Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 team MP Motorsport is proud to announce its partnership of the inaugural ‘Ciao Thomas Knopper’ Memorial Kart Race – an event scheduled to run over the weekend 30th/31st October in memory of the talented Dutch racing driver who tragically lost his life last year.
Having built a close relationship with Thomas and his family when he tested with the team in 2008, the MP Motorsport squad got involved in the creation of the event to pay homage to the 19-year-old and his all too brief life.
Tragically killed during a kart race at Liedolsheim in Germany on 9th August last year, Thomas’ loss was felt throughout the karting world and the upcoming event at Erftlandring in Kerpen is expected to attract the cream of international talent. Driver entries will be limited to 51 places in KZ2 karts.
MP Motorsport is sponsoring the Ciao Thomas Knopper Memorial Race and will offer the competitor with the highest number of fastest laps in the Grand Final a free test day in one of its race-winning Formula Renault 2.0 cars. The test will take place in November at Motorland Aragon in Spain and MP Motorsport’s fabulous prize is being wholeheartedly supported by Renault Sport Technologies.
In addition, there will be a number of other prizes including sums of 2,500 Euros, 1,500 Euros and 750 Euros to the top three finishers plus, of course, the Thomas Knopper Trophy to the winner.
Commenting, team managers Dingeman van der Wilt and Sander Dorsman said: “Thomas was a very talented young driver with a bright future in motor racing but, more than that, he was an incredible person. His tragic loss was felt by us all at MP Motorsport.
“We became close to Thomas and his family through his time testing in Formula Renault 2.0 so we wanted to be involved in the kart event and do our bit to help keep his memory alive. The long-term aim is for this to be an annual race. For the Knopper family it’s obviously a very important event and we’re honoured to play a part in it.”
Thomas Knopper started competitive karting in 2000 in Honda Cadet and enjoyed great success during his nine years in the sport, the crowning glory coming in 2007 when he won the CIK-FIA European KZ2 Championship.
Graduating into car racing the following year, Thomas continued karting as well and stepped up to the CIK-FIA European KZ1 Championship. Tragically, he lost his life during a collision near the start of a German Kart Championship event at Liedolsheim on 9th August 2009.
For further details regarding Thomas Knopper please visit www.thomasknopper.com and for more regarding the Ciao Thomas Knopper Memorial Race log on to www.kart-club-kerpen.de
