Loek Hartog enters another busy weekend of racing following his stint last week with KellyMoss in the GT World Challenge America race at Sebring International Raceway. Hartog is behind the wheel of two entries for Dinamic Motorsport in this weekend’s 24 Hours Nürburgring, the No. 54 and No. 55 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992).

Between races in Asia and America, and now a stop at one of the premier 24-hour races in the world, the Dutch driver’s schedule has become second nature to him.

“I think the answer you’re not looking for, but what it kind of feels like, is I’m starting to get used to it now. And I mean, it’s a privilege. I’m doing what I love most, and also it’s giving me a lot of energy instead of consuming it.”

“In essence it’s a dream. But I guess a lot of people get caught up, and at some point I think they want to be in the best car and they make decisions. I mean, they’re not always in charge of making those decisions either. But as of now, I’m still a free agent, so I’m able to do whatever I want.”

“I’m in a good position, especially in Porsche land, where I get a lot of requests. Going into the year, I was not really sure what to expect because last year I was a highly demanded Silver driver. But at the end of the year, I already started to get some interest, at least from teams asking me for pro drives. But now I’m actually getting too many requests.”

“Last week, I could have been in four different places, but I chose to be at Mandalika and it was the right decision because the results were good. For me, the only thing I miss right now is a bit of home, but that’s about it. It’s so great to spend your time in these paddocks.”

“So, in essence — or short — I would say it’s actually giving me energy instead of costing me energy.”

Entering this weekend, Hartog looks to capitalize on a third-place finish in last year’s event with Dinamic in the SP9 Pro class. Coming into 2026 with a similar group, Hartog is excited to return to a place that holds sentimental meaning to him.

“Nürburgring is a bit of a special one, let’s put it that way first, because the whole racing format is special,” said Hartog. “For me, it’s the greatest motor race there is in the world. There are greater races or more anticipated races, but as a driver there’s nothing like it.”

“I think it’s also a testament now to how many drivers from other series are starting to gain interest. Max Verstappen is obviously the spearhead of that, but with him making this bold decision, many other drivers are starting to gain interest too.”

“I’m one of the lucky few to drive two SP9 Pro cars, which is very fortunate. The idea started boiling up at NLS2 to have two cars, and they asked me if I was able to do it. At that time, I had no idea what my schedule was going to be like, and honestly I had no idea if I was even doing it.”

“Then I got added into two different group chats two weeks ago, so I was like, ‘Okay, probably I’m going to drive two cars.’ I thought it was a mistake at first. So, I also figured it out two weeks ago.”

“Result-wise, there are so many factors that can play a role. Of course we have goals, but what also makes Nürburgring special is the open tire homologation. We can’t forget that, and it’s a big factor.”

“We’re representing Pirelli and we’ve been working with them for a long time. It’s really a great tire, but last year’s result was a testimony to how reliable the tire is. We had zero punctures in a very heavy race for the tire, where it was mostly green-flag running and very hot conditions with unstable weather. That’s really our strong point.”

“We’re still missing a bit on one-lap performance because all the tires are black and round, but they all have different philosophies. Our philosophy is that a race is long and you need tires that you can rely on in all situations. That’s really what worked in our favor last year.”

“But with the weather being so unpredictable there, it can also mean that this year we’re completely in the wrong. In some ways it’s becoming even more difficult. We just need to make sure we’re in a position where we can capitalize on whatever comes at us.”

“It’s great working with the same teammates again. They’re all very fast and experienced drivers, and every weekend you work with them, you learn something new. So yeah, it’s great.”

Entering a stretch such as the one Hartog is on can be taxing for any driver. However, for the Dutchman, the flow of races helps him prepare for what is to come.

“I guess the aftermath of one weekend is also the prep for the next one,” said Hartog. “What I mean by that is, in the past, I used to prepare a lot with sim racing because my background is also sim racing, and that’s what gave me the chance to be in racing.”

“But in essence now, there’s no time for it. I mean, Mandalika — I hadn’t been there before — and I’ll tell you that the first time I saw the track was from a vague onboard video at breakfast on the first day when I was actually driving the track.”

“I think it’s also proof of concept for how important it is to be in rhythm with a car and in harmony with the car. That’s what I’m very fortunate to have, because every weekend I can be in the car. I can really get in sync and use the car as an extension of my body and an extension of my thoughts, in essence.”

“Then it doesn’t really matter what the track is going to be like because every year things change, and every day, every session, is also different. So there’s not a lot of work beforehand.”

“I guess it’s mostly very important for myself to not only get in sync with the car, but also with the team. GT3 racing — or sports car racing in general — might look like a very simple car, but it’s actually very different. Even between teams there are a lot of differences.”

“To me as a driver, it’s my job to translate whatever I feel in order to bring a team forward in a short amount of time and with limited possibilities. Here in the U.S., it’s completely different than in Asia, for example. In Asia, you have container racing, so there’s a lot less you can do.”

