| 16-Year-Old Montoya Proves Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from TreeIn Maiden Twelve Hours of Sebring Voyage March 23, 2022By Holly CainIMSA Wire Service  SEBRING, Fla. – Renowned racer Juan Pablo Montoya and his 16-year-old son Sebastian sat at a table outside their DragonSpeed USA transporter last Friday afternoon in the steamy Central Florida sun – a day before making their first major race start as teammates in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts. The race fans who came up for autographs got smiles, handshakes, conversations and even selfies with the Montoya family pair. Some were visibly giddy at the chance to meet these drivers – to have interaction with a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Formula One, IMSA and NASCAR star in Montoya. And they walked away also that confident young Sebastian’s time with them was an early gift from a future racing star too. “I’m going to be able to tell my kids about this one day,’’ said 19-year-old Daniele Cattabariga. “I follow Sebastian on Instagram and I really like what he’s doing. It’s great for the sport.” Such are the excitement and expectation levels for Sebastian’s burgeoning career. And he didn’t disappoint in his first major race outing competing alongside his father and their co-driver, Henrik Hedman, over the weekend. Sebastian set the fastest lap for the team and moved the car into the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class lead at one point during his very first driving stint early in the famous 12-hour race Saturday. Only minutes after taking the wheel from his son, however, Juan Pablo was collected in a multi-car incident and the No. 81 ORECA LMP2 07 had to be retired. Still, the promise of Sebastian’s productive debut in such a big event helped temper the disappointment that the team wouldn’t contend for a trophy. And Juan Pablo seemed open to giving the father-son pairing another race chance soon. “We’ll see, hopefully later in the year we’ll put something together,’’ said Juan Pablo, who’s scheduled to drive the full IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season in the No. 81. For now, Sebring was the only time Sebastian was slated to be in the car. “We’ll have to wait and see,” Juan Pablo added. “You know, he did an amazing job. If somebody was expecting a mistake, it was going to be from him and not me, and it’s kind of frustrating. I don’t think I could have done much (to avoid the crash). It’s tough.” Sebastian was disappointed as well that the team didn’t have the opportunity to challenge for victory after such a promising start, but he still took a high-speed education from the experience. And his dad got a big dose of sentimental pride. “Obviously not the way I wanted (things to go), but I got into the lead, I opened the gap and I passed a lot of cars,’’ said Sebastian, who charged from more than a minute behind to take the LMP2 lead before turning the car over to his father. “I had a few moments that were learning moments, but it’s learning and at the end of the day I’m happy to be here. That was amazing. The team worked super hard, and the car was ridiculously quick. At the end of the day, it’s racing and things happen.” And of the opportunity to team with his legendary father? “It’s so special, it’s amazing,’’ Sebastian said. “It’s nothing like anyone can believe. He’s been my coach since Day 1. He’s been my dad since Day 1. Now he is my teammate. It’s a disappointing end obviously, but again we’ve worked hard and enjoyed it.” And Sebastian knows that kind of hard work will pay off with potential huge rewards in the coming years. In between homeschool assignments and online exams, the high school junior will be competing in the 2022 Formula Regional European Championship with Prema Racing. In fact, the whole family has relocated from Miami, where Sebastian was born, to Europe to accelerate his career. A fierce, no-nonsense, aggressive competitor on track over the years, Juan Pablo Montoya has a decidedly different tone when speaking about his son and oldest child. He has nurtured Sebastian, but, he says, he’s been careful to allow his son to develop his own racing style and sensibility. His pride and the hope are unmistakable. “I think with him we put a lot of emphasis on what I excel at and what I do really well,’’ Juan Pablo explained. “And then try to do things that could be done better or different to accommodate the cars of today compared to what I grew up with. It’s just finding ways to maximize everything. He’s doing a really good job. “It’s really, really cool. It’s incredible, actually. He’s doing an amazing job for us here (at Sebring) too and it’s a good experience, really a good experience.” Sebastian smiles when asked what the reception is typically like when competitors realize he is the son of a famous, successful racer. It’s all Sebastian has known. Juan Pablo is “Dad” first to him. “It’s weird because I see him more as my dad,’’ Sebastian said, adding with a wide smile, “Every time he wins, I’m like, ‘Very cool.’ And then I’m like, he’s good, he’s quick. “It comes with its positives, obviously, because he’s a really good coach and a lot of that, but it comes with negatives as well because people want to prove themselves to you that they can race against you,’’ Sebastian said. “Some people are like, ‘You’re Montoya’s kid, but you’re not your dad.’ I know I’m not my dad,’’ he says, grinning again, “but maybe I can be even better.” And there is no question, that would be met with pride. “Yes, yes, of course,’’ Juan Pablo said of his hopes that Sebastian will also race in Formula One someday. “You have to aim as high as you can and work toward that goal and see what happens, what it brings. “So far, it’s been really good,’’ he said, looking over to his son with a smile, “Really incredible.’’ |
