Our Instructors
Experience from Every Level of Motorsport
RC Enerson
Chief Instructor, NTT INDYCAR Driver, NASCAR, IMSA Rolex
At 29-years old, Lead Race Series Instructor RC Enerson is the Chief Instructor at Lucas Oil School of Racing, but don’t let his age fool you. Racing since the age of five, the New Port Richey, FL native grew up karting and has moved up the ranks, making waves at each stage of his racing career.
At 19 years old, Enerson made his Verizon IndyCar Series debut in 2016 with Dale Coyne Racing driving the #19 Boy Scouts Dallara-Honda at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a track he won at previously in both USF2000 and IndyLights.
In 2019, RC drove in the NTT IndyCar Series Mid Ohio race in the Lucas Oil School of Racing sponsored car for Carlin Racing. In 2023, RC qualified for the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 for Abel Motorsports.
Racing has always come naturally to RC as a previous team principal stated, “RC’s performance was nothing less than amazing. He is so calm behind the wheel and possesses car control beyond his years.”
Ryan Hall
Lead Instructor, Advanced
Bio
Ryan brings a broad background in sprint and endurance racing to Lucas Oil School of Racing. Starting on dirt ovals in karts, he progressed through SCCA competition in Formula 600, Improved Touring, B-Spec, and Spec Miata, with additional experience in Mazda MX-5 Cup and SRO GT4. His race wins span from an SCCA Formula 600 victory at Summit Point in 2004 to a 2026 Zenith Racing Series win at Watkins Glen in a BMW M4 GT4.
Ryan has coached drivers since 2004, working with racers including RC Enerson, Austin and Ty Dillon, and Colton Herta. His instructional experience includes AMG Performance Academy and Monticello Motor Club, alongside coaching across club and professional racing. Continuing to compete in World Racing League, ChampCar, and the Zenith Racing Series, Ryan brings an active racer’s perspective to helping students develop their skills.
Federico Montoya
Instructor
Bio
A Colombian-born racer and former Red Bull Junior Team driver, Federico competed alongside teammate Sebastian Vettel in German Formula BMW before progressing to Formula Renault 2.0 with Jenzer Motorsport. His achievements include the 2006 Easykart 125cc world championship and multiple Panamerican karting titles, as well as Daytona Prototype testing with Chip Ganassi Racing and Doran Racing.
A professional driver coach since 2011, Federico founded MV Driver Development in 2014 to support racers from grassroots karting through professional competition. His coaching combines racecraft, data analysis, and mental preparation with structured, individual development programs. Drawing on experience across international karting, open-wheel racing, and prototype testing, Federico helps drivers understand both the technical and mental demands of improving their performance.
Donnie Steele
Lead Instructor, Basic
Bio
Donnie brings a record of 75+ race wins and 100+ podium finishes in Lucas Oil competition to his role as an instructor at Lucas Oil School of Racing. A five-time Lucas Oil Masters Champion and race winner in both Lucas Oil and SCCA competition, Donnie’s experience spans open-wheel racing and production-based sports cars.
Having helped his own sons transition from karts to formula cars, Donnie brings a parent’s perspective to coaching young drivers taking that same step. He understands the learning curve for drivers and the questions families face, helping students build confidence, adapt their racecraft, and develop the habits needed to progress in open-wheel racing.
Alongside his racing accomplishments, Donnie draws on a background in business leadership and wrestling coaching that shapes his approach to teaching and driver development. He understands the discipline, preparation, and willingness to learn that progress demands, on- and off-track.
As an active competitor and instructor, Donnie brings that perspective to helping students build confidence, sharpen their racecraft, and translate instruction into performance behind the wheel.
Aaron Nash
Lead Instructor, Basic
Bio
Aaron is a professional racing driver, coach, and former race team owner with experience spanning grassroots motorsports to professional endurance racing.
