An Interview
With Yanis Derums

What was your best race, and why?

Wakefield Park 2007: pole position and round winner at a high profile, national event.

Scariest moment of your career?

Big crash at the Hidden Valley race track in Darwin in 2004 where the car flipped upside down, and I was trapped with fuel dripping on me:

Favourite track and why?

Wakefield Park NSW because its good fun goat track type of circuit. Also, a lot of success in V8 Utes, Mirages, MG’s and Daewoos.

Worst track and why?

Bathurst: too scary if you want to produce a good lap time. I’d much rather watch than drive. As such, I sponsored a better driver with great results!

Best season of your career?

2007: I was at my most competitive and have steadily gone downhill after that!

When did you decide to be a driver? What was your inspiration?

When I was about 10 after watching the famous Allan Moffat/ Collin Bond formation One/ Two 1977 Bathurst win.

Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about?

Can play the “Baby Elephant Walk” on the tenor horn.

Name another driver you follow and why you love them

Gary MacDonald and Warren Luff as they were the fastest and most entertaining V8 Ute drivers ever! A lot of people assume that to be a good racer, you need the expensive car and equipment, but how much of racing is actually up to the driver? Are there any instincts or traits you think a racer needs to succeed?

You can save a lot of money by simply improving your driving! It’s the most cost-effective speed you will ever find. Look where you’re going (not at the bonnet), remember to breathe, be aware of the other cars around you and drive subconsciously. Easy right!

If you could go back in time and give yourself a piece of advice knowing all that you know now, what would you say?

Start young and hassle your parents to get you into go-carts ASAP!