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INTRODUCING EMELY DE HEUS: The Red Bull Ford driver on mountain biking, chocolate and her racing heroes
With a little bit of downtime before F1 ACADEMY heads to Singapore, you’ll probably find Emely De Heus hitting a very different kind of track on two wheels instead of four.
Hailing from the Netherlands, we caught up with the Red Bull Ford driver earlier in the season to find out more about her, including her favourite sweet treat as well as her favourite memories from her karting days.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RACING CARS FOR?
“I started in 2021 in the Spanish F4 Championship with MP Motorsport, so three years ago. I just love the speed and also the things not only about driving but about the car itself — how its going and the data. Also, to be in control of the car if it does what you want it to do.”
WHAT’S YOUR RACING NUMBER THIS YEAR AND WHY DID YOU PICK IT?
“It’s #7. I’ve always been #7 in karting when I started, football and hockey, so that’s why I chose it.”
WHAT’S THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
“In karting, it was when I was the Dutch Winter Champion, it was good. Also, I got a few pole positions in Benelux. In cars, it’s Barcelona last year (where) I got my first win and Zandvoort where I also got a podium.”
WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE CIRCUIT AND WHY?
“It’s a good question because sometimes I go to a track and think this is my favourite, but then I go to another one. I think it’s Zandvoort, not because it’s my home track, but it’s a bit old school with some tricky corners, I like it.”
DESCRIBE YOUR PRE-RACE RITUAL AND DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS?
“I don’t really. Only if I have a good session, then I think what did I do before? Did I put my shoes there or other stuff? Then, I do the same thing and I hope it gives me luck.”
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WHAT THREE WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
“Chaotic. I can be energetic when I know people, but when I don’t know them, I’m not really energetic, and clumsy.”
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME AWAY FROM MOTORSPORT?
“Usually, I go to the gym, but that’s because I do that for racing. I call my friends up, I see them almost every week or every day, and then, we do road trips or hangouts with each other. I do some mountain biking sometimes with my old trainer, that’s fun to do. We usually try to look up an old building that nobody lives at anymore. Then we go there with the bike because otherwise, we don’t like to bike around without anything to do.”
WHO ARE YOUR HEROES, RACING OR OTHERWISE?
“When I was younger, I always looked up to Michael Schumacher or Kimi Räikkönen. When I watched them, for sure I learnt something.”
IF YOU HAD A DINNER PARTY WITH THREE GUESTS FROM THE 2024 GRID, WHO WOULD YOU PICK AND WHY?
“Hamda and Amna (Al Qubaisi) because they are my teammates and we have a lot of fun together. For the other one, I don’t know, probably Carrie (Schreiner) as she’s funny.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE CHEAT MEAL?
“I love chocolate a lot! Milka is good or when I’m at my grandma’s I like everything she puts on the table. I like Kinder Bueno, that’s the best one.”
WHAT IS YOUR AMBITION FOR THE 2024 SEASON?
“Of course, I want to win, but I’d like top five or top three.”