Photo: Williams
The Williams Formula 1 team has announced the addition of Dutch karter Dean Hoogendoorn to its driver academy.
The 12-year-old won the German title for KM Mini karts in 2022, then last year was the WSK Super Master Series runner-up, third in the South Garda Winter Cup and WSK Open Series and fifth in the Andrea Margutti Trophy.
He also got a taste of junior karting in 2023, which resulted in him claiming the WSK Euro Series title and being ‘Road to the World Cup’ runner-up on OK-N Junior karts and coming fourth in Trofeo delle Industrie when he took to X30 Junior machines.
This year his focus has been OK Junior karts, starting off by coming seventh in the WSK Champions Cup, and following that up with third in WSK SMS, 15th in the CIK-FIA European Championship. Hoogendoorn is also currently 10th in Champions of the Future and 12th in the WSK Euro Series.
“Racing is my passion and to become a part of the Williams family is a very proud moment for me,” he said. “I will contribute whatever I can to the team and can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
Williams’ sporting director Sven Smeets added: “Dean is an exciting young talent and we’re delighted to be welcoming him into the Williams Racing Driver Academy. He has had an impressive start in the karting world, progressing faster than most other drivers his age and challenging karters sometimes two years older than him. Dean has a bright future ahead of him and we look forward to supporting his development for the rest of 2024 and beyond.”