Maik Hahn - Oct 1 2024

From the Track to the Lab: Dan Wells and Oscar Lee on Shaping the Future of Racing

Behind every racing champion is a story of resilience, strategy, and a passion for performance. Dan Wells shares a powerful moment that taught him to stand up for himself on and off the track, while Oscar Lee reveals how racing across continents fueled his vision for the cutting-edge Drivers Lab. In this exclusive interview, dive into the minds of two accomplished racers who are redefining driver development and shaping the future of motorsport with innovation and precision. Don’t miss their incredible journey!

Part 1: Dan Wells – Racing and Beyond

Dan, you've had an illustrious career with victories in various prestigious competitions. Could you share a defining moment in your racing career that significantly shaped your approach to racing?

Wow! I've had a lot of defining moments, that's for sure! I think one which definitely stands out in shaping my approach, would be in Sepang, Malaysia in 2014. I had spent the season nip and tuck with my teammate James Munro, a Kiwi driver who had good support within the team, but he would normally come out on top when it mattered after I had been fastest in practice. The atmosphere in the team broke down and the garage was split between the two cars - which is never a good situation! I had to take the team manager to one side and tell him I didn't think he was doing a very good job at managing the situation. I really had to stand up and back myself in a difficult situation - after I did that, I actually won on both of the last two weekends of the year. I think this taught me to stand up for myself, back myself, and then also to deliver with my driving on track. 

Motorsport, especially as a young driver, can be like hitting your head against a brick wall - but if you stay positive, 1 good day at the track can easily outweigh 99. One day in Zhuhai during my time as the first foreigner to race in the Chinese Touring Car Championship, we had an issue with the car on qualifying day which meant I would start last the next day. I laid down on the track that evening and looked up to the sky and just told myself tomorrow was a new day. That day, it was a drying track, but most people took wet tyres. For me it was clearly slick conditions - so I went with the slicks, and came from last all the way to 2nd, just missing out to a driver who started on the front row also with the slicks. A good lesson in never give up! 

You’ve competed in everything from British Formula 3 to the Macau GP. How has your experience across different racing formats influenced your coaching style at Drivers Lab?

It has been quite an experience - going from simulators, to karts, to Formula Ford, all the way up to World Series by Renault (basically Formula 2 cars) - and I've driven prototypes, GT's as well as historics such as the Shelby Cobra and Lancia Stratos. I think the great thing for me is that I am always doing something related to motorsport and performance. I am a driver, team owner, driver manager, driver coach, I look after guests, sponsors and VIP's in Formula One and also do motorsport consulting - so I have a good understanding about the role of each team member, driver, and how they can get the best out of their situation. 

Coaching, whether a driver or any other individual, is always about firstly understanding where they are at - what do they understand, how do they understand it. Then, being able to assess in which way they learn best. I make sure that all the drivers I work with develop a thick skin - which is very much needed in motorsport just as it is in life! 

As the Head of Driver Development at Drivers Lab, how do you ensure that the insights and techniques you’ve learned on the track are effectively passed on to the drivers you mentor?

The utmost important for me is that the car and track models correlate with the real world data and that the techniques are correct. I make sure the cars are within a couple of tenths of a second, and that all the data matches up. We have seen drivers such as Kai Daryanani for example, who found 4 tenths in the Drivers Lab simulator between Round 1 and 2 of the UAE F4 Championship, and the next weekend it was the same in real life also. At Drivers Lab, we work with the best in the business so all of our coaches, our remote coaches, our experts have a huge wealth of tried and tested experience which can be passed down to our drivers. Also, because I am on track so much whether driver, coaching or managing - I am always between Europe, Middle East and Asia and have my finger on the pulse which is useful in many aspects. 

The 2023 Pro-Am championship in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia was a significant achievement. How did that experience prepare you for your role at Drivers Lab?

Oscar is a driver I have known and worked with since 2017. Over the years as our friendship grew, and I started to manage and coach him, we found a huge amount of benefit in utilising the simulators to enhance his driving. The culmination of all that time and work was shown last year when Oscar showed his pace and overtaking prowess really well and was able to secure the Pro-Am Championship with me with the DW Evans GT team. This then gave the springboard for Oscar to look at starting a motorsport business - in which Drivers Lab was born. It is a very fulfilling story to see Oscar's progress and development, and then for us both to pass on the experience, knowledge and also give people the ability to whet their appetite for motorsport. After all, I came into the sport after trying a simulator near me in the South of England where I beat a professional driver and got spotted by a driver manager - now it is my turn to be the manager doing the spotting! 

Part 2: Oscar Lee – Racing Across Continents

Oscar, your racing career has taken you around the globe, from Chinese F4 to winning the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Pro-Am championship. How has this international experience shaped your perspective on racing?

Racing around the world has given me a tremendous appreciation for the sport. No matter which country you are in, the passion for motorsports can be seen everywhere. For me, it’s all about the passion for excellence and performance that really inspires me to be my best and to perform my best.

As both an American-Taiwanese driver and the CEO of Drivers Lab, how do you balance the dual responsibilities of leading a cutting-edge racing facility while continuing to pursue excellence on the track?

Right now, I am focusing on growing the business and fostering the business to allow it to “walk” on its own. Very much like an infant; the business is very new and requires a great deal of attention and time. It has been amazing to see the reception of the business over the last 9 months. I am very proud of what we have achieved. Certainly, looking to get back into a race car as soon as possible. Ultimately, racing is my greatest passion. I just love it.

Your career is filled with podium finishes and victories. What’s the secret behind maintaining such consistent performance, and how do you translate that into your work at Drivers Lab?

It’s all about working on yourself. This is the key to performance. The driver is responsible for 85 to 90% of the performance. Taking ownership of mistakes, accepting them, and working on them every day. It is just so important to have this mindset. The car is a car. And ultimately that is the racing team’s responsibility. I really made sure to do the right training, to recover well, prioritize sleep, eat well, and do a whole lot of structured simulator training before every event to prepare for every scenario using DRIVERS LAB simulators powered by Cool Performance.

What motivated you to transition from being a professional driver to co-founding Drivers Lab? How do you see your role evolving as the facility grows?

You know racing is my life. I have had so many great people help and foster me into the person I am today. Dan Wells and I have had a tremendous run of success in motorsport, and if it was not for his guidance and support, I simply would not be here. I wanted to create a facility where we could offer the same level of driver support, I received, but to a broader and more commercial market. Still very niche, still very bespoke, but we offer this level of service and one to one training to the public.

You emphasize personalized coaching and bespoke programs. Could you explain how Drivers Lab tailors its offerings to meet the specific needs of each driver, whether they’re a seasoned pro or an up-and-coming talent?

Every driver is different. Some drivers learn better with data, some better with visual drawings, some better through talking about the energy of the car through each stage of the corner. We make sure that we develop each driver to their fullest potential in the best way possible for them. Every driver, like every car, is totally unique. It requires demanding attention and detail from our side, but we love it. And seeing our drivers win races, stand on podiums…There is no better feeling to be a part of their success and their journey. This is why we do it. To see other succeed. It is such a nice emotion and shared experience.

As a community united by a love for speed and precision, what future developments can we expect from Drivers Lab? How do you plan to continue pushing the boundaries of racing training?

Drivers Lab was always going to be a global brand. Currently we are confirmed for a project in Asia and looking to into expanding into other regions. Every day we look at our systems to try to improve, upgrade, and develop everything. We treat the business like a race car. Getting the right balance, making sure the business is on the right line, making sure we focus on what’s important and build our connections and partnerships in the best way possible.