Only one month after the 2024 season of the 24h Series has finished, the team of Bas Koeten Racing is proud to announce participation in both 24h Dubai 2025 and the European 24H Series Championship in Porsche 992 GT3 Cup class. The team will be supporting the newly formed Ajith Kumar Racing squad.

Ajith Kumar, the renowned Indian actor and motorsport enthusiast, is excited to announce his return to the racing circuit in a brand-new role. After decades of success in the Tamil film industry, Ajith is ready to revisit one of his greatest passions: motorsport. This time, he’s stepping into a fresh avatar as the Team Owner and Principal Driver of Ajith Kumar Racing. Ajith is not new to motorsport, he joined National Formula India Single Seater Championship in 2002 followed by Formula BMW Asia Championship in 2003, and the British Formula 3 (Scholarship Class) Championship in 2004. In 2010, Ajith also participated in the European Formula 2 Championship. Ajith expressed his joy: “Racing is the only time I feel whole.” This sentiment is shared with his racing hero, Ayrton Senna, whose legacy continues to inspire him. Now, with his own racing team, Ajith is determined to achieve new heights in motorsport while mentoring the next generation of racers.

The team will also be supported by Bas Koeten Racing, one of Europe’s best endurance racing outfits. With a focus on car maintenance, logistics, track support and race strategy, Bas Koeten Racing ensures that Ajith Kumar Racing can focus on achieving peak performance. The drivers simply take their place in the car, while the team takes care of everything else, from training to pit-stop practice, to ensure smooth, top-tier execution at every event. Jelle Koeten: “Our team has participated in over 120 12h/24h races in the past 20 years. We are very excited to share our experience with the team of Ajith Kumar Racing. They share our passion for motorsport and we cannot wait to start working with them on track. The Michelin 24h Dubai 2025 will be our first event together and it will take place on 9-12th January. Before the event we have scheduled a handful of testdays to be perfectly prepared for this challenge.

Ajith Kumar Racing’s driver lineup will consist of the following drivers in 2025:

• Ajith Kumar: Team Owner, FIA Racing Driver, and former FIA F2 and FIA F3 Driver.
• Fabian Duffieux: FIA  PRO-AM  Driver,  GT4 Champion 2024, 24 Series Champion, and BMW Certified Instructor.
• Mathieu Detry: FIA PRO Driver, GT3 Champion, and FIA Race Coach.
• Cam McLeod: FIA PRO Driver, Supercar Champion, and F4 British Champion.

Together, this team is set to take on some of the world’s most challenging endurance races, combining their collective expertise to drive towards podium finishes.

The calender consists of the following events:

• 24h Dubai: 9-12 January
• 12h Mugello: 21-23 March
• 12h Spa-Francorchamps: 18-20 April
• 12h Misano: 22-24 May
• 12h Paul Ricard: 03-05 July
• 24h Barcelona: 25-28 September

The 2024 season brings significant changes in the championships and fleet renewal for the Bas Koeten Racing team, as previously announced in the Porsche campaigns for this year. An interesting addition is their participation in two challenging races in the next week and a half: NLS3 at the Nordschleife (Germany) and the GT4 European Series at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium). These races will be run with a brand-new BMW M4 GT4. This car will be driven in both races by the duo Samantha Tan and Jon Miller.

Jelle Koeten: “Our collaboration with Samantha Tan Racing (ST Racing) dates back to 2021. Since then, we have been their European base and partner. In 2021, it was for the previous model BMW M4 GT4, followed by two BMW M4 GT3s in 2022, making ST Racing the ‘launch customer’ of BMW Motorsport. The GT3s were flown back to their home base in America halfway through 2022 for their local programs, where they have been very successful. This year, we are running this new BMW M4 GT4 at multiple events. They fly in two drivers and an engineer, and we handle the rest: preparation, updates, logistics, tires, parts, registrations, and track support. Last weekend, Samantha and Jon were already in Le Mans. Samantha as a brand ambassador for BMW Motorsport and Jon to participate in a 4-hour FunCup race.”