Aaron has competed and earned victories in HSR, SCCA, NASA, and World Racing League, including class wins in the 13 Hours of VIR, 12 Hours of Summit Point, and Devil in the Dark 12 Hours at NJMP. He also finished second in the German Touring Series 2 class at the 2017 NASA National Championships at Sebring.
His professional experience includes team ownership and campaigning McLaren race cars at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring.
Today, Aaron coaches and spots drivers competing in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Mazda MX-5 Cup, and Porsche championships. In 2026, he helped fellow Lucas Oil instructor and graduate Noah Harmon secure an MX-5 Cup victory at Daytona as his race spotter.
Outside the racetrack, Aaron enjoys building BMW project cars, running, dirt biking, and spending time with his daughter. He’s also passionate about using motorsports to support charitable causes and create memorable experiences for others.
Ray Scott
Instructor
Bio
Ray brings more than three decades of professional driving and instructional experience to Lucas Oil School of Racing. His competition background includes the Skip Barber Formula Ford and Dodge race series, where he recorded 10 wins and 15 podium finishes, along with shifter kart racing and a victory in the Consulier Celebrity Challenge.
Ray’s teaching résumé includes roles with Skip Barber Racing School, the BMW Performance Center, and Porsche Track Experience. He has also coached in the Skip Barber Race Series and delivered performance driving programs for manufacturers including BMW, Bentley, Cadillac, and Dodge. His experience extends to teaching young drivers through BMW and Skip Barber programs, giving him a broad perspective on driver development—from introducing fundamental car control to coaching racers on track.
Affonso Giaffone
Instructor
Bio
Affonso brings championship-winning international experience to Lucas Oil School of Racing. A native of Brazil, Affonso won the 1991 FIA South American Formula 3 Championship before earning Indy Lights Rookie of the Year honors and third in the championship in 1995, with four runner-up finishes. He progressed to the Indy Racing League in 1996–97, qualifying for the 1997 Indianapolis 500 and recording a career-best fourth-place finish at Charlotte.
During his formative years in Formula Ford and Formula 3, Affonso raced against Gil de Ferran, Rubens Barrichello, Christian Fittipaldi, and Osvaldo Negri. His subsequent career includes nearly two decades of instruction and coaching with Porsche Club Brazil and Porsche GT3 Cup Brazil, alongside race engineering and data analysis in Brazilian Stock Car competition. That combination of driving achievement and technical expertise helps him connect what students feel behind the wheel with the changes that improve their performance.
Dan Layton
Instructor
Bio
Dan brings more than five decades of motorsport experience to Lucas Oil School of Racing, spanning driving, engineering, team management, and coaching. A race winner in SCCA Formula Ford and FF2000 competition, Dan earned his first professional victory in the 1982 USAC Formula Ford Championship at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He also co-founded Grey Eagle Racing, a team that captured four SCCA National Championships across Formula Continental and C-Sports Racing from 1980 through 1983.
His instructional background includes Skip Barber Racing School, Fast Company Racing School, and a decade as a judge and driver coach for the Team USA Scholarship program. Alongside his racing and coaching, Dan spent nearly 30 years managing motorsports communications programs for Honda and Acura. Joining Lucas Oil School of Racing in 2026, he brings students a perspective shaped by decades of developing cars, competing, and supporting emerging drivers.
René Villeneuve
Instructor
Bio
René brings an international racing background spanning junior formulas, GT cars, and prototypes to Lucas Oil School of Racing. Inspired by a childhood visit to the Monaco Grand Prix, he trained at Canada’s Spenard-David racing school before competing in Japan’s FJ1600 series. His career later took him to the 24 Hours of Daytona and the American Le Mans Series, where he earned podium finishes in Porsche GT machinery and raced an LMPC prototype.
Driver coaching has become the mainstay of René’s career, with clients competing in professional, club, and historic racing. He has also worked extensively with automotive manufacturers as a professional driver and program facilitator. René particularly values the relationships built through one-on-one coaching, working with drivers across experience levels and sharing lessons drawn from a career in some of North America’s leading sports car series.
