During the upcoming Pentecost weekend, the DTM circus will visit Circuit Zandvoort. Dutch fans will be particularly interested in Thierry Vermeulen, who is entering his third season in the prestigious German touring car series. The 22-year-old driver from Gooi is racing for the Swiss top team Emil Frey Racing and is driving a Ferrari 296 GT3 – with support from four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen.
Vermeulen has become a regular in the DTM field. In his first two seasons, he already showed flashes of his talent, with a podium finish in 2023 being the highlight. However, a top-three finish at his home circuit is still missing from his list of achievements. Last year, he achieved an impressive fourth place at Zandvoort. “That fourth place left me wanting more,” says a determined Vermeulen. “This year, we want to pull out all the stops to stand on the podium in front of our home crowd.”
The collaboration with Max Verstappen – who advises and guides Vermeulen – plays a significant role in his development. “Max mainly helps me with mental sharpness and racing insight. Those tips are worth their weight in gold at this level,” says Vermeulen, who is also the son of Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen.
The DTM has been returning to Zandvoort annually since 2001. This season, there are two mandatory pit stops on Sunday. In addition to Vermeulen, rookie Morris Schuring will also be starting. With support from Porsche, he hopes to continue his rise.
