“Winning Le Mans will be the culmination of the goal, closing the circle since I started when I was seven years old”He said Michael Molina in the run-up to 24 Hours from Le Mans to MD. And on Sunday, moments after lifting the long-awaited trophy, he did not hesitate to remember those who helped him. “I am delighted. I thank everyone who has always supported me; my family, the ‘Young Pilots of the Circuit’ program, everyone at Ferrari and AF Corse”he argued.
No wonder he named the youth program established by the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in 2005. From there came other talents such as, among others, Jaime Alguersuari, Dani Juncadella, Albert Costa or Alex Palouthe latter, which he is especially excited to share the grill with 24 Hours of Le Mans. Alex and Miguel were united by a great friendship formed in karting, because the two-time IndyCar champion Alex drove as a cadet in the team where Molina fell in the race, the family karting team created and directed by his father Mariano Molina.
F1? The priority is always driving
The cases of Alex and Miguel have a lot in common. Both are very clear that F1 is a dream, but their priority is to become a professional driver and dedicate themselves to racing, in F1 or outside of it. That’s why Miguel, after becoming famous in karting and growing up in formulas, drives with other World Series events, decided to change course in 2010.
He had offers from F1, but not the money or the necessary support. He can’t and doesn’t want to get a mortgage. “We all like F1, of course. But I want to be a motorsports professional above all. There is life outside of F1,” he told journalist Raymond Blancafort at the time. Now, with more and more examples of Spanish drivers who have succeeded outside the ‘Great Circus’, like the case of Alex Palou, it will be easier to have such a determination. But at that time it was more complicated to take that step, just like Antonio García did.
Pioneer in Germany
Then the opportunity came sign for a historic brand like Audi and open a path unexplored by the Spaniards in the DTMthe prestigious German touring car championship, as the official driver of the four rings.
He stayed there for 7 years and left as the first Spaniard to debut, score and win. In seven seasons he achieved three victories, six pole positions and seven podiums. And after him, other young Spaniards like Roberto Merhi and Dani Juncadella will come to the German competition.
At Audi he dreamed of one day racing at Le Mans in the premier class, but in 2017 he headed to World Endurance Championship and the legendary French event with other colors, at the wheel of a GT, first in Spirit of Race and then in AF Corse (structure linked to Ferrari).
There he showed what he was. A very fast driver, a born worker, consistent and disciplined, a team man who is far from controversy and prefers to talk on the track than off it. The clear example is in his response when MD asked him if perhaps he missed more recognition in Spain for his work and his role as the official Ferrari Hypercar driver. “I always feel the love,” pointed out, although at the same time remembering the importance of winning on a date like this in “for people to know that there are many drivers who have a very good level in motorsports, apart from Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, all the drivers who are there are more impactful”he admitted.
And not only did he set an example in his career, he also tried to do so by building his own Formula 4 team to promote young talent, just like the help he always gave his father in the structure of karting when he always becomes a pilot. want to be
An unexpected opportunity
What Miguel didn’t know was what he showed AF Corse at Ferrari, an unexpected door will open. A few years ago, I sought to achieve success in Le Mans in the third category, passenger vehicles. But Ferrari’s decision to create a program for the highest category of Le Mans gave him the opportunity of a lifetime.
Through hard work, he earned a place among the 6 official drivers of two Ferrari crews. And in his second attempt, he captured glory at the age of 35 with Nielsen and Fuoco, the protagonist of a great stint in the final hours in the rain. For Miguel, there are no egos that matter, something that is key to being, with his teammates, what Resistencia really needs: a team. And that shows on the track
Father of three children (a boy and two girls), he has had to sacrifice more family time in recent years to work on a massive project, with simulator sessions, engineering meetings and development work. “Winning here is exciting. We sacrifice many things for moments like this, to be part of this story,” he noted after the victory of his life. And now, at 35 years old, he seeks to continue making history
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
