Multiple UAE karting champion Maurits Knopjes is no stranger to the local karting scene and inevitably is the man to beat on any given race day. This year his rivals will make a double take, make that a triple take, when three Knopjes hit the karting championships with eight year old Sem and four year old Kris set to make their debut on the karting scene, while their Dad competes in the DD2 Masters category this season.
In what is a true family affair for the Knopjes family, at least the male side of clan, they will take their ‘hobby’ to an unprecedented level in the UAE. Kris, who turns five in November and makes him eligible for the Rotax Bambino class, will hit the tracks shortly thereafter. Eight year old Sem will be competing in the Micro Max category, having made his debut in the class back in April, while Maurits has his sights set on yet another UAE title and also to land the biggest prize of all in Rotax Max karting, namely the world championship.
Knopjes said, “It is going to be a tough season, because the level of driving in UAE karting is getting better every year. More teams are coming into the sport here, with drivers from Europe among the competition. And of course now there is the added pressure of running my two boys and also my own racing.”
As for his ambitions for the forthcoming season, Knopjes said, “Obviously the target is a sixth UAE title is an important goal. But my biggest ambition is to win the world championship in Rotax Max DD2 Masters which takes place in Portugal this November.”
The Rotax Max World Finals takes place every year in different locations and gathers the Rotax Max national champions from numerous countries, for a week long shoot-out to determine the world champion of the various Rotax Max categories.
With five back to back UAE championship trophies in his cabinet, Knopjes senior remains as enthusiastic about the sport as ever, and this year will be carrying the colours of his personal sponsor ‘Xtreme Desert’ – appropriately a company which specializes in luxury adrenalin tourism to the UAE, marketed internationally to high end customers.
On the subject of his sons racing in earnest this season, the obvious question to Knopes is: How do you feel when you watch your sons racing?
“Excitement,” is the immediate answer. “It’s a different kind of excitement. Once they go out on track with their little karts you have no control over what they do. Especially at this age you see them make their mistakes, which anyone can make when they are learning. Sem is quite fast on the track, but now he has to learn how to overtake and race against other drivers – all part of the learning process of a developing young driver. I watch from the pit lane and cringe sometimes, but that’s how he learns by being out there and racing against other young drivers.”
“Luckily we can talk about things afterwards and he listens well. We even record Formula 1 races and when there are good overtaking moves we replay them and I show him how things are done by the world’s best drivers,” added the Arabian Ranches based Dutchman.
As for young Sem the objective is very clear, “Winning races, maybe the championship also and have fun.”
Kris, the baby of the brood, has his goals and simply declared, “I want to learn as much as possible.”
Maurits summed up the ethos behind him and his boys racing, “This is our hobby. We love karting and the karting scene in the UAE. So we want to enjoy ourselves and have fun, but also give it our best effort to do well. At the end of the day – if we win or don’t win – we have a good feeling about it.”
Friday (28 September) is the first big day for the Knopjes family as both Sem and Maurits start their respective 2012-2013 campaigns with the opening round of the UAE Rotax Max Challenge at the Dubai Kartdrome, while young Kris helps out in the pits as he waits patiently until November when he will don his race suit, helmet and gloves to join father and brother on track.
