With experience in a wide variety of racing disciplines and a title win in UK endurance racing in 2009, Rob Garofall wants to carry on that form as he joins Barry Gates and Team RLR for its Le Mans Series campaign.
Rob Garofall
- Age: 38
- From: Leighton Buzzard, UK
Career highlights
2009 – SPEED endurance racing UK series winner
2008 – SPEED endurance racing series 3rd overall
2007 – VdeV endurance racing series 2nd overall
2002 – Radical Prosport European Champion
1999 – Caterham Superlight championship 2nd overall
1996 – European Pro Kart Champion
How do you feel about joining Team RLR to compete in the Le Mans series?
It’s a fantastic opportunity, the team is great and we have a superb atmosphere to work in. The Le Mans series is the pinnacle of sports car racing so to be a part of it is a dream come true.
What has been your most memorable moment with the team so far?
Two memorable moments, the first would be seeing the car for the first time with about 20 mechanics, data engineers and engine people milling around it and the realisation of how serious a project this is. The second was a 24 hour race, sorry drive, from the UK to Hungary for the two-day Dunlop tyre test in convoy with the team due to the last-minute cancellation of our flight because of the Icelandic volcano.
How did you first become involved in motorsport?
I drove a Kart in an indoor kart circuit as a little'un and just enjoyed it so much that I knew I wanted to be a racing driver from that moment.
What has been the highlight of your racing career so far?
Over the years there have been a few. Winning my first ever Kart race at Larkhall in Scotland, driving for England in the Inter-nations Kart Championship, both when I was younger. More recently I guess having seven out of eight pole positions in the European VdeV championship in 2007, winning the European Radical championship in 2002, winning the Speed championship in 2009. Oh, and of course driving the Lola LMP2 car.
What has been your scariest moment behind the wheel of a racing car?
Driving a night stint in the 24 hour race at the Nurburgring in Germany in a caterham Superlight. It's such a fast circuit with no run off and the night is so dark in the forest, the lights were pointing at the sky and team telling me to push!
What is your biggest ambition in motorsport?
To compete in the Le Mans 24 Hour race and finish with a podium in class.
What would you suggest to somebody who is trying to get into race driving?
Be dedicated and keep at it, the highs are few and far between and the lows are often and can get you down. The guys that make it are superbly talented and have had to work so hard in the early days of sponsorship hunting and proving their worth in the junior categories.
Who is your motorsport idol?
Nigel Mansell.
What is your fitness regime like?
I go to the gym three times a week and try to eat well.
What do you do to relax away from motorsport?
I enjoy spending time with my family and the odd round of golf.
If you didn’t race what would you do?
Have a lot more time to go on holiday! Motorsport takes over your life and everything else has to fit in around testing and race calendars.
Favourite Five
1. Favourite racing track? – Silverstone or Spa
2. Favourite road car? – McLaren F1
3. Favourite holiday destination? – Dorset, England (if we have a summer!)
4. Favourite food? – Spaghetti Bolognese
5. Favourite film? – Anything with Clint Eastwood in
