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Dan Harper

{{short description|Northern Irish racing driver}}

{{BLP sources|date=January 2025}}

{{use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Dan Harper

| image = Dan Harper - 2017 Ginetta Junior Knockhill (Sunday, R2 podium).jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Harper in 2017

| nationality = {{flagicon|GBR}} British

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|12|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Hillsborough, Northern Ireland

| related to =

| racing licence = 12px FIA Gold {{small|(until 2022)}}
12px FIA Platinum {{small|(2023–)}}

| current series = British GT Championship

| first year = 2023

| car number = 91

| former teams = Century Motorsport

| starts = 13

| wins = 2

| podiums = 4

| poles = 0

| fastest laps = 2

| best finish = 1st

| year = 2023

| prev series = Ginetta Junior Championship

| prev series years = 2016–17

| titles = GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup - Bronze Cup
British GT Championship
British GT Championship - Pro-Am
Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
Ginetta Junior Championship - Rookie

| title years = 2024

2023
2023
2019
2016

| awards = BMW Factory Driver
BMW Junior Team
Porsche GB Junior
Ginetta Junior Scholar

| award years = 2023
2020–22
2018–19
2016

}}

Daniel "Dan" Harper (born 8 December 2000) is a racing driver from Northern Ireland. He is currently competing as a BMW Motorsport works driver and was the 2023 British GT champion.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/63966775|title=Dan Harper: Factory BMW deal a 'dream' for Northern Ireland driver|website=BBC Sport|last=Gray|first=Andy|date=1 January 2023|access-date=29 March 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/motor-sport/dan-harper-i-cant-wait-for-another-year-of-battling-in-biggest-races-with-bmw/a952971417.html|title=Dan Harper: I can't wait for another year of battling in biggest races with BMW|website=Belfast Telegraph|last=Craig|first=Jason|date=23 March 2024|access-date=29 March 2024}}

Career

Harper started his racing career aged six, was a multiple champion in both quad bike and karting competition in his early years, before switching to junior rallying and winning three events in the Ireland Junior 1000 Rally Challenge in 2015.{{Cite web |title=Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs |url=https://archive.motorsportni.org/Championship.aspx?s=90 |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=archive.motorsportni.org}}

Harper made the transition to circuit racing the following year after winning the Ginetta Junior Scholarship {{cite news |last1=Paice |first1=Simon |title=Dan Harper Wins Ginetta Junior Scholarship For 2016 |url=https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2015/10/dan-harper-wins-ginetta-junior-scholarship-for-2016/ |website=The Checkered Flag}} and with it a fully-funded season in the Ginetta Junior Championship for 2016.

In his maiden campaign with Douglas Motorsport, he took two outright race victories and won the Rookie Cup title.{{cite news |last1=Paice |first1=Simon |title=Rookie Champion Harper: It's Been An Incredible Season |url=https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2016/10/rookie-champion-harper-incredible-season/ |website=The Checkered Flag}} He returned for a second campaign and won seven races on his way to third in the final standings.

Harper then won his second manufacturer scholarship in three years, being named the 2018/19 Porsche GB Junior driver for the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.{{cite news |last1=Pettit |first1=Vince |title=Daniel Harper Announced As Porsche GB 2018/19 Junior |url=https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2017/11/daniel-harper-announced-porsche-gb-201819-junior/ |website=The Checkered Flag}} In his first year, he won two races and posted more pole positions and fastest laps than any other driver.{{Cite web |last=Durant |first=Rob |date=11 November 2017 |title=New Porsche GB Junior headlines Porsche Carrera Cup GB 2018 |url=https://press.porsche.co.uk/prod/presse_pag/PressResources.nsf/Content?ReadForm&languageversionid=799165&hl=rennserien-pccgb |website=Porsche UK}}

In 2019, he won the drivers’ title{{cite news |last1=Paice |first1=Simon |title=Daniel Harper Wins 2019 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Title |url=https://www.nextlevelmotorsport.com/single-post/2019/10/01/Daniel-Harper-Wins-2019-Porsche-Carrera-Cup-GB-Title |website=Next Level Motorsport}} and finished the season with the most wins (8), pole positions (6) and fastest laps (11).{{cn|date=January 2025}}

For 2020/21, Harper was signed by BMW Motorsport to compete as part of their BMW Junior Team.{{cite news |last1=Gray |first1=Andy |title=Dan Harper: NI Teenager Leads BMW's Junior Team Return |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/51056401 }} In each season, he contested the Nürburgring Endurance Series and ADAC TOTAL 24 Hours of Nürburgring alongside team-mates Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen.

