Notable talents such as F1 star Charles Leclerc, as well as well-known Dutch drivers like Rinus van Kalmthout, Richard Verschoor, and Rocco Coronel, have all emerged from the FIA Karting Academy. This is where young drivers, selected by national federations, get their start. This year, the Netherlands is even represented by three drivers.
This year, there are both a senior and a junior class, meaning not one but two Dutch talents will be showcasing their skills on behalf of the KNAF: Devon Hagelen and Bink. Add to this the wildcard for Eva Dorresteijn, one of the fastest karting girls in the world, and it’s clear: the Netherlands is well represented.
‘We See Potential’
“We’re in a good position,” says Niels Langeveld, the KNAF’s top sports manager. “The FIA Karting Academy is a tough class with a lot of competition. There are so many participants from so many countries, so many federations with good talents. Sometimes you also need a bit of luck with the equipment, as well as with the course of the race. But we definitely see potential.”
Take Hagelen, for example, who at 13 is active in the senior class of the Karting Academy. He has already completed two of the three races in this class. The driver from Elst has no shortage of speed, qualifying in the top ranks in both Portimão (Portugal) and Viterbo (Italy). “He’s already finished second once, but he’s also been disqualified. It’s a shame, but the quality is definitely there,” says Langeveld.
Dorresteijn (15, Hengelo) dropped out in the first race, but finished eighth after a great comeback in the second race. In the junior class, Bink van Scheijndel has only completed one race. The 13-year-old from Amsterdam dropped out in Valencia. There is still one race left for the seniors: in Rodby, at the end of August. The juniors will race later this month in Mülsen, Germany, and in Cremona, Italy (end of September).
Other Karting Classes
The Karting Academy is just one of many classes in karting. Hagelen, Dorresteijn, and Van Scheijndel are certainly not the only Dutch talents in the sport. In the KZ, KZ2, and OK-junior classes, there are several young compatriots active. Perhaps the most well-known of them is Dean Hoogendoorn, who was added to the Williams F1 team‘s talent squad last year. Of the three races so far in the OK-junior, he has won one and made the podium in the other two.
