Rik joins Inter Europol Competition to compete in the Michelin Le Mans Cup this season alongside newly crowned Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 Champion Alex Bukhantsov. It is the team’s second season in this championship, which takes in the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe as the season highlight.
Q) Rik, tell us about yourself away from the circuit. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
“I’m 19 years old and will be 20 on May 5. I live in the Netherlands in the town of Arnhem with my parents and brother; in addition to racing, I have my own company in car detailing and instructing on the track. I also enjoy exercising and spending time on my simulator, but given the choice, I would prefer to be in the race car every day!”
Q) You have a background in F4 and Porsche Carrera Cup. Tell us about your motorsport journey to date and how you became involved.
“I started karting when I was five years old. I wanted to kart earlier, but I was still too small! I did that for seven years to a high level and then got my motorsport license at age 13. That was a dream come true; I thought it was so cool to be able to race on the big circuits. Then I started with the Ford Fiesta Cup, and I did that for two years and came second in the championship.
“After the Fiesta Cup, I started driving the Spanish Formula 4, and that went very well, but I noticed that I was short on test mileage. This was fixed, and I got a lot more in and achieved some podiums.
“After F4, I started doing Porsche Cup and thought it was really cool to be able to drive that car, but my dream from an early age has always been to drive the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I got in touch with (broadcaster and manager) Nelson Valkenburg, and he also told me to achieve that, you must leave the Porsche Cup and enter endurance racing, and that's how I arrived at Inter Europol Competition.
“I tested the LMP3 at Portimão, and yes, that car is amazing. It felt very good, and it really felt like coming home!”
Q) The LMP3 Ligier JS P320 is new to you; what is your approach to the season and expectations in what will be a highly competitive field?
“My approach for the season is to prepare optimally in the gym, in the simulator and in the car. And I also think that with this team, I have a very good chance of fighting for the podiums and getting the most out of it together.
"Given the history of Inter Europol Competition, I believe that I can certainly achieve that.”
Q) Road to Le Mans is the season's highlight, but which circuits on the calendar are new to you, and which are you looking forward to most?
“The circuits I don't know yet are Le Mans and Paul Ricard, and the one I'm most looking forward to is Barcelona! It’s a circuit that suits me very well. And Spa-Francorchamps and Le Mans! I can’t wait to race there with the LMP3.”
