Thierry Vermeulen, preparing for his second DTM season with Emil Frey Racing, seeks to build upon his rookie year’s performance. Despite finishing 16th in the standings in 2023, Vermeulen showcased promise with a notable fifth-place finish at the Sachsenring circuit. The 21-year-old Dutch driver will once more pilot the Ferrari 296 GT3 adorned with Verstappen.com Racing colors, a project initiated by Formula 1 titan Max Verstappen in 2022.
Having served as Vermeulen’s mentor for several years, Verstappen is optimistic about his protégé’s ability to improve his performance in the upcoming season. Verstappen is confident that Vermeulen’s growing experience will result in greater consistency on the track. He points to the young driver’s remarkable speed and closely matched performance during testing sessions, where Vermeulen consistently trails by just two-tenths of a second.
Although relatively new to motorsport, starting his career in GT4 racing in 2020, Vermeulen has swiftly expanded his racing portfolio. In addition to his DTM commitments, he competed in the GT World Challenge Europe series last year and plans to continue this dual campaign in 2024. Verstappen acknowledges Vermeulen’s lack of experience compared to seasoned competitors but lauds his rapid learning curve and fearlessness in high-speed corners.
Verstappen maintains regular communication with Vermeulen, receiving updates on his progress and analyzing performance data to identify areas for improvement. Their collaborative efforts extend to simulator training sessions, where Verstappen provides guidance as needed. Additionally, Verstappen’s support is evident in on-track endeavors, such as his two-day test session in Emil Frey’s Ferrari GT3 car at Portimao, aimed at refining Vermeulen’s skills.
Regarding the Ferrari 296 GT3, introduced as a successor to the 488 GT3, Verstappen acknowledges its performance capabilities but emphasizes the influence of Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations on race outcomes. He underscores the importance of Vermeulen adapting to varying BoP conditions to maximize the car’s potential and capitalize on favorable circumstances during races.