“For the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux, we couldn’t have wished for a better final result. We were able to claim the highest achievement: finishing the championship with a 1-2-3 position!” says Bas Koeten. “After 2021 with Colin Caresani and 2022 with Maxime Oosten, this even means three consecutive titles. A feat we are proud of!”
What stood out was that all drivers were quite evenly matched this season. Almost every team won one or more races overall. This resulted in a title race that was literally thrilling until the last minute of the season. The final standings:
1: Gianni van de Craats and Sen Roodenburg
2: Dante and Jop Rappange, Dirk Warmerdam
3: Senna van Soelen, Mark van der Aa, and Leyton Fourie
Undecided until the Last Minute
In the last race during the final weekend, Senna van Soelen was on course to win the championship but ended up off the track after a collision with the car of Gianni van de Craats and Sen Roodenburg. These two could hardly believe it at the end of the race: they finished 5th, but the championship title was theirs. Dante Rappange was the convincing winner of this race.
This season, all young drivers showed personal growth, thanks in part to the intensive guidance from our crew. During four race weekends, a fourth car with varying international line-ups also raced under our flag.
International Company
What made the BMW M2 season unique for Bas Koeten Racing was the array of international drivers. Never before have we had such a global group: South African Leyton Fourie, German Colin Bönighausen, Australians Robbie McAfee and Roman Krumins, Belgian Tomas de Backer, and the French Alexandre Viron and Pierre-Etienne Bordet joined the Dutch drivers with the fourth car. Bas Koeten: “The fact that these gentlemen contacted us to join us is a sign that our performances are also noticed beyond the national borders.”
Career Closer
For one of the drivers, participation in the Zolder Superprix marked the end of his racing career. Roman Krumins, based in Brisbane, got behind the wheel of one of the two WOLF GB08 Prototypes from Bas Koeten Racing about six years ago, also at Circuit Zolder. He cherishes such good memories that he insisted on finishing his last race ever with the same team. Bas: “A huge compliment!”
Other highlights of the 2023 season: