2017 CIK-FIA Best-Of: Champion and Driver’s father – Juan Pablo Montoya

Juan Pablo Montoya has very discreetly accompanied his young son Sebastian at the Junior Competitions of the CIK-FIA since the middle of the 2017 season. A Formula 1 Driver from 2001 to 2006, the Colombian Champion won seven Grand Prix at Williams then McLaren, before turning to NASCAR and IndyCar. Sebastian Montoya made his Karting Competition debut in the United States in 2013 before competing in the CIK-FIA European Junior Championship from the second Competition at Oviedo with the factory Birel ART Racing Team.

Juan Pablo, can you tell us more about your presence in the Birel ART awning?

– My father was a Birel importer in Colombia and I myself competed in karting on a Birel chassis. I have been close to Ronni Sala and family for a long time. I really like this brand. Therefore it is natural that Sebastian made his debut in OK-Junior this year with the Birel ART Racing team. My son has just turned 12 and we took advantage of the opportunity to race in OK-Junior to come to Europe. It is a very good way for him to enrich his experience alongside the best. The standard is very high and the category is really interesting.

What is it like for a driver like you to see his son behind the wheel?

– It’s very nice to share my passion with my son. We enjoy each other’s company, Sebastian and I. And then I can give him advice! I’m not particularly worried about him, especially as safety is taken very seriously in CIK-FIA races. Much more than in the United States. The detachable front fairing has calmed the racing well. We have no particular aim in the medium or long term. Sebastian has been competing in kart racing for several seasons now, and his interest has not stopped. He is learning and he wants to continue. We’ll see where that takes him, but he has no career plan yet. It’s just a matter of having fun and making progress.

CIK-FIA Best of 2017 / © Photo KSP