“So in essence, preparation is more about speed-running a weekend — getting in sync with everybody, getting everyone aligned and performing at the maximum level you can. Then in the aftermath, during your debriefs, you learn things, you question yourself and you use that in the next weekend.”

“It’s really nice, actually. You get into a nice rhythm and you can use that in the next weekend as well.”

As Hartog continues to showcase his talents to the world, it is hard not to look at his humble beginnings from his time in Ford Fiesta Cup and Porsche Carrera Cup North America, where he won with KellyMoss in 2024.

“First of all, I think in my whole career everything has been beyond expectations in a way. I’m in a very fortunate position where I understand how much of a privilege it is to actually race. I never expected to be able to do any of this.”

“I was just a big fan and it became my obsession — my one and only thing that I really cared about becoming very good at.”

“Throughout those years doing Ford Fiesta Cup, I was very ambitious about becoming good at it, but at that moment I wasn’t at a level where I would say I was a generational talent. But for me, it taught the basics, especially on the human side of things.”

“It opened my eyes because I got to work at that age with very inspiring people and the right people. I’m incredibly lucky for that. It really sparked my personal development and becoming a more rounded person. Essentially, becoming a rounded person has made me a better driver.”

“Maybe it sounds a bit holistic, but I truly believe that. Because while people may only now be noticing the results and performances I’m delivering, I would say I was already performing at my maximum from that age onward. I always did very well, but maybe I didn’t always get what the public would consider the best opportunities.”

“What I’m trying to say is that it was a rough start in a way. It took me a couple more years in Carrera Cup and those championships, but I truly learned a lot from those years — especially becoming self-sustaining.”

“That’s also why I’m capable of doing so many weekends now and doing them in the way I’m able to. Those years taught me how to find my own sponsorship, manage my funds toward racing programs and work with teams that maybe weren’t considered the biggest or most successful. Instead, we built successful teams together.”

“That’s really what Ford Fiesta Cup and my first years in Carrera Cup meant to me, and it’s what I bring into my career now. It’s really rewarding at this stage, so I’m happy it went the way it did.”

As for how his Porsche Carrera Cup North America title helped shape his career, Hartog felt the biggest achievement was delivering on his first major opportunity.

“I think it’s a bit more highly anticipated by other people than it was for myself. For me, the biggest achievement that year was that it was the first season where I really felt like I was granted a big opportunity and I was able to deliver on it.”

“That year was especially special because the biggest thing I conquered was proof of my concept of building relationships and stepping outside my comfort zone.”

“I think I was 19 or 20 years old going to a different continent. As easy as it sounds now, at the time it really wasn’t easy or straightforward. But I had momentum in my career where somebody gave me a chance, and I felt like I had to take advantage of it.”

“Then to perform and acclimatize — I think that was the harder part rather than the racing itself. Racing becomes such a routine and rhythm that I always believed the performance would come if I felt comfortable with myself.”

“So for me, it was more about finding myself in whatever position you put me in. That’s mostly what 2024 meant to me. The championship was really a byproduct, as weird as that sounds. It wasn’t really about the championship itself.”

“I don’t want to say ‘solving a problem’ because that sounds wrong, but racing in essence is about solving problems. That year we did that very well, and that’s why we became so successful. It’s also why KellyMoss and I work so well together — we’re just a good combination and alike in many ways.”

The future is bright for the 23-year-old Hartog. As a free agent, the sky is the limit as he sees a wide horizon ahead.

“Usually I have a very solid answer for this because I would say I’m quite visionary with it.”

“Yes, it (IMSA/WEC) is the next steps, I guess. It might sound a bit offensive, but I feel like people already link my name directly to Porsche because I’ve done 99 percent of my races in a Porsche. But I think people forget that I’m still a free agent.”

“There are a lot of Porsches driving around, and while it’s the car I’ve been most in sync with, it’s not a secret that I’ve tested other cars and explored other options.”

“For me, it’s more about getting an opportunity where I can really build something. I think I’m in a very good momentum right now and a very good rhythm. I just enjoy racing too much. I’d love to be at a racetrack every weekend, but I also want to focus and win big things.”

“So wherever I can add value — whether that’s with a new manufacturer or an established one — wherever I see I can really bring something to the table, that’s what my goal would be.”

“It’s not that I’m saying, ‘I want to win this specific race’ or ‘I want to do this specific championship,’ because I’m still so young and I have the desire to do all of it. Inside, I’m still just a massive racing fan like you.”

“If you ask anyone in racing what they want to do, the answer is probably everything. I love this so much.”

“What does it mean for the future? I really can’t put my finger on it. I just know I’m in a good momentum right now and I want to continue that. I’ll make every decision I can to keep that momentum going, and wherever it leads, I’m excited to see where it goes.”

 

Image Courtesy to Loek Hartog