Kremers gunning for karting crown
AN old adversary of Dutch Formula One sensation Max Verstappen hopes to knock Race of Stars favourite Paolo De Conto off his perch this weekend.
Marijn Kremers was devastated to come home second to De Conto in the 2016 event at the Xtreme Karting Complex in Pimpama after a spectacular battle filled with overtakes.
De Conto recently sealed his second straight world karting championship and is now striving for back-to-back Race of Stars victories.
“I want to defend my title,” the Italian said bluntly.
Not on Kremers’ watch. The 19-year-old Dutchman is desperate to go one better.
“Last year was a bit disappointing,” he said.
“We got off to a great start in the final and we had a big gap but we had some mechanical problems which slowed us down a bit and allowed the other guys to catch up.”
Kremers is based in the south of Holland and recalled his upbringing going wheel-towheel with Verstappen, who has gone on to establish himself as a Formula One star.
The Race of Stars’ international contingent – also including Davide Fore (Italy), Rick Dreezen (Belgium), Joel Johannson (Sweden) and Dylan Drysdale (New Zealand) – hold the circuit in high regard.
“I have never seen a track so fast, really,” De Conto said.
The finals are on Sunday.