Starting the 2020 NES season in a BMW M240i, the BMW Junior Team took a maiden class win in their third race. A step up to a BMW M4 GT4 soon after yielded a class podium in their first race and a class victory in their first attempt at the ADAC Total 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

For 2021, they moved up to the premier class in a BMW M6 GT3 with the BMW Team RMG. They achieved two overall race wins and four podium finishes to finish as the overall Nürburgring Endurance Series vice-champions.

In 2022, Harper and the BMW Junior Team won a qualifier race ahead of the ADAC TOTAL 24 Hours of Nürburgring and took a podium finish during a two round stint in the Nürburgring Endurance Series with BMW Team RMG. They also contested a debut season in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup with ROWE Racing, taking a best result of fourth in the 1000 km of Paul Ricard.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

In 2023, Harper competed as a BMW works driver, entering the opening three rounds of the Nürburgring Endurance Series and the ADAC TOTAL 24 Hours of Nürburgring with BMW Team RMG, another full season in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup with ROWE Racing, and a debut campaign in the British GT Championship with Century Motorsport. He was crowned the 2023 British GT champion alongside team-mate Darren Leung, after two race wins and four podium finishes.

Continuing as a BMW works driver in 2024, Harper contested a dual programme in the GT World Challenge Europe; entering the Endurance Cup with ROWE Racing and the Sprint Cup with Century Motorsport. Harper was crowned the 2024 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Bronze drivers' champion alongside team-mate Darren Leung, after two race wins and six podium finishes.

Harper secured a podium finish in the 2024 ADAC TOTAL 24 Hours of Nürburgring alongside Max Hesse and Charles Weerts with BMW Team RMG, as well as contesting a partial campaign in the British GT Championship alongside Michael Johnston at Century Motorsport.

2025 marks Harper's sixth season with BMW. He took his inaugural 24-hour race victory in the 2025 Dubai 24 Hour alongside Max Hesse, Darren Leung, Ben Tuck and Al Faisal Al Zubair at Al Manar Racing by Team WRT. He's contesting a first campaign in the IMSA SportsCar Championship alongside Max Hesse at Paul Miller Racing.

Harper is a full member of the British Racing Drivers' Club. He was previously part of the BRDC SuperStars programme {{cite web |title=BRDC Superstars Announce Class Of 2020 |url=http://www.brdc.co.uk/BRDC-SuperStars-Announce-Class-of-2020 |website=British Racing Drivers Club}} and Motorsport UK Academy's Team UK programme.

Racing record

=Career summary=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"

