Pro Dutch Racing full of ambition towards the new season

In a few weeks, the 2025 drag racing season kicks off for Pro Dutch Racing. After their first season with the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, that went even better than expected for Michel Tooren and his team, the ambitions for 2025 are even higher. The main programme is once again the FIA European Pro Modified Championship, but Pro Dutch Racing will also compete in the Motorsport UK Pro Modified Championship. This makes it a busy season that kicks off in the Easter weekend from 18 to 20 April when the first round of the British title fight starts at Santa Pod Raceway with the Festival of Power.

It seems like ages since the FIA European Drag Racing Championship was concluded in September 2024 with the European Finals. This brought an end to the first season of Michel Tooren and his team Pro Dutch Racing with the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The beautiful black, white and grey Camaro made its debut mid-June at Tierp Arena and, despite missing the first race, brought Tooren the fourth position in the FIA European Pro Modified Championship. With a season best elapsed time of 5.87 seconds, Tooren’s personal best of 5.814 seconds was also well within sight.

Pro Dutch Racing didn’t take time to rest the last couple of months. Immediately after the end of the season, the Camaro was almost completely stripped and several parts were sent to the USA for inspection and updates. Extra spare parts were also ordered so there wouldn’t be a shortage or problems with long delivery times from America during the season. In the meantime, maintenance in the Pro Dutch Racing workshop continued as usual. The preparations are now progressing nicely and that is necessary, because not only is the first race approaching rapidly, Tooren recently announced a busy and ambitious racing schedule. “The Camaro was not purchased to shine in the workshop, it has to race. And the more you drive, the more you learn about the set-up. That is why we looked at what would be possible in combination with the FIA European Championship, which of course remains our main programme. We decided to add the Motorsport UK Pro Modified Championship, which has six races at Santa Pod,” said Tooren.

The Motorsport UK Pro Modified Championship kicks off in mid-April with the Festival of Power. After that event, there will be a number of other races at Santa Pod Raceway. The Doorslammers, mid-May, is a non-championship race and it is not sure yet whether Pro Dutch Racing will travel to England for that race. However, the first round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship at Santa Pod Raceway is scheduled a week later. Just like the European Finals in September, points will be awarded at that race for both the FIA European Championship and the Motorsport UK Championship. After two rounds for the British championship, a busy period starts in mid-August with races for the FIA European Championship in Sweden and Germany, where the renowned NitrOlympX is on the calendar, followed just one week later by the European Finals as the last round of the FIA European Championship. Pro Dutch Racing conclude the season with the National Finals, the last race of the Motorsport UK Championship.

A busy but also great season that Michel Tooren and his team Pro Dutch Racing are really looking forward to. “Last year we made major progress and faster than expected with the new Camaro. This year we want to make the next step and we are ready for it and well prepared. I am looking forward to the first runs again during the Easter weekend and I have high expectations. The team will consist of the same people again and that gives a familiar feeling”, said a motivated Tooren.

Calendar 2025 Pro Dutch Racing
April 18-20, Festival of Power, Santa Pod Raceway, Motorsport UK (1)
May 16-18, The Doorslammers, Santa Pod Raceway, test
May 23-26, The Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway, FIA European Championship (1), Motorsport UK (2)
July 4-6, Summer Nationals, Santa Pod Raceway, Motorsport UK (3)
July 25-27, Bug Jam, Santa Pod Raceway, Motorsport UK (4)
August 7-10, Tierp Arena, Sweden, FIA European Championship (2)
August 29-31, NitrOlympX, HockenheimRing, Germany, FIA European Championship (3)
September 4-7, European Finals, Santa Pod Raceway, FIA European Championship (4), Motorsport UK (5)
September 19-21, National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway, Motorsport UK (6)

Pro Dutch Racing are supported by:
Arton USA Cars & Parts, Breko Shipbuilding & Repair, Burger Ferry Agencies, Dockmarks Signs BV, Dockside Shipfacilities B.V., Driemaas Shipping, Duraship BV, DW Pumps, Electric Marine Support BV, European Techsupply, F.E.M.M. Rotterdam BV, Flanto Shipping BV, Heftronics, Hoogendoorn Maritieme betimmering en interieurbouw, Horrel Shipping, Micana Holding BV, Maritiem Media, Noordtrans Scheepvaartbedrijf, Oonincx Scheepsonderhoud BV, Petrostar AG, RBC Nederland BV, RTR Barging, Solution Maritiem BV, Tristan Shipping BV, Verhaar Omega, VKV Service BV, Vrooam Powersports Lubricants International BV, Waterpoort Tankvaart en WB Scheepsservice BV.

For more information about Pro Dutch Racing, also see www.produtchracing.nl, Facebook and Instagram.

Text and photos: Remco Scheelings