Bas Koeten: “On Saturday, June 22nd, NLS3 will be run, a 4-hour race on the over 24-kilometer-long variant of ‘the green hell’. As preparation, we will already have a three-hour test session on this layout on Friday. We are registered in the SP8-T class and will be running on Michelin tires. The concept of NLS is quite unique: over 120 participants, ranging from Dacia Logan and Opel Manta to factory-supported teams with GT3s. We start in three starting groups of about 40 cars each. You share a pit box with up to 5 or 6 cars. It’s low-threshold but high-quality, which suits us well. Right after the Nordschleife, we head to Spa-Francorchamps. In the program of the 100th edition of the 24-hour race there, we will race in a field of over 50 cars in the GT4 European Series. On Sunday and Monday, we have time for service and setup of the car, but many systems also need to be converted, such as the data logger, GPS, and communication, as each organizer requires different systems. Additionally, we switch to Pirelli tires for the GT4 European Series. Tuesday, we have over 4 hours of training time, followed by the famous parade to Spa on Wednesday, combined with the drivers’ briefing in the theater. The official sessions are then on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The second 1-hour race finishes on Saturday afternoon, right before the start of the 24-hour race with the GT3s. It remains a unique race, the Champions League of motorsport. In 2022, we raced there with ST Racing and their BMW M4 GT3.”

“The last time we were active on the Nordschleife was in May 2018 when we participated in the 24h Nürburgring with a CUPRA TCR. As underdogs, we won that race in the TCR division, a unique moment in our team’s history. We see few Dutch teams participating in races at the Nordschleife, and we hope to do more of this. With our experience in endurance racing, this suits us well,” said Bas Koeten.

In recent years, Bas Koeten Racing has focused on training young talent and preparing them for higher classes in motorsport. Through mutual dedication and a proven step-by-step plan, young drivers in Dutch championships such as the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup and BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux were intensively guided to achieve personal and sporting growth. This approach has been successful: around ten drivers found their way to the Porsche Carrera Cup, Porsche Supercup, or GT4 and GT3 sprint and endurance races after their season(s) with Bas Koeten Racing.

In 2024, the focus is on the development of the racing team as a whole, with sharply formulated ambitions: there was a need for more endurance races and stronger sprint competitions. Thus, this year’s focus is on renewing the fleet and changing competitions. Bas Koeten Racing finds the answer predominantly in the form of purebred race cars from Porsche Motorsport. The team has registered in three series with a growing fleet of Porsches: the 24h Series for endurance races, and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux and Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux for pure sprint racing.

Eager Drivers and Crew!

Jelle Koeten: “We look back with great pride on the results we achieved in recent years in the Dutch Championships. Especially the last three years were very strong with multiple championship titles in the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup, BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux, and Supercar Challenge. But just as our drivers are ambitious, so is the crew. In the autumn of 2023, we initiated this transition with our team, and thus the start of the 2024 season was impressive: four international endurance races where we deployed two Porsche 992 GT3 Cup cars. In January, the 6h Abu Dhabi and 24h Dubai, followed by the 12h Mugello and 12h Spa-Francorchamps in March and April.”

Back to Porsche’s Success Formula

“This set the stage for the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux, which had its season opener at Circuit Zandvoort last week. This season, we field a brand-new Porsche Cayman GT4 RS alongside a new Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, which is run together with the Triple&Crown team. In the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, we will participate with several guest appearances this season, with a view to full participation in 2025. The first PCCB race takes place this coming weekend (June 7-9) during the prestigious DTM event at Circuit Zandvoort. After our successful Porsche campaign in 2019 and 2020 with Loek Hartog and Kay van Berlo, it is fantastic to be back in the success formula of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux.”

Challenging International One-Offs Alongside Familiar Club Races

“Additionally, an announcement can be expected soon about a couple of challenging international race events, for now one-offs. Considering the competition and locations, these fit perfectly with our sharpened ambitions. More on this soon!”

Jelle continues: “Of course, alongside all these new steps, we also remain loyal to drivers who have been part of the team for a long time. This is evident in our participation in the familiar club races of the DNRT Endurance Cup, the class with which it all started back in 2003 for Bas Koeten Racing from Westwoud.”

Motorsport Techlabs Alongside Ambitious Racing Program

In addition to the aforementioned racing programs, there is room for even more innovation: through the recently launched ‘Motorsport Techlabs’ program, Bas Koeten Racing initiates projects and collaborations in which technical innovation within the sport and the development of young talent play a central role. Bas Koeten: “We introduced Motorsport Techlabs to structurally and systematically invest time in development, innovation, guidance, and education, alongside our regular activities on the track.”

