Photo: McLaren
McLaren has announced it has signed karting superstar Dries Van Langendonck to its driver development programme.
The 13-year-old Belgian is the eighth member of the MDDP, and the only one who is not already in single-seater racing.
Van Langendonck has been one of the hottest properties in karting since he was on 60cc Mini class karts, winning the Trofeo Andrea Margutti in 2022.
Last year he stepped up to OK Junior karts and won the CIK-FIA World championship and the WSK Final Cup, in addition to being Champions of the Future runner-up, fifth in the CIK-FIA European championship and WSK Super Master Series and ninth in the WSK Champions Cup and Trofeo delle Industrie.
His podium-filled form has continued into 2024, starting off with being runner-up in WSK’s Super Master Series and Champions Cup. He currently leads CotF and the European championship, and is second in the WSK Euro Series.
“It feels amazing to join the MDDP. I have been working hard on track to maximise my performances this year and McLaren will now provide great support to take me to the next level,” said Van Langedonck.
“It’s an honour to be part of the papaya family and I’m focused on continuing my development under the guidance of Stephanie and the MDDP team.”
Stephanie Carlin, McLaren’s Formula 1 business operations director, commented: “I’m pleased to welcome Dries to the MDDP. He has shown huge potential during his karting career and impressed massively in this season’s CIK-FIA karting European championship. We will now be working closely throughout Dries’ development as he takes the first step in our talent pipeline and joins the McLaren family.”