Meet the Instructors

Kees Nierop

Chief Instructor

  • Chief Instructor since 2016
  • Winner of the legendary Sebring 12 Hours of Endurance race
  • Porsche factory driver at the 1987 LeMans 24hr and Daytona
  • Canadian GT-1 Champion
  • Rothmans Porsche 944 Champion
  • The only Canadian to have his name on a Porsche factory race car displayed in the new Porsche Museum in Germany.
  • In his 48th year of active motorsports (Racing, coaching & facilitating).
  • Active today in historic car racing
  • Chief Instructor / Race steward at Area 27

Stefan Rzadzinski

Instructor

  • Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY
  • International GT3 Racing
  • Porsche Cup Canada
  • 2017 Race of Champions race winner
  • IMSA LMP3 podium finisher
  • Besides active in car racing, Stefan does karting, private coaching (cars & karts)
  • 2023 Porsche North America Cup competitor
  • Stefan is a senior coach at Area 27

Scott Hargrove

Instructor

  • 10+ years racing experience
  • IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Podium Finisher
  • Pirelli World Challenge Champion
  • Two-time Porsche GT3 Cup Canada Champion
  • USF2000 Champion
  • Pro Mazda Championship 2nd Place
  • Indy Lights Podium Finisher
  • Besides active in car racing, Scott does karting and offers private coaching both in cars & karts
  • Scott is a senior coach at Area 27

Zac Zawisza

Instructor

  • Broke track record for the series at Laguna Seca in first career road race
  • 1 win and 2 podiums in 5 starts of Skip Barber Challenge
  • 3 wins, 5 podiums, 2 track records in a limited conference season in a Porsche 911
  • Zac is a senior coach at Area 27

Dirk Hohmann

Instructor

  • Started racing 1987
  • 1987-1989 FF2000 competitor
  • 1988 FF2000 Champion
  • 1988 competed in Rothman’s Porsche Cup
  • 1989 Started Instructing
  • Early Area 27 Member
  • 2020 & 2021 Area 27 GT27 Champion

Pat Hall

Instructor

  • Focused on off road driving since 1985
  • Road Race licence 2017
  • Competing in historic series: Sovern, ICSCC, CACC since 2017
  • Current GT cars: Panoz GTS , Nissan 510 & 240Z

Tania Gladiuk

Instructor

  • First female in Pro Drifting in Canada
  • Karting 125 Shifter
  • FF 1600 driver
  • Automotive Manufacturer facilitator
  • 25-year Automotive experience doing commercial driving (stunt, TV, High Performance driving Instructor)
  • Working with teen driving initiatives

Kelly Watmough

Off-Road Instructor

  •  25 years of off road motorcycle racing experience: CMA (Canadian Motorcycle Association), CMRC (Canadian Motorsport Racing Club) Motocross, and Canadian National qualifier
  • Area 27 Race Tech Assistant
  • Academy 27 2.5-Day Certification
  • Level 1 First Aid

Brent Morrison

Off-Road Instructor

  •  25 years of off road motorcycle racing experience. CMA (Canadian Motorcycle Association) CMRC (Canadian Motorsport Racing Club)  Motocross, Supermoto, and mini road racing.
  • Off-road training through Suzuki and Yamaha Canada, ATV and Side by Side
  • Motorcycle Instructor with HardNoX track days
  • Recreational 4WD enthusiast, with experience in BC, Alberta, and Southern California