Pennzoil Stunt Driver Chronicles: Revved Up

Championing the fearless pursuit of driving, stunt drivers embody the pinnacle of passion and performance. Pennzoil’s Long May We Drive campaign celebrates those who embody that daring spirit, pushing the limits beyond the boundaries of the road.

In an engaging three-part video series created by Larry Chen, he unites some of the most celebrated stunt drivers in the industry. This series highlights their love for driving and gives a glimpse into the personal stories that define these three stunt drivers as champions of the road.

To kick off the series, renowned stunt driver Rhys Millen dives into his beginnings in motorsports, his contributions to the “Fast and Furious” franchise, and much more.

Pennzoil had a chance to catch up with Millen behind the scenes to learn more about his perspective on the evolution of stunt driving and his relationship with Pennzoil.

Pennzoil: Do you have any personal stories or experiences where Pennzoil played a crucial role in a stunt?

Millen: While filming the Joyride short film series in Mexico for “Pennzoil Baja,” my company built two identical Jeeps as stunt vehicles. Temperatures were above 115 degrees, and while driving in the dirt, silt, and deep sand, the engine performed flawlessly, never overheating and never losing power. We checked the motor oil on a regular basis during the day, and the texture and color stayed consistent while other support vehicles being driven at a quarter of the performance level all suffered temperature issues.

Pennzoil: How has the stunt driving industry changed since you started?

Millen: Having been active in the film industry since 1994 and the sport of drifting since 2003, I witnessed firsthand the influence that drifting had on stunt driving, specifically high-performance car action scenes that expanded based on driving. In 2005, I drove for "The Dukes of Hazzard," known for its car control action. The next year, I served as the lead driver and driver coordinator for "Fast and Furious 3: Tokyo Drift." Both of these films helped pave the way for the growth of high-octane car stunts and iconic movie franchises.

Pennzoil: What was it like working on this series with Larry Chen?

Millen: Larry is a professional. He has an amazing eye for still photography, and his understanding of vehicle dynamics only adds to the motion pieces he produces. Due to this, it’s always easy for me to work with him; he’s in the right place at the right time and can always anticipate your next move.

The second video showcases Zandara Kennedy

, a stunt driver and drift racer known for her love of speed and expertise in action-packed physical and driving stunts. In the video, Larry Chen and Zandara discuss her motivation to pursue a career in stunt driving, her rookie season in Formula Drift, and the stunts that she takes pride in.

Pennzoil connected with Zandara, learning more about her involvement in stunt driving and the sources of her inspiration behind her involvement in Formula Drift, along with her broader interest in motorsports.

Pennzoil: Do you have any role models who inspired you in your career as a stunt driver?

Kennedy: There have been many drivers and stunt women that I looked up to and tried to emulate throughout my career, including Kitty O’Neill and Debbie Evans. Kitty O’Neill was a pioneering stunt woman and race car driver who set multiple land speed records starting in the 1970s, one of which was only broken in 2019. She was restricted by sponsors to only breaking women’s records, and not allowed to drive faster than the men at the time.

Debbie Evans set records and broke boundaries in male-dominated motorsports in the 1970s, which led her to a career as a stunt rider and driver on projects including “Herbie,” “The Matrix,” and “Fast and Furious” franchises. I had an opportunity to work with Debbie on several projects, which was an absolute dream come true!

As I move towards the motorsport space in Formula Drift, I continue to meet and be inspired by women working in all capacities, in and around the cars. Women who are passionate about motorsports, at the top of their games, busy doing the incredible work they do, and never promoting themselves have made them hard to see from the outside. By taking them behind the scenes of Formula Drift, I hope to help open the door and expand their visions of their future and career options.

Pennzoil: What does ‘Long May We Drive’ mean to you?

Kennedy: For me, driving is freedom, connection, elation, self-expression. Driving provides me with the ability to explore the world, push my limits, and connect with the machine, myself, and people who share my passion. I am never more truly myself than behind the wheel, sideways. ‘Long May We Drive’ represents more than just cars, but the moments, lives, and stories that are possible because of them - the passion I am excited to share with everyone I meet and the commitment to keep this passion and the vehicles that embody it alive and moving forward.

Pennzoil: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received thus far in your career?

Kennedy: A mentor once told me, “Nobody on our crew has a first day,” on my first day doing a particular specialty driving job. The message was about showing up with the confidence and presence needed to do the job and doing it to the best of my ability, knowing the people around me had my back and believed in my skill set.

The third video shines a spotlight on Stephan Verdier, a stunt and precision driver that has been featured in various commercials and on- screen films including “Ford v Ferrari” and “Furious 7”. In the video, Larry Chen and Stephan discuss his experiences in rallycross and drifting, his participation in Formula Drift, and the beginnings of his journey into stunt driving.

Pennzoil recently had the opportunity to sit down with Verdier to hear more about his journey into the world of stunt driving, as well as discover his passion for being behind the wheel.

Pennzoil: How did you get your start in the industry?

Verdier : Thanks to my friendship with Rhys Millen, I was introduced to the world of stunt driving. My racing experience, including open-wheel, rally, drifting, rallycross, and off-road, equipped me with the skill set perfectly suited for precision and stunt driving in commercials and movies. With my background in driving, the transition to racing was seamless, and people knew I could do the job without damaging the car.

Pennzoil: Do you have a favorite project you have worked on so far? What made it resonate with you?

Verdier : My favorite job so far was shooting “Gran Turismo.” Over the course of three months, we had the opportunity to drive GT3 competition cars and LMP2 cars on iconic tracks across Europe and Abu Dhabi, including the likes of Nurburgring, Hungaroring, Red Bull Ring, and more. What made it so special was the fact that we were driving these awe-inspiring cars that I always dreamed of owning and being paid for it. During this project, I had the privilege of steering the Lamborghini Huracan GT3, Audi R8 GT3, Nissan GTR GT3, and the Norra LMP2—truly a dream come true.

Pennzoil: What do you love about getting behind the wheel?

Verdier : It’s not just one element; it begins with the fact that you control a mechanical machine, and you must unlock its full potential. Whether it's a high-powered 800hp race car or a modest 140hp streetcar, the fundamental principle remains the same: be one with the vehicle. Then, there’s the exhilaration of speed; I love going fast. The rush I get when driving in a car is all relative, and it’s always about pushing the limits of whatever I’m dealing with at the time.

On a stunt job, a new challenge comes into play. You’re tasked with translating a director’s vision into reality, and your tool is the car. Working closely with the stunt coordinator, you come up with a plan to make it work, where precision plays a major role in managing your speed and precisely positioning the car. The job is both challenging and stressful, with the entire production relying on you. Yet, this pressure makes it incredibly enjoyable and rewarding when you succeed.

Pennzoil: What advice would you give to someone looking to get into stunt driving?

Verdier : Buy a cheap car and learn the skills of driving; it doesn’t have to be a big HP or a new one. Get a Miata or an old BMW and do track events to understand the physics of driving. Drifting is another great place to learn because it’s easy to find a drifting group and get a cheap drift car to learn. The bottom line is developing skills that will make you precise and comfortable in any car. Racing is great but not necessary.

To get a closer look and learn more about each driver, visit Larry Chen’s YouTube channel to watch the entire series.