! Season

! Series

! Team

! Races

! Wins

! Poles

! F/Laps

! Podiums

! Points

! Position

2016

|align=left| Ginetta Junior Championship

|align=left| Douglas Motorsport

| 25

| 2

| 0

| 3

| 7

| 390

| 5th

2017

|align=left| Ginetta Junior Championship

|align=left| Douglas Motorsport

| 26

| 7

| 6

| 6

| 15

| 625

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

2018

|align=left| Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain

|align=left| JTR

| 16

| 2

| 3

| 7

| 6

| 84

| 5th

rowspan="2" | 2019

|align=left| Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain

| rowspan="2" align="left" | JTR

| 16

| 8

| 6

| 11

| 13

| 159

| style="background: #ffffbf;" | 1st

align=left| Porsche Supercup

|1

|0

|0

|0

|0

|0

|NC†

rowspan="2" | 2020

|align=left| 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP8T

|align=left| Walkenhorst Motorsport

|1

|1

|1

|0

|1

|N/A

|style="background: #ffffbf;" |1st

align="left" | Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP8T

| align="left" | FK Performance Motorsport

|3

|0

|0

|0

|1

|11.25

|4th

rowspan="2" |2021

| align="left" | Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP9 Pro

| align="left" | BMW Junior Team

|7

|2

|0

|0

|4

|39.22

| style="background: #DFDFDF;" | 2nd

align="left" | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9

| align="left" | BMW Junior Team Shell

|1

|0

|0

|0

|0

|N/A

|DNF

rowspan="3" | 2022

| align="left" | GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup

| align="left" | BMW Junior Team with ROWE Racing

| 5

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 36

| 11th

align="left" | Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP9 Pro

| align="left" | BMW Junior Team

|2

|0

|0

|0

|1

|0

|NC†

align="left" | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9

| align="left" | BMW Junior Team Shell

|1

|0

|0

|0

|0

|N/A

|DNF

rowspan="6" | 2023

| align="left" | GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup

| align="left" | ROWE Racing

| 5

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 1

| 33

| 10th

align="left" | GT Winter Series

| align="left" | Schubert Motorsport

| 2

| 1

| 1

| 1

| 1

| 33

| 10th

align="left" | Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP9 Pro

| rowspan="2" align="left" | BMW Junior Team

| 3

| 1

| 0

| 0

| 2

| 0

| NC†

align="left" | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9

|1

|0

|0

|0

|0

|N/A

|DNF

align="left" | British GT Championship - GT3

| rowspan="2" align="left" | Century Motorsport

| 9

| 2

| 0

| 2

| 4

| 176

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

align=left| GT Cup Championship - Group GT3

| 2

| 1

| 1

| 1

| 2

| 0

| NC†

2023-24

|align=left| Asian Le Mans Series - GT

|align=left| Project 1

| 5

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 11

| 21st

rowspan="9" | 2024

|align=left| GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup

|align=left| ROWE Racing

| 5

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 1

| 36

| 8th

align=left| GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup

|rowspan=3 align=left| Century Motorsport

|rowspan=2| 8

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| NC

align=left| GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup - Bronze Cup

| 2

| 1

| 1

| 6

| 87.5

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

align="left" | British GT Championship - GT3

| 4

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 14

| 16th

align=left| 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9

| rowspan="2" align="left" | BMW M Team RMG

|1

|0

|0

|0

|1

|N/A

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

align=left| 24 Hours of Nürburgring Qualifiers - SP9

|2

|0

|0

|0

|0

|N/A

|NC†

rowspan="3" align=left| Intercontinental GT Challenge

|align="left" | BMW M Team RMG

|1

|0

|0

|0

|1

|rowspan="3" |36

|rowspan="3" |5th

align="left" | ROWE Racing

|1

|0

|0

|0

|0

align="left" | Team WRT

|1

|0

|0

|0

|0

rowspan="4" | 2025

|align=left| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro

|align=left| Paul Miller Racing

| 2

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 1

| 568

| 7th*

align=left| Middle East Trophy - GT3

|align=left| Al Manar Racing by Team WRT

|1

|1

|0

|0

|1

|?

|?

align=left| British GT Championship - GT3

| rowspan="2" align="left" | Paradine Competition

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

=Complete Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain results=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
Year

! Team

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Championship position}}

! Points

2018

! JTR

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
1
{{small|13}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
2
{{small|7}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DON
1
{{small|3}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DON
2
{{small|7}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MNZ
1
{{small|RET}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MNZ
2
{{small|8}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OUL
1
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| OUL
2
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SNE
1
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SNE
2
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| KNO
1
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| KNO
2
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
1
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SIL
2
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BGP
1
{{small|9}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BGP
2
{{small|4}}

! 5th

! 84

2019

! JTR

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRH
1
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRH
2
{{small|3}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| DON
1
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DON
2
{{small|3}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| CRO
1
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CRO
2
{{small|(6)}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| OUL
1
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OUL
2
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| THR
1
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| THR
2
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
1
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
2
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SIL
1
{{small|7}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SIL
2
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BGP
1
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BGP
2
{{small|1}}

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 159

=Complete GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup results=

class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
Year

! Team

! Car

! Class

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! Pos.

! Points

2022

! ROWE Racing

! BMW M4 GT3

! Pro

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMO
{{small|15}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA
6H
{{small|11}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SPA
12H
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA
24H
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HOC
{{small|9}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAT
{{small|13}}

! 11th

! 36

2023

! ROWE Racing

! BMW M4 GT3

! Pro

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MNZ
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA
6H
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA
12H
{{small|53}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SPA
24H
{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NÜR
{{small|11}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAT
{{small|12}}

! 10th

! 33

2024

!ROWE Racing

!BMW M4 GT3

!Pro

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| LEC
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA
6H
{{small|7}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA
12H
{{small|17}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA
24H
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NÜR
{{small|11}}

|style="background:#;"| MNZ
{{small

}

|style="background:#;"| JED
{{small|}}

! 4th

! 36

|}

=Complete British GT Championship results=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Team

