Early career Hill initially raced
karts in
California and
Ferrari sports cars (his father won his F1 title with the team). Winning three of three races in the championship runoffs in Italy at the Mugello circuit in the Ferrari 355, Hill attracted the attention of the Alfa Romeo Factory DTM team and was invited to test the DTM car at Mugello in November 1995.
Barber Dodge Pro Series Hill competed in the US-based
Barber Dodge Pro Series in 1996, finishing third overall, taking Rookie-of-the-Year honors. In 1997, he took the championship title, winning four races in the process.
Professional Sports Car / IMSA Also in 1997, Hill raced the Factory BMW M3 for the Prototype Technology Group in GTS3 Class. He won the GTS3 class at the Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours as well as scoring two other wins with teammate, Javier Quiros.
Formula Toyota Atlantic Hill moved up to
Formula Toyota Atlantic for 1998, finishing 13th in the championship.
Formula Palmer Audi Hill moved into
European racing in 1999 by taking part in the second season of the
Formula Palmer Audi series, organised by former F1 driver
Jonathan Palmer. He finished 19th in that year's championship.
Formula 3000 For
2000, Hill competed in six races of the
Italian Formula 3000 series, failing to score any points.
The following year, he moved up to the more prestigious
FIA-backed series with the
DAMS team with teammate,
Sébastien Bourdais, and remained there in
2002 (a part-season with
Durango, replacing
Alexander Müller) and
2003 (with
Super Nova). In three years, he scored a total of four points and was dropped midway through 2003 in favour of
Nicolas Kiesa, who had been left without a drive due to the withdrawal of the Super Nova-run
Den Blå Avis outfit. Nonetheless, Hill was often the most prominent American driver competing in Europe at this time. During this period he also entered into a management contract with Anthony Haas and Brigitte Hill – daughter and sister of
Formula 1 champion namesakes
Graham and
Damon respectively – to act as his managers. who died in August 2008.
Other career highlights In 1996, Hill competed in the
1996 24 Hours of Daytona in a
Bugatti EB110 Competizione in the GT1 category, setting fastest lap in the Daytona Test Days. Leading the class in the seventh hour, the car experienced mechanical failure. This was the last time a Bugatti raced professionally in the United States. In 2002, Hill raced in the Grand Am, Fontana Four-Hour California Grand Prix, in the
Saleen S7. He won the category and finished fourth overall. ==Racing record==