Marijn van Kalmthout feels like Sebastian Vettel every now and then
Being happyThe Buddhist apparently knew what he was talking about, because Van Kalmthout started like a rocket. He had already gotten past five drivers in the first curve and needed only one-and-a-half lap to join the race for second position. Van Kalmthout then climbed to second position halfway the race of 20 minutes and the jade stone appeared to be doing its job from there on. The safety car entered the track after a crash from Frits van Eerd and Van Kalmthout got the perfect opportunity to close the big gap with leader Klaas Zwart as a result. “Unfortunately, I didn’t pay enough attention after the restart and Klaas drove away from me. I came closer and closer to his Ascari Benetton in the last three laps though. There was not enough time to attack Klaas’ position, but I had every reason to be satisfied with my race. I started in last position and I finished really close to a great driver such as Klaas Zwart.”
Everybody enjoyed the races
Van Kalmthout celebrated a nice party in the hospitality room with all his guests and sponsors after the races at Zandvoort. “The Stern Group, the biggest automotive group of Holland, dropped by with 75 men. There were about 150 people in total and I’ve not only shown them around in the Benetton Formula 1, but I also treated them to a great race. Everybody really enjoyed the races and so did I. Of course, I didn’t win in Zandvoort, but I was the fastest man during the qualification and the first race. Additionally, I set a new BOSS GP track record.”
A life full of cars
For Marijn, life’s all about cars. Countless automobiles are driving over the public roads in the Randstad with the name Van Kalmthout on its plates. The Hoofddorp native runs an official Ford garage that has been quite a big name in Haarlemmermeer and surroundings for the past 85 years. “We can call ourselves the biggest player around in the Randstad with six branches. That way, there’s always a location in the neighborhood for our clients,” says Van Kalmthout.
15 years as a driver
Van Kalmthout has been racing since 1995. “I drove in the Formula Ford for ten years and have won Dutch titles and Benelux titles during that period. My own Van Kalmthout racing team was even voted Best Dutch Racing Team of the Year in 1999,” reveals Van Kalmthout full of pride. ”I needed a new challenge after my successful career in the Formula Ford and I made the switch to the BRL Light Series in 2005. I was one of the initiators of that class and the good thing about it is that it’s based on the Ford techniques. It also had a similar look because of the Ford Focus body. After three beautiful championships in 2005, ’06 and ’08, I decided to make the switch to the international Big Open Single Seaters.”
Broke F1 legend Lauda’s record
Van Kalmthout has been driving around at the international circuits in his Ascari Benetton B197 F1 (ex Jean Alesi) since 2009. ‘Rookie’ Van Kalmthout immediately drove to the vice-championship in his first season. He experienced one of his absolute highlights in Anderstorp. At this Swedish circuit, he managed to break the 1978 track record from Formula 1 legend Niki Lauda.
Initiator
Van Kalmthout is once again one of the drivers in the Big Open Single Seaters this season. He competes in the new BOSS GP-series, a racing class of which he was one of the initiators. Thanks to Van Kalmthout, the roaring BOSS GP machines get the chance to make some kilometers on some of the finest circuits out there in Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France.
As fast as a bullet
In 2010, Van Kalmthout is extremely fast again. However, mechanical problems have frustrated his ambitions more than once. “I often go as fast as a bullet, but there always happens something bad,” explains Van Kalmthout. “One of my tires springs loose, I have problems with my generator or I get a flat tire. I even ran out of gas a couple of races ago. My car came to a halt only five meters from the finish line. It’s really incredible.”
Challenging
Van Kalmthout is not getting less ambitious though. “Klaas Zwart has 10.000 kilometers more Formula 1 experience than me. Nevertheless, I still have the drive to beat him. His lead this season is too big to stop him from winning the title though. Klaas currently is the king of the BOSS GP series. I am planning to continue racing in 2011 though and I’m looking forward to challenging him next season. I don’t know whether I will continue after that. Klaas smilingly says that he wants to continue with his Ascari Benettons until he turns 75. I will certainly not go on that long. My son Rinus is currently working on a nice kart racing career and he needs some attention as well.”
Just like Vettel
Marijn van Kalmthout might have enjoyed his fair share of bad luck this season, but he has still thoroughly enjoyed racing in the BOSS GP. “Racing with 300 kilometers per hour in a Formula 1 car at Spa-Francorchamps or going through the Scheivlak in Zandvoort at extreme speed is a huge thrill. You feel just like Sebastian Vettel at moments like that,” smiles Van Kalmthout.
