Didier Theys

Belgian racing driver

Didier Maurice Theys (born 19 October 1956) is a Belgian sports car driver. He is a two time overall winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona (1998 and 2002); a winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring (1998); the Sports Racing Prototype driver champion of the Grand American Road Racing Association (2002) and the winner of the 24 Hours of Spa (1987 in a factory BMW). He was also the polesitter (1996) and a podium finisher at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1997, 1998 and 1999). The podium finish in 1999 was a third overall in the factory Audi R8R with co drivers Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela. Theys' first appearance at Le Mans was in 1982, while his last start in the world's most famous endurance sports car race came 20 years later in 2002.

Theys won the Belgium Karting championship in 1977. Later he competed in several feeder formulae: he won several Formula Ford championships in the late 1970s and early 1980s; the U. S. Bosch Super Vee championship in 1986; and the American Racing Series (now Indy Lights) championship in 1987. He was also successful in the European Formula Three Championship and Formula 2 in the 1980s. He finished third in the Monaco Formula 3 Grand Prix in 1985. Theys competed in the CART Indy Car Series from 1987 to 1993 with 47 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 three times (1989, 1990 and 1993). He finished in the top ten 10 times in CART events, and his best career finish in that series was a third position in Miami in 1988.

Theys ran the IMSA GT Championship in 1995 on a Ferrari 333SP. He finished fourth in 1996, 11th in 1997 and 6th in the series' final season in 1998.

Theys' 1998 victories at Daytona and Sebring came in the Kevin Doran prepared MOMO Ferrari with co drivers Mauro Baldi, Arie Luyendyk and Giampiero Moretti. His 2002 Daytona victory came in the Doran Lista Dallara Judd with co drivers Baldi, Fredy Lienhard and Max Papis. His 1998 season was a record setter, as in addition to winning Daytona and Sebring, Theys also won the Six Hours of Watkins Glen. He also finished second overall in the FIA Sportscar Championship that year, winning at Paul Ricard, France.

In addition to his Grand Am driver championship in 2002, Theys finished third in the driver point standings in that series in 2001 and was the runner up in 2000. He had four victories in his championship 2002 season, and established the largest margin of victory in series history in winning the race at Mont Tremblant, Quebec from the pole that year.

Prior to retiring from pro racing in March 2009, Theys also competed in the Le Mans Series in Europe with Horag Racing from 2005 through 2008, winning the Monza 1,000 km race in the LMP2 category in 2007 and a similar event at the Nürburgring in 2005 in a Lola Judd. He finished his pro driving career in the Horag Racing prepared Lista Office Porsche RS Spyder in the Le Mans Series' LMP2 division in 2008, finishing second in class at Spa and Silverstone, third at Monza and winning the Michelin Energy Challenge that season. Theys also drove a Maserati MC 12 for Doran Racing in the ALMS in 2007, an effort that stunned the GT1 class when it beat the factory Corvettes to win the pole at the Petit Le Mans that year.

Upon his retirement from driving professionally, Theys had finished on the podium 61 times in sports car races all over the world, with 18 victories, 22 second place finishes and 21 third place finishes through the end of the 2008 season. He has the most professional victories of anyone in a Ferrari 333 SP with 10. He received the prestigious Driver of the Year Award in his native Belgium in 2002.

Theys currently works as a racing driver coach and consultant. He is also the Driving Director of DrivingXllence , an automotive event company that allows guests to experience the exhilaration and adrenaline of being behind the wheel of the world's newest and best Supercars.

Although he never gave up his Belgium citizenship, Theys resides in Scottsdale, Ariz., for many years, and still lives there. That municipality honored him with the keys to the city in honor of his GRAND AM driver championship and second 24 Hours of Daytona victory. He is married to Florence Richardson.

Year Team Co Drivers Car Class Laps 1982 WM Esso Jean Daniel Raulet Michel Pignard WM P82 Peugeot C 127 DNF DNF 1983 WM Secateva Jean Daniel Raulet Michel Pignard WM P83 Peugeot C 102 DNF DNF 1985 Brun Motorsport Walter Brun Joël Gouhier Porsche 962C C1 304 DNF DNF 1986 Brun Motorsport Thierry Boutsen Alain Ferté Porsche 956 C1 89 DNF DNF 1988 Blaupunkt Joest Racing David Hobbs Franz Konrad Porsche 962C C1 380 5th 5th 1993 Team Paduwa Harald Grohs Jean Paul Libert Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cup GT 8 DNF DNF 1996 Joest Racing Michele Alboreto Pierluigi Martini TWR Porsche WSC 95 LMP1 300 DNF DNF 1997 Moretti Racing Inc. Gianpiero Moretti Max Papis Ferrari 333 SP LMP 321 6th 3rd 1998 Moretti Racing Inc. Gianpiero Moretti Mauro Baldi Ferrari 333 SP LMP 311 14th 3rd 1999 Audi Sport Team Joest Frank Biela Emanuele Pirro Audi R8R LMP 360 3rd 2nd 2000 Mopar Team Oreca Jeffrey van Hooydonk Didier André Reynard 2KQ LM Mopar LMP900 292 20th 10th 2001 Champion Racing Johnny Herbert Ralf Kelleners Audi R8 LMP900 81 DNF DNF 2002 Riley & Scott Racing Marc Goossens Jim Matthews Riley & Scott Mk III C Élan LMP900 189 DNF DNF