Last year, Van Amersfoort Racing celebrated its 50th anniversary. We caught up with Team Manager Daniëlle Geel to talk about the team's legacy, its young talents and the season ahead.
It's fantastic to now be celebrating 51 years of Van Amersfoort Racing. It's a remarkable milestone and something we're all incredibly proud of.
Throughout its history, the team has helped develop some outstanding talents, including Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Liam Lawson. Now you have another exciting generation of young drivers coming through the ranks. How important is the FIA Formula Regional European Championship in the development of young drivers?
It's extremely important. Most of the drivers entering Formula Regional come directly from Formula 4, so they're still at the very beginning of their careers and have a long journey ahead of them. It's incredibly rewarding to work with these young talents and help guide their development. We've had the privilege of working with drivers such as Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Mick Schumacher, Oliver Bearman, Liam Lawson and many others. We've seen them grow step by step, and that's one of the most satisfying aspects of what we do. Watching these drivers improve race after race and develop into complete racing drivers is exactly why we're here.
Van Amersfoort Racing has been a constant presence in the junior single-seater categories, from Formula Regional to FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2. How important is it for the team to continue developing the next generation of racing talent?
It's fundamental. Even today, there's still quite a significant step between Formula 4 and FIA Formula 3. Some drivers choose to skip Formula Regional altogether, but in my opinion it's still a very important stage in a driver's development. Formula Regional provides that crucial bridge between F4 and F3, allowing drivers to gain experience, develop their skills and arrive in Formula 3 much better prepared to compete at the front. Most of these drivers are only 16 to 18 years old, and many have only recently moved up from karting. They're at a very important stage, not only as racing drivers but also as young people. This is where they build the foundations that will shape the rest of their careers. As a team, our role is to help them grow, both on and off the track, and prepare them to become successful professional drivers.
This season you've welcomed new talents such as Andrea Dupé and Francisco Macedo, while Dion Gowda returns after winning the Rookie title last year. What's it like working with this line-up?
It's great. I'm really happy with the line-up we've put together. All three drivers have completely different personalities and different backgrounds, and I actually think that's a real strength. It's important not only to learn from your own mistakes, but also from your teammates - their strengths, their experiences and even the mistakes they make. I'm confident they'll push each other forward and improve together throughout the season. It's fantastic to have Dion back for a second year. It shows the confidence he has in the team, and together we'll be fighting for podiums again this season. We're also very pleased to welcome Francisco Macedo, who brings valuable experience, while Andrea arrives straight from Formula 4 with a different background and a lot of potential. Each of them brings something unique to the team, and that's very exciting.
They have certainly all found a home at Van Amersfoort Racing. Looking ahead to this season, what does it mean to you personally to manage a team with such a rich history? It must be a great source of pride.
I'm incredibly proud to be part of this team and to have the opportunity to manage it. Van Amersfoort Racing has an amazing history, and it's very special to be part of a Dutch team with such a strong heritage. Being Dutch myself makes that connection even more meaningful, but what I also love is working with people from so many different cultures and backgrounds. It's an honour to be part of the team's history, but it's equally exciting to help shape its future. Our goal is to continue building on the successes we've achieved over the past five decades and make sure they continue for many years to come. What makes me especially proud is that we're not only helping young drivers develop - we're also helping young mechanics, engineers and team members grow in their own careers. We have a relatively young team, and I ask a lot from everyone because we pay close attention to every detail and always strive for the highest standards. Seeing people enjoy their work, improve every day and grow professionally is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
So it's not only about developing young drivers, but also young engineers, mechanics and everyone working behind the scenes.
Exactly. Every single person in the team plays an important role. The drivers are obviously essential because they provide the feedback and deliver the performance on track, but the mechanics, the engineers, the management, the truck drivers - everyone contributes. Motorsport is the ultimate team effort. Every person has a role to play, and success only comes when everyone works together towards the same goal.
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