Mike Hezemans
Dutch racing driver (born 1969)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mike Hezemans (born 25 July 1969) is a Dutch racing driver who last competed for Marc VDS Racing Team in the Blancpain Endurance Series.
DutchLoris Hezemans (brother)
Liam Hezemans (brother)
FIA Gold (until 2019)
FIA Silver (2023–)| Mike Hezemans | |
|---|---|
Hezemans in 2019 | |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Born | 25 July 1969 Eindhoven, Netherlands |
| Relatives | Toine Hezemans (father) Loris Hezemans (brother) Liam Hezemans (brother) |
| Categorisation | FIA Gold (until 2019) FIA Silver (2023–) |
Hezemans is a two-time winner of the Spa 24 Hours, a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Zolder and a race winner in the FIA GT Championship, in which he was runner-up in points four times.
Career
Hezemans began karting in 1981,[1] most notably finishing third in the Karting World Championship and runner-up in the Karting European Championship in 1989 before stepping up to car-racing the year after by racing in the Dutch Production Car Championship.[2]
After spending four years between Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and Porsche Supercup, which included a podium at the 1991 24 Hours of Spa, Hezemans joined Lotus Racing Team for the 1996 BPR Global GT Series.[3] Continuing with Lotus Racing for 1997, Hezemans competed in the FIA GT Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GT1 class.[4]
In 1998, Hezemans returned to the GT1 class of the FIA GT Championship for a part-time schedule with Team Hezemans, before switching to the GT2 class and Roock Racing for the second half, during which he scored a podium in the season-ending race at Laguna Seca.[5]
Following his third season in the FIA GT Championship in 1999 where he only scored four points, Hezemans joined his father Toine's Carsport Holland team for the following year.[6] After taking his maiden series win at Monza,[7] Hezemans won again at the A1-Ring and Brno to end the season runner-up in points.[8][9]
Hezemans remained with Carsport Holland for 2001, this time partnering Jeroen Bleekemolen. The pair won at the Hungaroring and Estoril on their way to runner-up honors in the GT standings.[10][11] Partnering up with Anthony Kumpen for 2002, the pair won the second-to-last race at Donington Park as they finished sixth in points.[12] During 2002, Hezemans took the first of three consecutive 24 Hours of Zolder wins.[13]
After podium-less stints with Force One Racing Festina and GPC Giesse Squadra Corse,[14][15] Hezemans returned to GLPK-Carsport for 2005 alongside Bert Longin and Anthony Kumpen.[16] The trio won at Imola and the third-to-last round at Zhuhai en route to a sixth place in points at season's end.[17][18] The trio was retained by GLPK-Carsport for 2006,[19] but were only able to muster a win at Le Castellet and four more podiums to finish the season seventh in the GT1 standings.[20]
Staying with Carsport Holland for 2007, Hezemans was partnered by Jean-Denis Délétraz while also being joined by Marcel Fässler and Fabrizio Gollin for the Spa 24 Hours,[21] which they won, helping them to finish third in the GT1 points.[22] Gollin then became Hezemans' full-time teammate for the 2008 season as Carsport Holland strengthened their partnership with Phoenix Racing.[23] The duo scored a lone win in Adria and ended the season runner-up in points.[24]
Hezemans initially signed with Racing Box to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for 2009,[25] but after said deal broke down, Hezemans returned to the FIA GT Championship, joining PekaRacing nv alongside Anthony Kumpen.[26] The duo took their first win of the season in Oschersleben,[27] before winning the 24 Hours of Spa on their way to runner-up in the GT1 points.[28]
Staying in the newly-rebranded FIA GT1 World Championship for 2010, Hezemans joined Phoenix Racing / Carsport.[29] Splitting the season with Mad-Croc Racing,[30] Hezemans scored only one podium during the season, a third at the 24 Hours of Spa.[31]
Hezemans remained in the FIA GT1 World Championship, joining Exim Bank Team China alongside Nicky Catsburg.[32] After taking his first podium at Zolder,[33] Hezemans took pole at Silverstone,[34] before finishing third in both races.[35][36] During 2011, Hezemans made a one-off appearance in the Blancpain Endurance Series for KRK Racing Team Holland.[37]
In 2012, Hezemans returned to the Blancpain Endurance Series, joining Marc VDS Racing Team alongside Bert Longin and Henri Moser.[38] After scoring his season-best result of sixth at Le Castellet,[39] Hezemans left the team before the season-ending round in Navarra and was replaced by Nicky Catsburg.[40]
Personal life
Hezemans is the son of 1970 European Touring Car Championship champion Toine Hezemans,[41] and is the brother of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series drivers Loris and Liam Hezemans.[42]
Hezemans is the co-owner of Norwyn Development Group,[43] and lives in Miami, Florida.[44]
Karting record
Karting career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | FIA European Championship - Formula A | 2nd | |
| CIK-FIA World Championship - Formula A | 3rd | ||
| 1990 | FIA Karting World Championship - Formula C | 32nd | |
| 2001 | Wouter van Eeuwijk Trophy | 10th | |
| 2002 | Wouter van Eeuwijk Trophy | 11th | |
| Sources:[45] | |||
Racing record
Racing career summary
Complete FIA GT Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 |  GT1 Lotus Racing |
Jan Lammers Alexander Grau |
Lotus Elise GT1 | GT1 | 121 | DNF | DNF |
| 2002 | Team Carsport Holland Racing Box |
 Anthony Kumpen Gabriele Matteuzzi |
Chrysler Viper GTS-R | GTS | 93 | DNF | DNF |
| 2003 |  Carsport America |
Anthony Kumpen David Hart |
Pagani Zonda GR | GTS | 10 | DNF | DNF |
| 2004 | Barron Connor Racing |
 Jean-Denis Delétraz Ange Barde |
Ferrari 575-GTC | GTS | 200 | DNF | DNF |
| 2006 | Spyker Squadron b.v. |
Jeroen Bleekemolen Jonny Kane |
Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R | GT2 | 202 | DNF | DNF |
| 2007 | Spyker Squadron |
 Jaroslav Janiš Jonny Kane |
Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R | GT2 | 70 | DNF | DNF |
| 2008 |  IPB Spartak Racing Reiter Engineering |
Peter Kox Roman Rusinov |
Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT | GT1 | 266 | NC | NC |
Complete European Le Mans Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Barron Connor Racing | GTS | Ferrari 575-GTC Maranello | Ferrari 6.0L V12 | MNZ Ret |
NUR 5 |
SIL 2 |
SPA 3 |
7th | 14 | ||
| 2006 | Spyker Squadron | GT2 | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R | Audi 3.8L V8 | IST 5 |
SPA 10 |
NUR 3 |
DON |
JAR Ret |
10th | 10 | |
| 2007 | Spyker Squadron | GT2 | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R | Audi 3.8L V8 | MNZ |
VAL |
NUR |
SPA |
SIL 3 |
MIL 4 |
11th | 11 |
Complete FIA GT1 World Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Triple H Team Hegersport | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | ABU QR 16 |
ABU CR 3 |
SIL QR 7 |
SIL CR Ret |
SPA QR DSQ |
SPA CR 13 |
NÜR QR |
NÜR CR |
ALG QR |
ALG CR |
NAV QR |
NAV CR |
INT QR |
INT CR |
SAN QR |
SAN CR |
29th | 23 | ||||
| Mad-Croc Racing | BRN QR 5 |
BRN CR 15 |
LEC QR 4 |
LEC CR 6 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Exim Bank Team China | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | ABU QR 7 |
ABU CR 10 |
ZOL QR 2 |
ZOL CR 5 |
ALG QR 9 |
ALG CR 9 |
SAC QR Ret |
SAC CR 6 |
SIL QR 3 |
SIL CR 3 |
NAV QR Ret |
NAV CR Ret |
LEC QR Ret |
LEC CR Ret |
ORD QR |
ORD CR |
BEI QR |
BEI CR |
SAN QR |
SAN CR |
14th | 46 |
Complete GT World Challenge Europe results
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)