The 52-year-old, who started 106 Formula One grands prix during a stellar circuit racing career, took up rallying three years ago and is planning a full eight-event ERC programme alongside a Belgian championship bid.
In an exclusive interview with FIAERC.com, the Dutchman explained why he has chosen the ERC, his target for 2025, why it’s likely that his four-time F1 world champion son Max will probably have to make do with watching his progress online rather than in person, plus lots more.
Why have you chosen the ERC?
“We want to raise the bar, learn and have very good competition. The ERC rallies are more the rallies I like, they’re a little bit shorter than WRC and that fits me a lot better.”
What’s your target for the season?
“That is the difficult one. I don’t see myself in the top 10. But that’s not the most important. The most important is to get knowledge, to know the stages because I know when you go to a rally the first time there’s no chance you can compete in the front. You need to do it for a couple of years to get a result, so the important thing is to try to finish the rallies and learn as much as possible.”
What are the biggest challenges you expect to encounter?
“Gravel, the gravel rallies will be the most challenging and to learn the stages. I have done one gravel rally, that’s all. But I like the challenge, I like to learn. There’s still a lot to learn. We are competitive in Belgium on asphalt, also because I know the stages a little bit better now and things like that. I just like rallying, I like to set the standard high and see where we end up.”
While you are new to all events on the ERC calendar, what knowledge do you have of the events and the championship in general?
“For sure I know it’s very competitive with all the young guys. When you go older you don’t get quicker, but we will see. And on every event you have those local guys who are very quick and know the rallies. I don’t expect to be in the top 10, but we will do the best we can, go as fast as we can and learn, get the knowledge and then hopefully come back next year.”
How do you plan to overcome your lack of event knowledge?
“I work closely with my co-driver, we try to look at the stages from the year before to get as much knowledge as we can.”
Do you plan to contest the new-for-2025 Master ERC Championship for drivers over 50? And does that appeal?
“I’m over 50 so why not. But that’s not why I’m doing the ERC. For sure I will register for that but I want to be competitive with everybody, learn and get experience.”
Given how much you’re enjoying your rallying, if you had your time again would you have chosen rallying over circuit racing?
“I don’t know, maybe if it was possible to start earlier so I had a bit more knowledge and experience until this time. But I like what I have done. Of course I like Formula One or whatever. But I mut say at this stage I really enjoy it, there’s no politics involved. It’s just very friendly with the other drivers, it’s more open for the public and that’s what I enjoy.”
Do you see yourself rallying for quite a few more years – is that something you would consider?
“As long as we’re making progress and as long as we are competitive like we are at the moment, yes I see myself driving for a couple of more years.”
From looking at the F1 calendar it’s only really Barum Czech Rally Zlín where Max would be free to come to watch you, is that something you’ve spoken about?
“We haven’t spoken about that, but I can imagine when he has a holiday, especially with a calendar like they have at the moment, when he has time off I prefer him to stay away from motor racing and to enjoy his time off.”
But he’s a supporter of your rallying career, right?
“Yeah, he’s following it, I always send him the link where he’s following it, he’s always very interested in what I’m doing.”
Jos Verstappen’s ERC adventure is set to begin with the 42nd Rally Sierra Morena - Córdoba Patrimonio de la Humanidad in Andalusia, Spain, from 3 - 6 April. Belgian Renaud Jamoul will co-drive his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
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