“Together with educational institutions and partners, we are, for example, looking for future-proof forms of motorsport. Think of in-depth practical research into electric propulsion and hydrogen-powered drivetrains. Training the next generation of technicians who lay the foundation for their future careers through the dynamic world of motorsport is also a key point. Much is still happening behind the scenes, so more on this soon! The words ‘sitting still’ are not in our dictionary. The knowledge, relationships, and needs in this direction are growing daily!”

One of the most iconic cars in the world: the DeLorean DMC-12. Most people will recognize it from the starring role in the Back to the Future trilogy with Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). In the Netherlands, we now see it in a new role: a 650 HP powerful, brute drift car!

Especially for Bernhard van Oranje, a DeLorean was converted in just under six months. The deadline? The Heineken F1 Dutch Grand Prix 2023 weekend at CM.com Circuit Zandvoort. To be precise: the support program of the Formula 1 from August 25 to 27.

Keeping its characteristics

Bas Koeten: ‘In every way, a unique project! The original 130 HP V6 engine that was in the back was dismantled by the crew, and a BMW V8 engine with a supercharger was placed in the front. We modified the chassis to create more space for the new engine and drivetrain. The body is almost unchanged to maintain the car’s recognizable appearance, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Of course, with the preservation of the legendary gull-wing doors and the matte stainless steel look!’

Project Specifications:

• BMW chassis as a base
• Wheelbase shortened
• Rear extended
• Stainless steel body panels from DeLorean fitted onto the steel BMW chassis
• Roll cage installed
• Drift suspension with a 70-degree steering angle
• Limited-slip differential
• 650 HP supercharged BMW V8
• Specially built for high-speed drifting

Bas: ‘The project called on all our technical insight and creativity. The goal was to deliver a technically sound car within the deadline. In the week of the Dutch Grand Prix, the organization gave us the opportunity to test on a secret location on Wednesday evening, and it went surprisingly well! Over the weekend, with The Stig behind the wheel alongside a few professional drifters, we put on an amazing show for a daily audience of 105,000 people. Goosebumps! This winter, we will continue working on this icon to fine-tune it and be able to give more demos in the upcoming year.’

‘You guys are crazy!’

We have quite a track record that includes remarkable projects. To name a few: the construction of a highly valuable replica of an Audi Quattro A2 rally car, 15 cars for the Red Bull Caravan Race for use during the Verstappen Jumbo Family Days in 2018, and the live restoration of a Cadillac Coupe de Ville in just 14 days at a festival in Abu Dhabi for the sheik in 2017. The DeLorean fits perfectly into this list. ‘Sometimes we are declared crazy, but we always succeed. Blood, sweat, and tears of joy. So, in the coming years, we plan to add many more unique projects that may not always be obvious to others,’ Bas laughs.

For several years now, a more or less fixed part of Bas Koeten Racing’s race calendar: the Supercar Challenge. The team participated in the Supersport class with an Audi TCR and a Porsche Cayman GT4, respectively in division 1 and 2, and achieved success once again, just like in 2022.

The gray-yellow Cayman GT4 of Bas Barenburg was a newcomer for the Bas Koeten Racing crew. However, thanks in part to the experience with the Porsche 991, the crew managed to seamlessly integrate this new car into the existing structure. The result was an overall third place in Supersport Division 2 at the end of the season. The previous year, Barenbrug competed in a BMW M3 E36.

Top Step

In addition, the students from Technova College Racing guided the Audi RS3 LMS TCR with driver Laurens de Wit to the top step of the podium. After winning the Supersport 2 division title in 2022 with the Cupra TCR, De Wit was now crowned champion of the Supersport 1 division in 2023. With Fabian Schoonhoven as his fast co-pilot on the Zolder, Spa, and Assen circuits, they secured the biggest trophy at the Finaleraces.

In 2018, the collaboration with Technova and Laurens de Wit began. During his first year, he drove a blue-and-white Fiesta from Bas Koeten Racing, while the Technova car was manned by two other drivers. From 2019 to 2021, De Wit clinched his titles in the Technova Fiesta. In 2022, he switched to a Cupra TCR. The students, under the guidance of two teachers, took care of the technology under the watchful eye of Bas Koeten Racing. The Technova car participated that year with a new lineup, managed by a new generation of students.

