Jan  von der Heyde

On Track Summary

Entering Prodigy Week without any prior car racing experience, von der Heyde demonstrated good pace and progress in the SR1, although his adaptation was not as swift as some of the other competitors. After Prodigy Week, motivated to gain real-world racing experience, Heyde acquired a go-kart. His talent and dedication are beyond question, and some drivers simply require a second event to showcase their potential in real race cars. Jan deserves this additional opportunity, whether through a draft pick or a fan save. Fans should keep an eye on Heyde in case the teams overlook him.

Off-Track Summary

One of the world's best sim racers, highly dedicated to his craft as a paid sim tester, von der Heyde is one of the most mature, professional, and well-rounded participants in Prodigy Week Season One. As the runner-up in the Prodigy Search Selection Show, he learned of his inclusion in Prodigy Week just a day before traveling from Germany to the United States. Lacking adequate physical preparation time and the same level of familiarity with the event plan, von der Heyde was thrust onto a big stage with a lot on the line. Nevertheless, his poise and presence remained unshaken. Did this affect his on-track performance? Heyde will have the opportunity to demonstrate his talent as a Prodigy, as BS+ has selected him to complete their lineup.

Bio

Residing in a small village called “Hennstedt” in northern Germany, Heyde is dedicated to sim racing personally and professionally. Growing up, I lived through the prime time of Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel and that’s what really fueled my passion for motorsport. Because of the missing budget and the lack of infrastructure in my area (karting tracks etc.), I soon had to realize that a conventional career as a driver wouldn’t be possible. Instead I studied business administration and started working as an HR-Manager being responsible for 100+ employees. I also played competitive soccer as a goalkeeper. Alongside I have always been active in sim racing as a hobby and when the pandemic hit us, things really took off. From racing the virtual 24h of Le Mans alongside Jenson Button to representing prestigious brands like Nissan and Brabham in their respective esports programs, I achieved countless things I never thought would be possible. Even though my CV contained no relevant background in motorsports apart from sim racing, I always kept the hunger to set foot within the industry. In 2023 I was able to secure a job at Manthey-Racing, the company carrying out all factory activities from Porsche in GT Racing. I was responsible for planning and building their DiL-Simulator and now work as an operator and reference driver in the sim. Having the privilege to compare my data to the Porsche factory drivers on a daily basis, I know that I have what it takes to be successful in professional racing and I would love to prove that in the Prodigy Racing League!

Racing history

No official races; open track days in Rotax DD2 kart; owned a racing kart in early 20s but couldn't afford to compete in official series.