Key People
CLAUDE BOVET
Owner, Managing Director & Amateur Racing Driver
Founder
Claude began his journey into racing in the summer of 2021 following the purchase of a Ferrari racing car, fulfilling a lifelong dream. As the owner of investment management firm Lionscrest, Claude was keen to channel his entrepreneurial success into building a race team around a crew of highly-experienced and talented individuals, with the objective of becoming a recognised force in the paddock. Blackthorn Racing is the cornerstone of the Blackthorn group of companies.
DAN JEAL
Team Principal & Director
Founding Team Member
Working within the motorsport industry for over 25 years, Dan has been active across the major motorsport championships, from Formula One, WEC and ELMS to A1GP and Formula 3. Having worked as a key person at some of the top teams, he has an unparalleled passion for the industry and a meticulous attention to detail. Dan specialises in team management and race engineering.
JULIEN DRAPER
Advisor & Amateur Racing Driver
With a professional career spanning private equity, venture capital and the motorsport sector, Julien has built an extensive network and gained broad commercial experience that uniquely positions him to advise on investments in rare and exceptional racing cars. The son of a highly successful car collector, Julien has spent a lifetime around exotic machinery and motorsport. He started his career in the motorsport industry as a semi-professional driver and sponsorship broker. Racing during the 2000s Julien competed in high-profile series and events including the Blancpain Endurance Series, British GT, the Spa 24hrs and Goodwood Revival. Pausing racing in 2014, Julien went on to pursue a career in private equity and venture capital and was a partner at a leading South African VC fund manager, Knife Capital, before joining Blackthorn.