Successful Formula

In this article, you can read more about the collaboration with Technova, among others. The performances of the student team from Technova College show that the guidance of Bas Koeten Racing pays off. Bringing together experienced racers and the new generation of technicians proves to be a successful formula. It gives students the opportunity to establish a foundation in a highly dynamic and technically challenging environment, benefiting them throughout their entire working lives.

Other highlights of the 2023 season:

• Review of the 2023 season: ‘A memorable year? Absolutely!’
• BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux: the third consecutive championship title!
• Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup: Concluded with an impressive overall win!

This year, two Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup cars were under the roof at Bas Koeten Racing. Esmee Kosterman took action with car number 65, while Stefan Barewijk drove car number 34. For both, it wasn’t their first season in this 140 HP front-wheel-drive cup car, but it was Esmee’s first season with an overall victory.

After seven events and fourteen races, Esmee secured P3 in the final standings of the championship, behind Tomas de Backer and Alan Czyz. She finished second on the podium in the first race of the Finaleraces at TT-Circuit Assen and won the overall in the last race. A fantastic performance to conclude the season.

Giving It Their All

Kosterman looks back with pride on the past months. Esmee says, ‘The goal at the start of the season was clear: I wanted more. More podium finishes, more learning, giving it everything that was possible this year. And that’s exactly what happened!’

As a member of the KNAF Talent Junior Academy selection, she once again participated in the KNAF Academy program, the training program of the KNAF. Besides various workshops, physical training was also part of this program, a good complement to the championship. What season 2024 holds for Esmee? She hasn’t completely decided yet, but undoubtedly, it will align with the ambitions of the past season: ‘Even more!’ Esmee laughs.

Crucial Starting Class for Driver and Crew

Since 2018, the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup has held a permanent place on the race calendar of Bas Koeten Racing. Jelle Koeten says, ‘We see it as a crucial starting class. It’s an accessible car with a suitable race format, allowing young talent to lay the groundwork for their future. Former Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup participants Loek Hartog, Daan Pijl, Jop Rappange, Dante Rappange, and Colin Caresani have now climbed to the Porsche Supercup and various GT3 championships.’

Since then, there has also been a collaboration with students of Technova College Racing, who took care of the technical support for the second Ford Fiesta. Stefan Barewijk is the regular driver. Bas Koeten Racing is responsible for guiding the students, with Bas Koeten overseeing their progress. Thus, the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup serves not only as a starting class for drivers but also for the technicians of the future.

Student Luca Westland, representing Technova College Racing, was partly responsible for the technical aspects of Barewijk’s car this season: ‘It was an interesting season where I learned a lot. The car ran almost flawlessly, allowing Stefan and me to focus on performance because that’s ultimately the goal.’ Stefan finished the season 7th overall and a commendable P2 in the Gold Cup behind Johan Land.

Other highlights of the 2023 season:

• Review of the 2023 season: ‘A memorable year? Absolutely!’
• BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux: The Third Consecutive Championship Title!
• Supercar Challenge: Second Consecutive Division Title!

Season 2023 has come to an end: the winners have been celebrated, and the cars are awaiting their extensive maintenance to get them ready for the next season. Over twenty years have passed since Bas Koeten Racing’s very first race. Can we once again look back on a memorable year? Absolutely!

In the past months, events such as the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux, Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup, Supercar Challenge, and 24h Series filled the calendar. The DeLorean drift car was also unveiled during the Formula 1 weekend at Zandvoort, and the team guided several Dutch juniors during the inaugural season of NXT Gen Cup, the first 100% electric touring car championship.

‘The Greatest Reward’

Bas Koeten: ‘We are immensely proud of the team’s achievements. The drive to perform is strong, and both drivers and crew work hard. A race weekend is intensive, but ending it with podium finishes, trophies, and champagne is the greatest reward. And that was very successful this past season!’

The BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux concluded with the highest podium for Sen Roodenburg and Gianni van de Craats, Dante and Jop Rappange, and Dirk Warmerdam on the second step, and the trio of Senna van Soelen, Mark van der Aa, and Leyton Fourie in position 3. For Bas Koeten Racing, it marked the third consecutive championship title for BMW M2s! Esmee Kosterman closed the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup with an overall victory in the last race of the season, securing the championship at P3 overall. Stefan Barewijk finished 7th in the final standings and P2 in the Gold Cup.

In the Supercar Challenge, Bas Barenbrug finished in the Porsche Cayman in 3rd place in Supersport division 2, and Laurens de Wit secured a championship title in the Audi TCR in Supersport division 1!

Steep Learning Curve in a Dynamic Environment

‘Talent development is one of the core values within our team, and in every championship we participate in, we provide all opportunities for it. Pupils we guided in the Ford Fiestas, and some later in the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux, excel for this reason. In the Supercar Challenge, we collaborate with students from Technova College Racing. The NXT Gen Cup has only junior participants,’ Bas adds.

Not only do drivers get the space to grow, but participation in this variety of championships also provides technicians with room for development. Jelle Koeten: ‘The mechanics work in pairs: one experienced mechanic alongside one who is still learning the ropes. In practice, this means a steep but very challenging learning curve in a dynamic environment. Additionally, we find it important for the crew to check each other’s work to minimize error margins. This way, we not only help the drivers but also the technicians of the future to lay a foundation for the rest of their working lives.’

Finally, looking ahead to the upcoming season: our participation in the 24h Dubai in January 2024 was announced last week. Two Porsche 992 GT3 Cup cars are already on their way to the port in the United Arab Emirates. Jelle: ‘In the 2023 season, we didn’t participate in as many endurance races as we would have liked. In 2024, we’re making a strong push for it again, and the participation with the Porsches in the 24h Dubai is the starting shot for that.’

Bas Koeten Racing has once again been designated as a ‘Recognized Training Company’ by the Dutch Cooperation Organization Vocational Education Business (Samenwerkingsorganisatie Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven or ‘SBB’). As one of the largest teams in the Dutch motorsport industry, we heavily focus on talent development for drivers and crew members. The SBB recognition is the result of a four-year evaluation process in which companies are assessed against various criteria. This accolade underscores our dedication to promoting knowledge, skills, and passion within the motorsport community.

Preparing for the future
Talent development is of paramount importance in motorsport. The difference between victory and defeat often depends on the knowledge and experience of participants and teams. Jelle Koeten says, “For Bas Koeten Racing, talent development is an essential part of our mission to achieve top performance on the track. We believe that fostering and supporting emerging talents not only enriches the sport as a whole but also prepares young drivers and crew members for a promising future in motorsport.”

Appreciation and support as a condition for growth
Jelle continues, “We provide students and interns with the opportunity to gain practical experience in a real motorsport environment, both in the workshop and on the circuit. Together, we create individual learning plans, taking into account their needs and ambitions. Motorsport is a unique environment where they are encouraged, supported, and challenged, and we motivate them to bring out their best. We want learners to feel valued and supported with us so they can grow as professionals.”

The four-year evaluation by SBB assures students and schools that a training company meets the highest industry standards. It primarily focuses on companies that cater to VMBO students and MBO students, but the approach remains the same for students from HBO programs and universities: personal guidance in a challenging environment.

Sparring partner for student teams
Guiding young talent has always been part of Bas Koeten Racing’s vision. Several successful projects have involved students making their debut in motorsport under the team’s guidance. “We mentor individual students and, since 2016, also the team of students from Technova College Racing,” adds Bas Koeten. “In the first four years, they competed in the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup, and last year, they added the CUPRA TCR in the Supercar Challenge. This year, the latter car has been replaced by the even faster Audi TCR, skillfully driven by Laurens de Wit. The students form the team themselves, and we supervise and act as sparring partners.”

Whether it’s high school students with a passion for motorsport, students pursuing technical education and approaching graduation, or interns seeking practical experience, there are various opportunities available. Bas says, “We are proud of our partnerships with different schools, educational levels, and study fields. Besides Technova College, we collaborate with institutions like HAN University of Applied Sciences, University Racing Eindhoven, Deltion College, and Fontys Eindhoven, as well as various ROCs such as Horizon College and the Automotive College of ROC Midden Nederland.”

