While GT racing is Harper’s profession, the endurance racing world got more attention than usual when Max Verstappen, the four-time Formula 1 world champion, made waves in the class earlier this year.
Verstappen’s venture into endurance racing drew a lot of interest at the Nurburgring, one of the most fearsome circuits in motorsport.
For Harper, who comes from Northern Ireland, he didn’t believe the rumours of Verstappen’s foray into GT Racing at first.
“I thought it wasn’t going to happen,” Harper said.
“The closer it came and then it was announced, I knew it was going to be really special.”
Before the Nurburgring 24 Hours, Verstappen had to compete in NLS races, shorter in length, to be granted a permit to drive in the main event.
In NLS2, Verstappen and his team-mates Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon dominated the race. On that occassion, Harper and Jordan Pepper were second and they got to share a podium together.
But Verstappen’s car was later disqualified for a technical infringement with Harper and Pepper handed the win.
Then, a mechanical issue forced Verstappen’s car out of winning contention at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, while Harper finished just off the podium in fourth place.
So, despite the pace and relentless drive, Harper has yet to officially be beaten on track by the four-time F1 world champion.
“I have to say it was one of the coolest podiums I’ve been on,” Harper said on his NLS2 experience.
“Even just getting a chance to speak to him after the race in the Parc Ferme, we were talking about how he’s finding GT racing and being involved in something completely different than what he’s normally doing every day.
“It’s a bit like working with Valentino, they’re so famous but they’re just normal people and you could tell he was just so happy to be there and so motivated to do well, and that’s what I thought was really cool.”
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