Racing for Holland – New Line-Up
Mark Koense at Racing For Holland informs us that they have applied for two entries at Le Mans this year – a first for the team – and that John Bosch and Tristan Gommendy have joined the Dutchmen, in addition to the Gabbiani / Ortiz pairing that debuted last year.

Jan Lammers will be joined by fellow Dutchman John Bosch in all seven FIA Sportscar Championship races, plus the Le Mans 24 Hours. The third driver in this 24 Hour entry will be announced later. “He has to be a top quality driver and to make that choice we want to take our time,” says the Flying Dutchman.

The team’s other Dome - for Le Mans and the seven race FIA Championship – will be driven Beppe Gabbiani and Felipe Ortiz. They’ve already shown their pace in one of the black and silver Domes, having finished second (to the Lammers car) at Dijon last year. Tristan Gommendy (23) will partner them at Le Mans.

Testing commences on March 3 at Barcelona, and then moves to Spa-Francorchamps later in the month. The team’s official press presentation will be staged at the end of March in the Netherlands.

“We must provide John with the chance to feel at home in the team and the car,” says Lammers – of the testing plans. “His past performances prove his potential and it is our responsibility to get the best out of him.”

38 year old John Bosch is a former British Ford Championship winner, who then performed strongly in European Formula 3, but a severe crash caused him to turn to rallying. His successful return to cars saw him clinch the European Ferrari 360 Challenge last year.

“For me, joining Jan and the Racing for Holland team really is a great opportunity”, Bosch comments. “To race in the Le Mans 24 Hours is an ambition each racing driver has, very much like F1 drivers wanting to compete in the Monte Carlo Grand Prix for example. After winning the European Ferrari 360 Championship last year, this is a logical and important step for me to progress.”

Tristan Gommendy joins the team after a “magical year” in Formula 3. In 16 races in 2002, he scored 12 pole positions, won five races in the French championship – and the title. He finished a strong second in the Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort, before winning the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix.

“When I was eight years old I went to Le Mans and that race triggered my interest for motor racing,” Tristan explains. “I have always had a great passion for sportscars ever since. So to now go back there and race at Le Mans is a dream come true, as well as a great chance. Racing for Holland has been quick for two years and without the factory Audis, I think we can qualify well. If we finish the race, we should be candidates for the podium.”

Aerodynamics have received a lot of attention over the winter, in Dome’s wind tunnel. In addition, the team has developed its own semi-automatic gearshift system, controlled by F1-style paddles behind the steering wheel. Lammers tested this new system for the first time last Sunday at Zandvoort without problems.

Racing for Holland will continue using its unique sponsor concept. This will again see the cars racing in their now famous black and white chequered livery, which has created a network of hundreds of sponsors.

“I am of course delighted and proud that we have again been able to put it all together,” Jan Lammers concludes. “All our sponsors motivate us. Achieving the goals of Racing for Holland is a sensitive game between sporting and commercial results. I hope that our carefully planned policy enables us to continue to grow. Who knows, maybe then one day even Formula 1 will be in our reach.”

We’ll settle for another outstanding sportscar season for the Dutchmen. Lammers was a shining star at Le Mans last year – again – and we look forward to him taking the challenge to the Audis (and Bentleys) once more.