Biography:

BEGINNINGS

Results don’t happen overnight and for Owen Hayes, the foundation of his successful trajectory were laid early on. Hayes began his racing career over three decades ago as a mechanic, racing formula cars in his native Ireland.

While studying for an Automotive Engineering degree at the University of Bolton, he began dabbling in the world of sports-car racing, eventually joining Mercedes AMG as a race engineer in 1996. Throughout his three years with the German marque, Hayes played a key role in their success across both DTM and FIA GT.

WORKING WITH PORSCHE

It wasn’t too long before Hayes began a 20-year journey with a new German manufacturer — Porsche. It all started with a role as the development engineer for the Porsche LMP2000 Project, where he prepared the only Porsche LMP900 car for Le Mans. While the project was eventually canceled, it opened up a sequent door for a position as the Team Manager and Engineer for the Porsche Junior team, where he developed young drivers such as Timo Bernhard, Patrick Long, Marc Lieb, and Mike Rockenfeller to name a few.

LMP2 AND LMP1 PROJECTS

Continuing his run with the marque, 2005 saw Hayes shift his priority to the North American racing scene, acting as the Race and Development Engineer for Porsche Motorsport and Penske Racing’s Porsche RS Spyder.

When the project came to fruition in 2006, it immediately flourished with two championships and one second-place championship in its three seasons of American Le Mans LMP2-class competition. From there, Hayes continued his role with Porsche Motorsport, providing engineering support for multiple programs including the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid and Porsche LMP1 projects.

PORSCHE MOTORSPORT NORTH AMERICA

It was 2013 when Hayes moved stateside full-time, fulfilling a role as the Director of Operations and Race Director with Porsche Motorsport North America. Throughout his six years under the banner, Hayes was the driving force behind business operations, race performance assessments, and ensuring customers with the technical compliance and competitiveness of Porsche products.

Hayes not only provided project management during the Porsche factory supported team’s 2015 championship, but he provided customers with support needed to win their own championships.