MP Motorsport will attack the 2017 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season with two Red Bull Juniors under its wings - double Formula 4 champion Richard Verschoor and American racer Neil Verhagen.
Confirmed this morning, Wednesday, 18th January, the Dutch outfit will be back with a vengeance in the leading European championship for talents aiming to make their way up the ladder to Formula One.
Dutchman Verschoor, who only recently turned 16, will remain with MP Motorsport for his second season in motor racing and first in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. All parties involved in his 2016 successes soon agreed that Verschoor’s two Formula 4 titles proved he was ready for a bigger challenge.
For this, Verschoor wanted to continue with his ‘dream team’ and so a season in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 was decided upon, again with MP Motorsport. The Benschop-born driver, who is currently leading the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand, will once more be supported by Red Bull. Verschoor will also continue to be part of the KNAF Talent First programme run by the Dutch federation.
“It’s a logical next step in my career”, said Verschoor on his promotion to the Eurocup, “F4 with MP and the KNAF proved to be a great decision for my debut season in motor racing; it really allowed me to make a name for myself. It soon transpired what I would be doing in 2017 – together with Red Bull, we quickly decided on staying with MP.
"I have lots of confidence in the team, and look forward to attacking the season with them. I’ve done several tests in the Formula Renault car this winter. Again, the goal must be to win, even though I realise that I will face a challenge made twice as hard by guys with two or three years of experience in Formula Renault.”
American 15-year-old Neil Verhagen is new to the Red Bull programme and MP Motorsport. The Mooresville, North Carolina, youngster made his racing debut in the 2015 Skip Barber Winter Series and finished runner-up in the final standings.
Later in the year, he debuted in the American F1600 championship organised by the SCCA. Continuing in 2016, he took the title with nine wins and, at the same time, he became the youngest ever winner of the SCCA National Championship Run-Offs.
“It’s quite a big step from Formula F to single-seaters with downforce”, says the American, “But I feel I am ready. I’ve done several tests with MP and shown good pace. Winning the championship is everybody’s goal, so it’s mine as well, but I will approach the season race-by-race, aiming to maximise each race weekend and the days in between. I’ve built a good relationship with MP Motorsport, and I’m sure we will form a strong team.”
Commenting on the two signings, MP Motorsport team principal Sander Dorsman said: “With Richard and Neil we hold two strong cards for Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 honours. They will both receive ample support from Red Bull, who were more than happy to place them with us.
"The Eurocup will be an amazing education for them, as it’s one of the strongest championships in Europe. At the same time I expect them to be up there right from the start. Their level of talent is that high.”
In his debut season straight from karts, Verschoor took Formula 4 titles in both the Northern European Zone championship and the Spanish championship. Starring in his first-ever race weekend at the Russian circuit of Sochi, he was picked by Dr. Helmut Marko to join the Red Bull junior programme. Verschoor lived up to his promise by dominating one F4 weekend after another.
Verhagen has been living in the Netherlands for the past two months, in order to work as closely as he possibly can with MP Motorsport. Showing well in his first full season of American F1600 he was soon on Dr. Marko’s radar. When Verhagen wrapped up the title Red Bull wasted no time in including the American in its junior programme.
Monza in Italy will host the opening event of the 2017 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season over the weekend 22nd/23rd April.
