Hello Job, most people will be familiar with your name and career in racing. But could you give a short introduction to the people that do not know you yet?
My name is Job van Uitert, I am 26 years old and have been in motorsport for over 12 years now, competing from Mazda MX5 all the way until racing my seventh Le Mans this year.
How did your family background influence your decision to become a racing driver?
My family company sponsored a Formula Ford team (GEVA Racing) and that is how everyone got into it. At a certain moment my dad said he wanted to try racing himself and ended up racing in the Dutch and Benelux Formula Ford Championships.
As a kid I always joined him at the track and well, then it’s easy to get “infected” with the racing virus of course.
Next to that some of you might know Gerald van Uitert, who also raced and is a cousin of my father.
Can you share a moment from your racing career that had a profound impact on you personally, and how it has influenced your approach to racing?
Definitely my first Le Mans. In 2019 with G-Drive, we were in a position where we were comfortable leading with over a lap ahead on second place. Everything was running like clockwork; the whole team worked flawlessly, the drivers made no errors. Once you are in that position, it starts feeling like a dream is coming true. If you did not know it yet, winning Le Mans has always been my dream and goal in racing.
With only 6 hours to go, I just finished my stint and went to bed in my camper. Suddenly I woke up by the radio, saying the #26 car was in the box with a mechanical issue. Our mass cable from the starter broke, resulting that the car could not start in the pitlane. We lost over 40 minutes with the repairs, and my dream was over. I couldn’t believe it. Why us? It was tough.
But looking back at it, it was not my last setback in motorsport. Many things are out of your control. I learned better to accept that and value my races on my own performance. We could finish eighth, but if I did a great race; I was happy.
On the flip side, there are also scenarios where I end up on the podium but was not happy due to my own performance.
What are some of the key factors that contributed to your success in endurance racing?
Everything has to go perfect. That means my part has to be flawless, and quick of course. In endurance racing it is easy to make a mistake in traffic. I have also made them in the past but learnt from them. I believe my split-second risk/reward decisions in traffic is in a very good place right now. The team trusts me 100%. I will always bring it home.
You are currently racing in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series with IDEC Sport and are also focussing on some other races and championships. What are your goals for this season?
This season has not yet been what we wanted. Winning Daytona to get disqualified afterwards, Losing a podium in Le Mans due to a broken wheel nut, 3 DNF’s due to technical failures in Asian Le Mans and only 4 points in the ELMS in two races. Statistically it is definitely not my best year! We all have these early mornings where every traffic light just goes red when you are approaching it. I guess that is happening now.
But as previously said, I focus mainly only how I am performing and how I contribute to the team. Currently I am very happy about that. Then obviously the goal is to jump one day to the hypercars. But the chance also has to arise. I will at least give it my all!
How do you balance your personal life with the demands of a professional racing career?
It is actually very easy to balance everything. Everyone in my personal life is very supportive, they also join me to the races often, so I think it is making it even better!
Obviously, there are things you need to let down. But I would never want to choose different!
What’s the most unusual or unexpected thing you’ve ever seen on the track during a race?
Haha, I think I have seen a lot. It is hard to pick one thing. When you have over 40 cars racing at the same time, trying to be the best, some weird things can happen.
Maybe race wise, it was 2018, when I joined the Lamborghini Super Trofeo for a one-off weekend – because someone was injured. During race 1 we were in a good position, due to some retirements. Going through the last corner in second place, I was pretty happy with the result. Only then I saw the car in front slowing down, and I passed him on the line with a really small margin – I believe somewhere around 0.013 second. In hindsight over 13 cars retired due to a failure with the fuel pump. His fuel pump failed with 100 metres to go. That’s also called bad luck.
Are there any specific skills or qualities that you believe are essential for success in motorsports?
Being good with your team. In endurance racing that also means with your teammates. The opportunities in your career, which are essentially the basics of your success, depend greatly on the “likeability factor”. Of course, performance is very important but being that guy who everyone loves to work with, helps so much.
So, in my opinion it is very important to have pure pace, have charisma, and being a team player.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term aspirations in motorsports, and how do you plan to achieve them?
I have now been in endurance racing for 8 years and I love it. I just love racing and being able to do it professionally year after year is amazing.
Winning Le Mans is still the top goal. Next to that competing for a manufacturer would be great. I am very curious how I would compete on that level.
What are your thoughts on the future of motorsports, particularly with the advancements in technology and the push towards sustainability? How do you see these changes impacting the racing industry and your career?
That is a tough one. I do think it is important that motorsport becomes more sustainable. Not just to do the right thing, but also to keep big brands involved – they want to be part of a sport that takes responsibility.
At the same time, we should not lose what motorsport is all about: building the best car, finding the fastest setup, and seeing who is the quickest on track. That is the heart of racing, and that should always stay that way.
Some decisions that are made for sustainability, like banning tyre warmers, I really do not agree with. It might sound like a small change, but it has a big effect. Driving on cold tyres is dangerous – you get more crashes, more broken parts, and in the end, that probably causes more emissions than you save. So, I think we need to be smart about it.
Yes, we need to move forward and make the sport cleaner, but without losing the edge that makes it so exciting – for drivers, teams, and fans.
Originally published: 11th of August, 2025
© of photo: FocusPackMedia – Javier Jimenez
