FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT TO TEAM OWNER
After narrowly missing out on a fourth consecutive Mazda MX-5 Supercup title last year, Luke Herbert could be expected to be even more determined to make it a quartet of crowns in 2021.
And, while he is eager to win more titles, he won’t be behind the wheel as he’s hung up his helmet and started a team to share his vast experience.
Compiling a three-car squad for the 2021 MX-5 Supercup, Herbert is aiming to replicate his racing glory as a team owner by sharing the knowledge that has allowed him stand out as one of the most successful one-make racers in recent years.
“I’ve worked hard to get where I’ve got to, I won the Ma5da Championship in 2012, Michelin Clios in 2015 and then won the Supercup in 2017, 2018 and 2019,” he said. “I’ve always liked helping people, so I felt that, after doing lots of seasons and achieving what I’ve wanted to achieve, I wanted to help other people get to where I am. So we’ve got all this set up and taken a step back from the driving. I wanted to keep my hand in, so the best way to do that was run a team!”
Herbert conceived the idea to start his own team last year, and Citroen C1 racer Tom Seldon and racing newcomer
Leigh Britten joined over the winter, while series frontrunner Jack Harding arrived on the morning of the first round – moving across from another squad.
Herbert explained: “I sort of put my name out there at the end of last year.
I was trying to promote myself at
Brands Hatch at the last round but unfortunately, I ended up in hospital with a bit of a crash.
“But in the winter, I’ve had two guys which haven’t been involved in the championship come forward and approach me so it just shows that my name is getting out there and people have heard of me.
“It’s nice to know that people know who I am, and now for Jack to come and join the team – we were arch-rivals at one point and now we’re working together.”
For Britten, who made his motorsport debut at Croft having decided to make the step up from sim racing, Herbert’s pedigree was one of the main factors for signing up with him.
“I looked at all the teams and I saw who was winning the championships,” he said. “I called quite a few teams and I really liked Luke just chatting to him – and he was winning, so it was a no-brainer for me.
“I thought, if he can set up a car and give a race-winning car, then all I need to do is focus on me.”
Despite a successful start to his new venture – with Harding picking up three podiums – Herbert is taking it one step at a time.
“Some of these guys might want to progress and stick with us, so we’ll see where it takes us,” he added. “It’s only the first year, it’s our first weekend. So far – touch wood – it’s all gone well.”