Recognition as proof
“These collaborations create a unique opportunity for students to experience the world of motorsport up close, receive hands-on training, and learn from professionals who have made their mark in the industry. Solid guidance is crucial for success. Our recognition as a training company is proof of our commitment to making a positive impact on educating future professionals in the motorsport sector. We will continue to strive for providing high-quality learning experiences and fostering the growth of young talent in the motorsport industry,” concludes Jelle.

The anticipation was high, but the opening weekend of the 100% electric NXT Gen Cup was a resounding success. After intense preparation, a total of 18 identical cars lined up at the start during the weekend of July 8-9. The young participants, aged 14 to 24, qualified within one second of each other on Saturday afternoon. The two sprint races were incredibly exciting: despite the narrow track at Falkenberg in Sweden, the competitors fought for every inch and, in some cases, raced three abreast on the course.

After meticulous preparation by the Swedish crew of Lestrup Racing Team and its partners, the NXT Gen Cup officially kicked off during the weekend of July 8-9. Most of the participants had already completed two test days in the electric cars back in June. It was evident then that the cars were perfectly matched and reliable. During the practice session at Falkenberg, the 18 young drivers were able to adapt to the car and test the Push-to-Pass feature. Bas Koeten stated, “First and foremost, a big compliment to the developers of this series: they have put in a tremendous amount of work in recent years. They have managed to create a competitive field, a well-organized event, and a beautiful paddock. Many eyes were on this debut race, and they have definitely lived up to the high expectations. This leaves us wanting more.”

“His debut was undoubtedly successful”

One Dutch participant was present in the field of competitors: Greaham Hofmans from Spaarndam. In the past few years, he has been active in karting and has spent the last two years racing in an electric kart. For Hofmans, this was his first venture into car racing after receiving training in the Netherlands to compete on the circuit. Jelle Koeten stated, “Greaham is the youngest member of our driver lineup. Over the past few months, we have provided him with the same guidance that all of our young drivers receive. We conducted simulator tests with him, and he joined us for various events where we raced our BMW M2s and Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup cars. He also had the opportunity to drive with a coach on the circuit. Additionally, this spring, Greaham participated in a test day with an electric F4 car from ERA Racing School at Circuit Zolder. Finally, the time came at Falkenberg: the start of the NXT Gen Cup, and Greaham performed flawlessly. There is still plenty to learn, but his debut was undoubtedly a success.”

Greaham Hofmans: “On Saturday afternoon, I qualified in P16, 1.007 seconds behind the leader. There is room for improvement, but I followed the wise advice of my mentors: not taking unnecessary risks, enjoying myself, and putting on a great racing show together. The tension was definitely palpable among the participants; we knew we were part of something special. In the first race, I had the most overtakes of the race and finished in P12. Race 2 was also intense close-racing: at one point, I had to avoid someone who overshot turn 1, which cost me two positions. Nevertheless, I managed to finish in P13. The Push-to-Pass feature is really cool; you have to choose your moment to use it to your advantage. It creates exciting moments in a race, both for the drivers and the audience.”

The next event will take place on July 28-29 during the ADAC Racing Weekend at the German circuit of Oschersleben. One week later, the series will move to the Nürburgring, where it will be included in the program of the prestigious DTM alongside the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, ADAC GT4, and DTM BMW M2 Cup.

Despite his young age of only 14 years old, Greaham Hofmans already has eight years of driving experience. He started with an old lawn tractor, then moved on to a dirt bike, a children’s quad, and eventually a real quad. At the age of eleven, he started karting and now he regularly drives on the circuit. This is interspersed with sessions with his 100% electric kart, the fastest in the Netherlands. As the youngest student of the Bas Koeten Racing team, Greaham Hofmans will receive guidance from a team that has over 20 years of experience in national and international racing series.

Bas Koeten says, “I recognize something of myself in Greaham. Searching for speed from a young age with anything that has wheels and an engine. A strong focus on technology, but also on development. A reserved boy, but one who knows exactly what he wants. He gives everything for it, and we have already seen that. We get energy from this kind of young people, and that’s why we’re going to work together.”

