Racing Team Nederland is a former Dutch endurance racing team founded by F1 driver and Le Mans winner Jan Lammers and businessman Frits van Eerd [nl].[1][2]
History
Frits van Eerd [nl], was one of the sponsors of Racing for Holland with his company (Jumbo Supermarket), owned by Lammers from 2001 onward.[3] During this sponsorship Frits and Jan have said: "... and since then we said it would be nice to do one day of Le Mans together".
The main sponsor for the team is the Dutch oriented supermarket chain named "Jumbo Supermarkets" of which Frits is one of the owners. The colors of the team are mainly influenced by the Jumbo colors, which have been influenced by the early years (1985-1992) of the Minardi F1 Team.[4][5]
2017
The team started in the 2017 European Le Mans Series with a Dallara P217 from Dayvtec Engineering, ending the season on 11th place in LMP2 with 12.5 points.[1] During the Le Mans race that year, the third driver was former F1 driver Rubens Barrichello. Jan and Rubens knew each other from when Rubens tested a Formula Opel Lotus from Jan years ago.[6][7] In 2017 they have finished Le Mans 13th overall (11th in the class).[8]
2018
Racing Team Nederland Dallara P217 with Nyck de Vries driving at 6 Hours of Silverstone 2018
For the WEC Superseason Racing Team Nederland has added ex-Formula 1 driver Giedo van der Garde as their new driver.[11] After the 2018 race of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Jan Lammers has stepped down as an active driver for Racing Team Nederland. Formula 2 driver Nyck de Vries has taken over the seat from Lammers for the rest of the season.[12]
In December 2021, Racing Team Nederland announced that they would be switching their focus to racing in North America, to take on the full Michelin Endurance Cup schedule in LMP2 as part of the 2022 IMSA SportsCar Championship. The Team started off at the 2022 24 Hours of Daytona with 2 new drivers alongside Van Eerd and Van der Garde. IndyCar Race Winner Rinus VeeKay and young American prospect Dylan Murry. They would Qualify 14th overall and 7th in class in the Motul Pole Award 100 finishing 1 Lap down. In the Race they had a great result finishing 6th overall and 2nd in class. In the next Race at the 12 Hours of Sebring with Murry and Van der Garde and Van Eerd all returned with VeeKay not returning due to only being contracted for the Daytona 24. During Qualifying at Sebring the Team had another great day ending up 12th overall and 3rd in class. In the Race they finished on the LMP2 Podium finishing 2nd and 8th overall, 1 Lap behind the winning PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Entry and 7 Laps behind the leader. The Team would not return until the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen with the same 3 drivers as Sebring. They would Qualify 10th overall and 3rd in class. In the Race they would finish 3rd and 10th overall finishing 2 Laps behind the leader, Getting their second Podium in a row and second Podium of the Season. The Team would finish 7th in the Teams Championship and 15th in the Drivers Championship.[24][25]
Frits van Eerd Controversy and selling to WRT
On the 14th of September 2023 the police found €176,000 in Frits van Eerd's house in his safe and behind the door of his bedroom closet and in the fridge.[citation needed] 2 days later they found €448,000 at his office in Veghel. Van Eerd needed to go to court in he sold his shares in Jumbo and all their Motorsport activities.[citation needed] So Racing Team Nederland was left without a main sponsor and withdrew from the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship selling their assets to Belgian Team Team WRT who stayed in the WEC but did not participate in IMSA.[citation needed]
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