Thierry Vermeulen: “The fans can look forward to a real spectacle in Zandvoort”

• Vermeulen starts in front of his home crowd at round two of the DTM in the Netherlands
• The Ferrari driver on Circuit Zandvoort, the challenges facing a DTM debutant, and the influence of Jos Verstappen

Munich. The DTM race weekend in Zandvoort (23rd to 25th June) will not be a standard event for Thierry Vermeulen. As the only Dutchman in the field, the 20-year-old from the Emil Frey Racing team will be racing in front of his home fans. In an interview, the youngster from Venlo discusses the atmosphere in Zandvoort, tips from Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, and his switch to Ferrari.

What does the circuit in the Zandvoort dunes have to offer?
The circuit has changed quite considerably since the renovation work for Formula 1 a few years ago. Despite this, Circuit Zandvoort has retained its special charm. I am a big fan of the track, and the two banked corners are particularly good fun. In many corners, there is only one racing line that works really well. I am intrigued to see how that plays out in the races.

The stop on the North Sea coast is a home event for you. How does that feel?
I am hugely excited about the weekend in Zandvoort. To drive a Ferrari in Zandvoort in the DTM will just be awesome. The fans can look forward to spectacular racing, as we already saw at the opening round in Oschersleben.

What is the goal for the two races in front of your home fans?
As a racing driver, you always want to win. Realistically, however, a top-eight finish would be a super result. I am obviously hoping for some extra support from the Dutch fans to make that possible. I showed last year that I am fast in Zandvoort, when I finished runner-up alongside Mattia Drudi in the ADAC GT Masters. However, there are a lot of drivers in the DTM who have an incredible wealth of experience and are also familiar with the circuit.

How many tickets have you organised for your family and friends?
As it stands, I have about 80 people on my guest list. The support and the atmosphere at the track are going to be amazing. It is a special feeling to see and hear the cars live. I want to offer my family, friends and partners that experience. Furthermore, there are some cool things for fans to do away from the actual races, such as the pit walk.

In Jos Verstappen, the father of Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, you have a well-known mentor on your side. How did that come about?
That is a special situation. My father is the manager of Max Verstappen, so I have known him and his family very well for many years. We often chat, and you are obviously only too happy to take advice from a Formula 1 world champion. His father Jos also plays a big role in my development, because his experience means he always has tips for me. If the schedule of Max and Jos allow it, they often visit me at the racetrack. It is fantastic to feel that support.

At 20 years of age, you are the youngest DTM driver this season. How does that feel?
A dream came true for me at the race weekend in Oschersleben. My big goal was always to drive in a popular series like the DTM one day. It was a great feeling to experience the fans there and enjoy the atmosphere. From a sporting perspective, the opener went well for our team, particularly with the podium for Jack Aitken. The qualifying sessions showed how incredibly even the field is.

This season, you have switched manufacturer – from Audi to Ferrari. What challenges does that pose?
The new Ferrari 296 GT3 looks really good and is also great fun to drive. For me, however, there is one special thing about the car: throughout my fledgling career, since 2020, I have driven various Porsche cars and an Audi, including in the ADAC GT Masters. However, they were all basically fully developed, whereas the Ferrari 296 GT3 is a brand-new car and still at the start of that process. I am proud to be involved in that development.

It is the debut season in the DTM for Emil Frey Racing, your team-mate Jack Aitken and you. How do you approach that challenge as a team?
It is important for us to work as a team. We communicate openly and regularly exchange ideas, in order to improve together. After all, we all have one thing in common: we want to win races. Jack Aitken has already gained a lot of experience in different cars. As such, I am glad to have him as a team-mate. However, as soon as you get into the car, you are fully focussed on yourself.

How important is motorsport in the Netherlands?
The popularity of motorsport has increased dramatically in the Netherlands, primarily thanks to the success of Max Verstappen in Formula 1. Interest in GT racing is growing too. The DTM has big fields, cars from many different manufacturers, and thrilling races. They are the ideal conditions for an exciting weekend in Zandvoort.

Tickets for the race weekend at Circuit Zandvoort and further DTM events are available from 39 euros online at dtm.com. Admission is free for under 16s when accompanied by a paying adult. ADAC members benefit from a ten percent discount when purchasing online in advance.

The two DTM races in Zandvoort both get underway at 13:30 on Saturday (24th June) and Sunday (25th June). ProSieben is broadcasting all of this season’s races live on free-to-air German TV. The qualifying sessions are also streamed live at ran.de. Rounding off the DTM’s extensive TV package is global live coverage in more than 70 countries.