Last weekend was one we as a team will never forget. At the Assen circuit, with MS KartKings race number #59, we secured our very first victory in the club standings of the Prokart Netherlands championship. And that makes this win extra special: only our second season in this class… and already at the top of the podium.
What started as an ambition grew into a weekend full of tension, teamwork, struggle, and ultimately pure release.
From training to performing
When we started in this class last season, we knew the level was high. Every team drives hard, the differences are small, and mistakes are punished immediately. That is why we have put in many hours over the past year training, analyzing, and improving as a team.
Speed isn't the only thing that counts in endurance racing. It's about teamwork, communication, consistent lap times, and trust in each other. That is precisely where we have grown tremendously as a team.
This year, alongside the two founders of KartKings.nl, Charrel Jalving and Jeroen van Kesteren, a new teammate has joined: Ilse Priem. With Ilse, we can continue to develop as a team, as she has been karting since she was four years old.
With these three riders — Charrel, Jeroen, and Ilse — we have worked together, step by step, towards one goal: competing for the podium spots.
A weekend where everything came together
From the very first sessions in Assen, it felt good. The speed was there, the kart felt strong, and everyone was comfortably in their rhythm. Of course, racing remains unpredictable: strategy, traffic on the track, pit stops, and concentration ultimately make the difference. The heavy rain during practice didn't help, but it did ensure we headed into Saturday with confidence. After all, if it were to rain, we were prepared.
This weekend, everything fell into place.
Every stint was driven tightly, the pit stops went smoothly, and as a team we remained calm under pressure. That is perhaps what we are most proud of. Not just the speed, but especially how we drove as a team.
When it finally became clear that we were not only standing on the podium, but had actually taken the victory, that the realization truly sank in.
First podium… the win straight away
Experiencing a first podium is special in itself. But the fact that this immediately became our first victory in the Prokart Netherlands championship makes it almost unreal.
The relief afterwards was immense. All the training hours, the preparation, the weekends on the track, and the hard work came together at that moment. That is ultimately what you do it for.
For Charrel, Jeroen, and Ilse, this was a moment they will never forget.
On to more
This victory provides huge motivation for the rest of the season. We know there is still plenty of work to do and that the competition remains strong, but we have now proven one thing:
MS KartKings can compete for the prizes, this is just the beginning. 💪🏁
