NEWS
Team Halusa Take on the Pom
Thursday 08 February 2018
A competitive family team will take to the track at the Pomeroy Trophy on 24 February. We interviewed Team Halusa - a father-son-son trio comprising of Martin, Lukas, and Andreas Halusa - to find out what they're looking forward to at the Pom this year...
How long have you been racing with the VSCC?
Martin: I believe it has been since we bought our first pre-war GP car , the Bugatti 35C, in 2013.
Lukas: My first ever competitive event was the 2013 Prescott Hill Climb in a Bugatti 43 with the VSCC. So without the VSCC I may not be racing now.
Andreas: I think this will be my first one.
Are you quite a competitive family?
Martin: I have 4 sporty sons, born within 5 years, so competition between them and with them has always been part of the family fabric.
Lukas: Very competitive. Some more than others (Niklas).
Andreas: Yes, I would say so. It’s very rare for us not to turn something into a competition.
Who's the fastest driver?
Martin: I was, unfortunately, easily overtaken by first Lukas and then Niklas. Andreas and Thomas are catching up fast, so I will soon be the slowest in the family.
Lukas: At the moment, I am. Not due to talent but due to seat time. My father lets me drive more than him, Niklas and Thomas haven’t been in Europe and Andreas has just started. To be honest, I think both Niklas and Andreas are naturally quicker than me. In fact, I do about 5 times more racing than Niklas does and yet he somehow stays within a second or two of my lap times!
Andreas: I would say Lukas at the moment. Niklas normally does very well too but he’s had less seat time. Give him more and he might give Lukas a run for his money. One thing is very clear though: I am by far the slowest.
Why have you entered the Pom this year?
Martin: Lukas did it last year in the Bugatti and loved it. He convinced us all to come this year.
Lukas: I’ve competed in the Pom 2 or 3 times and I love it. It’s a great first outing of the season – the cars get a test, you get to see your friends after a lonely winter break and most of all it’s one of the most fun events of the year.
Andreas: Sounded like it would be a lot of fun. I’ve never done it before and I only hear good things.
Tell us a bit about the car you'll be driving...
Martin: I will be driving the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Zagato from 1932. It did the original Mille Miglia three times ('32,'33,'34) and finished in the top 10 each time. My son Niklas won the Brooklands Trophy at the Goodwood Revival in the car last year.
Lukas: I’m driving in my father’s Bugatti 35C which won the Spanish GP in 1927 with Emilio Materassi. It’s surprisingly easy and forgiving to drive and is without a doubt one of my absolute favourites I’ve ever driven. I can also tell you it’s going to be extremely cold.
Andreas: It’s an Alfa Guilia Sprint GT. A car that’s perhaps not the quickest but is incredibly fun to drive. So balanced and easy to learn. A perfect car for a beginner like me.
What can you tell us about the other Team Halusa drivers?
Martin: Lukas will be driving the Bugatti 35C, which won the Spanish GP in 1927 with Emilio Materassi and Andreas will, be driving a 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA. Niklas, unfortunately, had to cancel for work reasons, so our 1951 Ferrari 212 Export will be driven by our friend Mags Diffey.
Lukas: My father, Niklas and Andreas are all very precise in their driving style. Thomas and I are… less so.
Andreas: Their skill is both a motivation for me, as well as the primary cause of my frustration. The gap in speed between us is far too large for my liking. I wish they would take just one season off to give me a chance to catch up.
Can we look forward to seeing the three of you taking part in another VSCC event this year?
Martin: We would love to. We have met the nicest people in racing at the VSCC. Lukas and I, however, now live in Switzerland, Niklas in California and Thomas in Indonesia, so the logistics will not be straightforward.
Lukas: This year will be difficult as we’re not in the UK a lot. But I certainly hope, in the next few years, you will have five Halusas competing at the Pom and in 20 years you might have 15 Halusas.
Andreas: Hopefully yes. I’m hoping to do a lot more racing from now on, and the other two are unlikely to miss any.
We're very excited to see Team Halusa on the track along with all of our Pom competitors. If you haven't signed up but would like to take part, click here to enter the event.
