Torrential rain, aquaplaning, heavy damage, a drying track and a final battle that went all the way to the flag. Clubrace 4 at Kartbaan Strijen had everything. In conditions where even the smallest mistake could end your race, Vans Weijers fought his way through an incredibly tough day to finish fourth overall in the South Holland Championship.
Vans has always been comfortable in the rain. Give him a wet track, limited grip and a kart that wants to move around underneath him, and he seems to find another gear. That became clear almost immediately. While others were still searching for grip and confidence during free practice, Vans quickly found his rhythm and put the KSR20 #193 CRG into P2.
Qualifying wasn’t getting any easier. The rain kept coming, standing water covered parts of the circuit and visibility behind other karts was becoming increasingly difficult. But Vans kept pushing. Trusting the kart and finding grip where there appeared to be very little, he delivered another strong lap. P2 in qualifying.
Front row for Race 1. And then the real madness began.
Race 1 – Surviving the Chaos
By the time Race 1 started, the rain was absolutely hammering down. The track was soaking wet, aquaplaning was a constant threat and the spray behind the karts was so intense that the drivers could barely see what was happening a few metres in front of them. This was no longer just about being fast. It was about surviving.
In the chicane, Vans also got caught out. The rear of the #193 stepped away and the kart spun, but somehow he managed to catch it and keep going. No barrier. No stalled engine. No race-ending mistake. Just one position lost. Vans immediately got back on the throttle and continued.
Two laps later, disaster struck again. This time, it wasn’t Vans who spun. Kart #369 spun directly in front of him. With virtually no visibility and nowhere to go, there was no time to avoid the impact. The #369 came across Vans’ kart, went over the top of the #193 and made contact with his helmet before eventually ending up in the grass. It was a huge moment. And somehow, once again, Vans kept the kart under control.
The damage to the #193 was substantial. The kart had taken a serious beating, but it was still moving. So Vans kept racing. Not with a kart in perfect condition anymore. Not with the speed he had shown earlier that morning. There was only one objective left: Get it to the finish and bring home every point possible.
He did exactly that. After an incredibly chaotic opening race, Vans crossed the line in a hard-earned P5.
Race 2 – Keep Your Head Down and Bring It Home
The result from Race 1 meant Vans would start the second race from P5. And once again, the track was completely soaked. After everything that had already happened, the approach was different this time: use the speed when it was there, but stay out of trouble.
Vans drove a controlled race. He kept his head cool, resisted unnecessary risks and concentrated on getting the #193 safely through conditions that were still catching drivers out all around the circuit. No damage. No penalties. No unnecessary drama. Race 2: P5.
Sometimes racing isn’t about attacking every corner. Sometimes it’s about knowing when to bring the kart home.
The Final – One Decision Can Change Everything
Then, just before the Final, something happened that we hadn’t seen all day. The sun appeared. After hours of rain, the track finally began to dry and for the first time that day we were preparing for a race on slick tyres. And that presented us with a difficult decision.
New slicks or used slicks?
A used set offered an immediate advantage. The tyres were already scrubbed in and should come alive more quickly at the beginning of the race. A fresh set would take longer to reach its optimum performance, but could become considerably stronger as the race progressed. We chose the used set.
At first, the strategy worked. Vans had grip from the start and could immediately fight. The #193 was competitive and the decision looked like it might pay off. But as the laps ticked away, the balance began to change. The used tyres started to fade. At the same time, the drivers who had chosen fresh rubber were getting faster. And faster.
Suddenly Vans wasn’t just racing the drivers around him. He was fighting his tyres as well. From that moment on, every metre had to be earned. Every braking zone mattered. Every corner became a fight. Every position had to be defended.
Vans threw everything he had at it, but eventually one position slipped away. He crossed the line in P6. Not the Final result we had hoped for, but everything the #193 had left was put into that race.
Just One Place Away From the Podium
Clubrace 4 had become a race of attrition. The extreme weather caused incidents and retirements throughout the field, while several drivers picked up penalties during the day for unsporting driving. Vans wasn’t one of them.
He raced hard, but fair. He made a mistake and recovered. He got hit and kept going. And when the conditions changed completely for the Final, he fought for every single position until the chequered flag.
The results tell the story:
Free Practice — P2
Qualifying — P2
Race 1 — P5
Race 2 — P5
Final — P6
And when all the points were counted: P4 OVERALL — SOUTH HOLLAND CHAMPIONSHIP
Just one place short of the podium. After a day in which the #193 battled torrential rain, almost zero visibility, a spin, a major collision, a damaged kart and finally a completely different challenge on a drying circuit, fourth overall is a result we can be proud of.
Fast in the rain. Calm in the chaos. Fighting fair until the very last metre.
On to the next one.
KSR20 — Driven by Speed. Built for the Future.
None of this would be possible without the incredible support behind the scenes.
We are proud to be backed by partners who believe in our vision, our drivers, and our future.
A massive thank you to our valued sponsors:
ProExpo Exhibition Stands
Dubby Energy
MissDaan
CoArt Creative Studio
Together, we don’t just race… we build the future.