Greaham Hofmans says, “I am very eager to learn and I want to take steps in my career. After I got in touch with Bas and Jelle Koeten, I discussed with my parents that we are going to take the next steps together with them. They want to share their experience in touring cars and GTs in sprint and endurance with me. They have been doing that with success in the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup and BMW M2 CS Racing Cup for a long time. The champions from those classes have moved up to fantastic European racing classes, and those examples really appealed to me.”

Jelle Koeten adds, “With Greaham and his family, we have made various plans in the past period. Last winter, we agreed that he would become part of our team. He is currently still too young for the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup, but we are giving him a full driver training program like we do with other students. Greaham participates in test days and race weekends with the other drivers, mechanics, and data engineers to learn as much as possible about the ins and outs. Whenever possible, he gets in the car to be taken around the circuit. The next step is guidance on the simulator.”

Started in Ford Fiesta

Van Soelen previously participated in the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup before moving on to the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux, which has a more powerful car with 450 horsepower. Van Soelen: “I am incredibly happy with this opportunity. The M2 is a perfect step up from compact touring cars to GT4 and GT3. I will stay with the Bas Koeten Racing team, where I also drove the Fiesta last year. They know how to put champions on the track and have now won two BMW M2 titles in a row with Colin Caresani and Maxime Oosten.”

For the third consecutive year, the Rappange/Warmerdam team will participate in the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux. In 2022, they were the runner-up behind their teammate Maxime Oosten, and in the new season, they are aiming for nothing less than the championship.

Dirk Warmerdam will drive the BMW M2 in every race and will be supported alternately by the brothers Jop and Dante Rappange, who each have their own European program, driving GT3 and GT4 respectively. The team will once again be supported by our experienced crew.

Started in karting

The Rappange brothers moved from karting to the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup, which began in 2018, along with their sister Belle. Dirk Warmerdam previously competed in the Mazda MX5 Cup, and they joined forces when the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux was introduced in 2021. In both 2021 and 2022, they were often found on the podium, and in 2022, they finished in second place in the championship standings in the final race of the season. For the Bas Koeten Racing team, this meant a 1-2 finish in the overall standings, as Maxime Oosten became the champion.

Netherlands, Belgium and Austria!

In 2023, the M2 group will visit five circuits during six events. In addition to the four familiar circuits in the Netherlands and Belgium, the M2 will also travel to the Red Bull Ring in the first half of the season for a race with the Italian BMW M2 Cup. A starting field of about 30 identical cars is expected.

Jelle Koeten said, “We have been working with the Rappanges since 2018, and they have shown that they can successfully move from karting, through the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup and BMW M2 Cup, to European GT4 and GT3 cars. With Dirk Warmerdam, they form a strong team in the M2s. They were always podium contenders, and now they are also championship contenders.”

For the third consecutive time in a row, an ambitious lady will be present at the start of the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup! Esmee Kosterman (17) confirms her seat with Bas Koeten Racing. She’ll battle for first place durings seven weekend events organised on the four well-known circuits in the Benelux. The season commences with an elaborate traning program to be well prepared.

Jelle Koeten: “Esmee already has two seasons under her belt in the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup. We’ll use that as a starting point. Last year she stood on the podium, but for the upcoming year we except she will be one of the regulars. With our team, we have gained a lot of experience with running GTs and Touring Cars on a high level in WTCR, TCR, Porsches Carrera Cup, Supercup and even GT3. As a team, you’ll learn to solve complex puzzles and all those learnings can be used in the guidance of junior drivers. With our most successfull season in 2022 as proof of the method.”

Esmee Kosterman: “I am happy to announce that I will participate in this season’s Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup together with Bas Koeten Racing. My aim this year is to win the title in the Dutch Championship, and that is why I choose this team. They already deliverd several champions, such as Loek Hartog, Laurens de Wit, Colin Caresani and Sen Roodenburg. I expect to learn a lot and improve myself on many areas.”

Last November, Kosterman was also selected for the KNAF Talent Junior Academy. Together with eight other talents, she’ll follow an extensive triaining programme which help her accelerate her learning process. Team mates Gianni van de Craats, Sen Roodenburg and Senna van Soelen are also admitted to the academy. The eight candidates follow a personal and a joint education and coaching learning track, which will help them to make new steps in their carreer.

The Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup season starts in the weekend of 14-16th of April on Circuit Zandvoort.