 1 to the DTM and struggle to adapt, there are drivers such as you and Mike Rockenfeller who have enduro backgrounds and are bang on the pace. Why is this? Also, why is enduro racing still so appealing to some other DTM drivers? 

I don’t know how to answer that but for me since I was a kid karting my dad had me racing every kart class possible to race. Even with race cars I have driven up to now different cars through the year. In the US I used to drive two or three classes on the weekend and in the same day. My adaption skills have got very good so that is why I have been able to adapt quickly in the DTM. I wasn’t as good as I could have been last year but I have learnt to adapt this year with the help of RBM and to drive the DTM car really better.  It is important to teach yourself. I had my own school so this is good.

5. What is the main difference between driving your BMW M3 DTM and the BMW Z4 GTE?

They are very different cars but the biggest difference is downforce. Also brakes. The DTM car is a lot of downforce in medium and high speed corners and the low speed corners it is the GT car as you don’t have downforce so are working with mechanical grip. Also carbon brakes in the DTM versus steel brakes in the ALMS. With the downforce you can brake really deep.

6. After having a best DTM career weekend at Brands, how frustrated are you to have dropped back to fifth in the race after qualifying third? 

I was frustrated to drop back at the start, but it was a lot better than my Hockenheim start! Brands is not place to lose positions, but it still goes to show I am learning. I never give up and race to end no matter what the car is like. I will always fight to the very end.

7. How encouraged are you for the rest of the season after having made such a strong start, and what can you do for the rest of the DTM year? 

It is very encouraging. I bettered my last year total points in the first race this year. It is a better way to go. Now I think you can see the bar has been raised for me and the team. We have to continue to perform. There is no reason why we should go backwards. For me that first podium is close. I think I have high hopes to be a top ten contender every weekend.

8. How does it feel to be the first US driver to compete in a full season of the DTM since it started in 1984?

It makes me very proud. I am a proud American and to race here for my country is something I am extremely proud of. Also I get lots of support in America and the fans at the races wanted me to go and do a good job in the series.

9. What attracted you to come and race in the DTM for BMW? Was it the history you have with the team and guys such as Andy Priaulx, or something else? 

When I saw the new BMW M3 DTM I just wanted to drive it. I felt it was an awesome car and I knew it would be the sort of car I would enjoy. It was great that BMW then gave me this opportunity.

10. As you still live in the US, how challenging is it for you as a family man to still be based there, as most of your racing is in Europe? 

Yes I am and my entire family is there – my wife, kids, parents, brother, aunts, uncles, etc. I find the flying easy and so it is not a big problem. People ask me about the travelling but I have to be honest and say it does not bother me and to me I love going back to see the family.

11. What has been the highlight of your career? 

Winning Daytona in 2011. We had to come from the back and this was amazing. I am very proud of that race.

12. Also, what are your favourite tracks in the DTM and in Europe; why? 

The Red Bull Ring is one of my favourite circuits, for many reasons. Firstly, I picked up my first points in the DTM here last year. Furthermore, it was exciting for me to come to Austria. I love eating Wiener Schnitzel, and nowhere does it better than there. The scenery around the circuit is simply stunning.

13. How do you feel about the DTM venturing to the US? When Audi did the Grand-Am they were not particularly popular. Do you think it will be well received this time around, due to difference circumstances? 

I don’t know the exact details of what will eventually happen but it would be great for it to race there and I am sure the fans would love the cars.

14. Which tracks would you like to see the DTM use when it goes to the US? 

Laguna Seca, Long Beach and Mid Ohio would be great tracks.

15. What do you drive away from the track?

I have BMW cars, of course, a BMW M5 for example. I have one in Europe and one in America. In Europe I need to have room for my gold clubs as whenever possible I play golf with Bruno and Jens. Then in the States what we have is really what my wife likes as she needs to do the shopping and get the kids in.