Dylan Pereira has been involved in motorsport since he was four years old. He owes his passion to his father, who was himself an enthusiastic racing driver. Now, at the age of 27, he is living his dream and has established himself in the world of motorsport.
Dylan Pereira has been involved in motorsport for almost 24 years – a career characterised by ambition, hard work and extreme passion.
His motorsport journey began through the passion of his father, who was active in karting himself and competed in several races. At the age of four, he accompanied his father to Monnerich for the first time. Dylan Pereira recalls: ‘Back then, he always drove with colleagues. They took me with them once, put me in a kart, and I’ve been driving every weekend ever since.’ At the age of seven, his dream of owning his own kart finally came true, and three years later he competed in his first races. From the very beginning, his motto was: 100% commitment and the unconditional will to be the best.
First successes in karting
He already proved his talent in karting, becoming seven-time Luxembourg karting champion and even qualifying for the European Championship final. He also made it to the World Championships three years in a row.
His successes in karting paved the way for him to move up to higher classes. He finished second in both the 2020 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and the Carrera Cup Germany. But his real breakthrough came two years later when he became Porsche Supercup champion in the 2022 season – a milestone in his career that continues to shape him to this day. ‘It still doesn’t feel quite real to me. Ever since I was little, in karting and then in GT racing, I’ve dreamed of competing in the Porsche Supercup,’ he says. “Once you become champion, you always want more,” he says, describing his insatiable ambition. ’I always want to give one hundred per cent and be the best. It’s in my blood.’
In addition to sprint series, he is fascinated by the big 24-hour races. He has already competed in Le Mans, Daytona and at the Nürburgring, but has yet to win. At Le Mans, he finished second in the GT class – a moment he will never forget. He wants to win these prestigious races as a works driver one day. ‘I always set myself a goal that I want to achieve, and when I’ve done that, I try to set my sights even higher,’ he explains.
Back in the cockpit straight after the accident
His serious accident in Barcelona, in which his car burst into flames, did not throw him off course – he was back in the cockpit the very next day. ‘Fortunately, I got out of the car unharmed.’ No reason to turn his back on motorsport: ‘You must never lose respect for what you do. You always have to stay concentrated and focused. You have to get right back in the car to process it all.’ Giving up was never an option, even though he often thought about retiring. He knows that only those who overcome setbacks and keep going can reach the top.
That’s why mental health plays a crucial role for him: ’When you’re at the top of the world and have to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of your body, it’s very important.’ He has been doing mental training for about eight years to be able to perform at his best consistently. ‘This way, I get to know my body better and enable it to deliver the best performance in certain situations,’ he explains. He reflects on his races with a coach every week to stay balanced.
But he not only has to be at the highest level mentally, he also has to be physically fit. ‘Basically, reaction time is important, not only at the start, but also in situations during the race that can be life-threatening.’ He is convinced that there are no gender-specific differences at this level: ‘Motorsport is one of the only sports where men and women can perform at the same level. The G-forces are physically challenging, but a woman can master that just as well through muscle training.’
A life dedicated to motorsport
His everyday life is completely focused on racing. ‘I don’t have much time for other hobbies. 90 per cent of my life is dedicated to motorsport.’ Sports such as padel and tennis help him stay fit. Despite his intense career, he is a family man who loves to travel and enjoy good food. ‘I like going out with people. I make sure I always have people around me who make me happy. The camaraderie helps me go into the next race or the next season stronger.’
His big goal: to become a factory driver and win the world’s most important endurance races. His motto: always set new goals and never lose respect for danger. Because in motorsport, there’s no time to think about risks – what happens, happens. As Ayrton Senna once said: ‘And when you reach that limit, something happens and you can suddenly fly a little further. With the power of your mind, your determination, your instinct and also your experience, you can fly very high.’
Article produced by students on the BTS Media Writing course at the Lycée Classique de Diekirch
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