Hartog Bringing Latest GT3-Spec Porsche Experience to Kellymoss

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

Loek Hartog feels that he’s been able to make some contributions to Kellymoss’ venture into GT World Challenge America powered by AWS given his amount of worldwide experience with the Porsche 911 GT3 R.

The 23-year-old Dutchman, who won last year’s Porsche Cup as the brand’s most successful independent driver, has put his full commitment into the SRO America-run series this year, sharing the No. 88 entry with John Gilliland.

Hartog, who drove Porsches with ten different teams last year, was the only driver out of the three-car effort to have had experience with the latest generation of the car.

For the former Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver who has since become a free agent, the opportunity with the Riley Motorsports-run operation comes at the next stage of his career, having been bumped up to FIA Gold driver rating during for this year.

“Riley [Dickinson] is a very good driver and Colin [Braun] is too, but they’re very new to the car,” Hartog told Sportscar365. “What’s really nice with the Riley program, we’re developing, we’re learning.

“The Bronze drivers are new to the car, all of them. The pros are new. I’m stepping into a bit of a different role because I’m also a Pro, I’m no longer a Silver

“In that sense, I carry a different role than what I’m used to.

“The team is quite experienced already with the car running GTD in 2023. But this is an Evo, it’s not that different but at least the focus on the team has been on LMP2 and the Merc.

“It’s for them also a new step. They have an IMSA GTD program on the side.

“It’s a very cool program to be a part of because we’re developing rapidly fast. The team has all of the resources and the will. The quality is high.”

While the No. 88 Porsche withdrew from the season-opening weekend at Sonoma Raceway due to an accident in testing by Gilliland, the Pro-Am class duo have made steady progress since, with a pair of top-ten finishes ahead of this weekend’s fourth round of the season at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Hartog feels like his season in GTWC America, his first as a professional-graded driver, could help serve as a launchpad to further opportunities.

“SRO America is my full commitment this year,” he said. “I’m very fortunate for that because I got bumped up to Gold, so I was not that sure how my season was going to pan out.

“In the end, I’m having a really full calendar, over 22 weekends this year, a lot of different stuff. There’s multiple things that are on the horizon, which I’m happy with.

“There’s also a chance I’ll be driving with a different manufacturer.

“Often my name is being affiliated with Porsche but I’m still a free agent. I wish that was different but actually it allowed me to do so many different things, a variety of being in different paddocks.”

Hartog, who has already competed in GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup, GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS, China GT Championship and at the Nürburgring 24, hinted that he could make his WeatherTech Championship debut before seasons’ end.

“I’m surprised with how many calls I get, actually, to be on certain weekends,” he said. “There’s been such a variety of different programs but also high quality programs.

“I’m in a great place. I’m relying on being self-sufficient and I’m happy it is like this because it teaches me a lot for the future.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John