We welcome spectators to the event, so please come along! Entry is free, and we can promise you a fantastic day of eclectic historic motorsport. To find out more, click here.
Photos by Andrew Kitson and John Retter.
Martin: I believe it has been since we bought our first pre-war GP car , the Bugatti 35C, in 2013.
Lukas: My first ever competitive event was the 2013 Prescott Hill Climb in a Bugatti 43 with the VSCC. So without the VSCC I may not be racing now.
Andreas: I think this will be my first one.
Are you quite a competitive family?
Martin: I have 4 sporty sons, born within 5 years, so competition between them and with them has always been part of the family fabric.
Lukas: Very competitive. Some more than others (Niklas).
Andreas: Yes, I would say so. It’s very rare for us not to turn something into a competition.
Who's the fastest driver?
Martin: I was, unfortunately, easily overtaken by first Lukas and then Niklas. Andreas and Thomas are catching up fast, so I will soon be the slowest in the family.
Lukas: At the moment, I am. Not due to talent but due to seat time. My father lets me drive more than him, Niklas and Thomas haven’t been in Europe and Andreas has just started. To be honest, I think both Niklas and Andreas are naturally quicker than me. In fact, I do about 5 times more racing than Niklas does and yet he somehow stays within a second or two of my lap times!
Andreas: I would say Lukas at the moment. Niklas normally does very well too but he’s had less seat time. Give him more and he might give Lukas a run for his money. One thing is very clear though: I am by far the slowest.
Why have you entered the Pom this year?
Martin: Lukas did it last year in the Bugatti and loved it. He convinced us all to come this year.
Lukas: I’ve competed in the Pom 2 or 3 times and I love it. It’s a great first outing of the season – the cars get a test, you get to see your friends after a lonely winter break and most of all it’s one of the most fun events of the year.
Andreas: Sounded like it would be a lot of fun. I’ve never done it before and I only hear good things.
Tell us a bit about the car you'll be driving...
Martin: I will be driving the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Zagato from 1932. It did the original Mille Miglia three times ('32,'33,'34) and finished in the top 10 each time. My son Niklas won the Brooklands Trophy at the Goodwood Revival in the car last year.
Lukas: I’m driving in my father’s Bugatti 35C which won the Spanish GP in 1927 with Emilio Materassi. It’s surprisingly easy and forgiving to drive and is without a doubt one of my absolute favourites I’ve ever driven. I can also tell you it’s going to be extremely cold.
Andreas: It’s an Alfa Guilia Sprint GT. A car that’s perhaps not the quickest but is incredibly fun to drive. So balanced and easy to learn. A perfect car for a beginner like me.
What can you tell us about the other Team Halusa drivers?
Martin: Lukas will be driving the Bugatti 35C, which won the Spanish GP in 1927 with Emilio Materassi and Andreas will, be driving a 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA. Niklas, unfortunately, had to cancel for work reasons, so our 1951 Ferrari 212 Export will be driven by our friend Mags Diffey.
Lukas: My father, Niklas and Andreas are all very precise in their driving style. Thomas and I are… less so.
Andreas: Their skill is both a motivation for me, as well as the primary cause of my frustration. The gap in speed between us is far too large for my liking. I wish they would take just one season off to give me a chance to catch up.
Can we look forward to seeing the three of you taking part in another VSCC event this year?
Martin: We would love to. We have met the nicest people in racing at the VSCC. Lukas and I, however, now live in Switzerland, Niklas in California and Thomas in Indonesia, so the logistics will not be straightforward.
Lukas: This year will be difficult as we’re not in the UK a lot. But I certainly hope, in the next few years, you will have five Halusas competing at the Pom and in 20 years you might have 15 Halusas.
Andreas: Hopefully yes. I’m hoping to do a lot more racing from now on, and the other two are unlikely to miss any.
We're very excited to see Team Halusa on the track along with all of our Pom competitors. If you haven't signed up but would like to take part, click here to enter the event.
We welcome spectators to the event, so please come along! Entry is free, and we can promise you a fantastic day of eclectic historic motorsport. To find out more, click here.
Photos by Andrew Kitson and John Retter.