! Car

! Class

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! DC

! Points

2023

! Century Motorsport

! BMW M4 GT3

! GT3

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OUL
1
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OUL
2
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL
1
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DON
1
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SNE
1
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SNE
2
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ALG
1
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRH
1
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DON
1
{{small|2}}

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 176

2024

! Century Motorsport

! BMW M4 GT3

! GT3

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OUL
1
{{small|9}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| OUL
2
{{small|14}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SIL
1
{{small|17}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DON
1
{{small|6}}

| SPA
1

| SNE
1

| SNE
2

| DON
1

| BRH
1

! 16th

! 14

= Complete Asian Le Mans Series results =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

|+

! Year

! Team

! Car

! Class

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! Pos.

! Points

2023–24

! Team Project 1

! BMW M4 GT3

! GT

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SEP
1
{{small|18}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SEP
2
{{small|10}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DUB
1
{{small|7}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ABU
1
{{small|8}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ABU
2
{{small|15}}

! 21st

! 11

=Complete GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup results=

class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
Year

! Team

! Car

! Class

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! Pos.

! Points

2024

! Century Motorsport

! BMW M4 GT3

! Bronze

| BRH
1

| BRH
2

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MIS
1
{{small|17}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MIS
2
{{small|20}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| HOC
1
{{small|15}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| HOC
2
{{small|11}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAG
1
{{small|21}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAG
2
{{small|26}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CAT
1
{{small|21}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CAT
2
{{small|22}}

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 87.5

=Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Entrant

! Class

! Make

! Engine

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! Rank

! Points

2025

! Paul Miller Racing

! GTD Pro

! BMW M4 GT3 Evo

! BMW P58 3.0 L Twin Turbo I6

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY
{{small|12}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SEB
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#;"| LGA
{{small

}

|style="background:#;"| DET
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| WGL
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| MOS
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| ELK
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| VIR
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| IMS
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| PET
{{small|}}

! 7th*

! 568*

|}

* Season still in progress.

Awards

class="wikitable"
scope="col" style="width:5em;"| Year

! scope="col" style="width:40em;"| Nominated work

! scope="col" style="width:40em;"| Category

! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Result

2019

| Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards

| Young Player Of The Year

| style="background: #ffffbf"|Won

2019

| Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs Awards

| ANICC Northern Ireland Motorsport Award

| style="background: #ffffbf"|Won

2019

| British Racing Drivers' Club Awards

| The Henry Surtees Award

| style="background: #ffffbf"|Won

2019

| Autosport Awards

| National Racing Driver of the Year

| Nominated

2023

| Motorsport News Awards

| National Racing Driver of the Year

| Nominated

2023

| Autosport Awards

| National Racing Driver of the Year

| Nominated

2023

| British GT Championship

| Allan Simonsen Award (Driver of the Year)

| style="background: #ffffbf"|Won

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • http://www.harperracing.com/

{{s-start}}

{{s-sports}}

{{succession box|title=Porsche Carrera Cup GB
Champion| before = Tio Ellinas | after = Harry King| years=2019}}

{{succession box|title=British GT Championship
Champion| before = Ian Loggie | after = Rob Collard
Ricky Collard|with=Darren Leung| years=2023}}

{{succession box|title=British GT Championship
Pro-Am Champion| before = Ian Loggie | after = Rob Collard
Ricky Collard|with=Darren Leung| years=2023}}

{{succession box|title=GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup
Bronze Cup Champion| before = Alex Malykhin | after = Incumbent|with=Darren Leung| years=2024}}

{{s-end}}

{{BMW M Factory Drivers}}

{{IMSA GTD Pro teams}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harper, Daniel}}

Category:Racing drivers from Northern Ireland

Category:2000 births

Category:Living people

Category:Ginetta Junior Championship drivers

Category:Porsche Supercup drivers

Category:Porsche Carrera Cup GB drivers

Category:BMW M drivers

Category:Rowe Racing drivers

Category:Nürburgring 24 Hours drivers

Category:British GT Championship drivers

Category:People from Hillsborough, County Down

Category:Motorsport people from County Down

Category:24 Hours of Spa drivers

Category:Asian Le Mans Series drivers

Category:GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup drivers

Category:WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers