An even better end to an already great 2025 season for Pro Dutch Racing
Michel Tooren and his team, Pro Dutch Racing, concluded their already great 2025 season with several great performances. With advancing to the semifinals of the European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway, Tooren secured the fourth position in the final standings of the FIA European Pro Modified Championship. Two weeks later, during the National Finals at the same English track, Tooren reset his personal best for the third time this season, now to 5.8089 seconds. In the eliminations, Tooren in the Pro Dutch Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 finished in the runner-up spot and secured the second position in the Motorsport UK Pro Modified Championship. There’s hardly any better motivation to work towards an even more successful 2026.
For Michel Tooren, the season started with a new personal best of 5.812 seconds. After the Doorslammers and The Main Event, being the first round of the FIA European Championship, Pro Dutch Racing had two races for the Motorsport UK Pro Modified Championship on their calendar. After a fourth position in qualifying, the eliminations of the Summer Nationals had to be cancelled due to persistent rain. The Bug Jam was a much better event. Tooren recorded the third-quickest ET with 5.84 seconds in the Pro Dutch Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, won his elimination rounds and claimed the race win in the final.
Then the focus went back to the FIA European Championship. In qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment Internationals at Tierp Arena, Sweden, Tooren recorded the fourth-quickest ET in a field of 22 cars with 5.87 seconds. In a test run, Tooren stormed to a great 5.80 seconds, a new personal best and the quickest Pro Mod run of the event. After winning the first round of eliminations, the Pro Dutch Racing driver was defeated in the quarterfinals by Andres Arnover, who would later turn out to be his main rival in the second half of the season.
After Sweden, it was time for the third round of the FIA European Championship, the renowned NitrOlympX at the Rico Anthes Quartermile of the HockenheimRing. As every year, Pro Dutch Racing was accompanied at the German track by several of the team’s partners and sponsors. With over 60 partners, the interest was greater than ever before. In qualifying, Tooren claimed the third position, and the first elimination round was a win as well. However, bad luck struck the Pro Dutch Racing team in the quarterfinals. During the burnout, the converter exploded, and that was the end to Tooren’s race day.
Less than a week later, the European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway was the final round of the FIA European Championship. Tooren secured the fourth position in qualifying with a 5.83-second ET. The first two elimination rounds were won again. However, in the semifinals Tooren suffered some problems and was defeated by Arnover. As a result, Tooren finished fourth in the final standings of the FIA European Pro Modified Championship.
The season wasn’t over yet, as two weeks later Pro Dutch Racing returned to England for the National Finals, the final round of the Motorsport UK Pro Modified Championship. After qualifying in third position with 5.85 seconds, Tooren stormed to a stunning 5.8089 seconds in the first round of eliminations. With this record number, the Pro Dutch Racing driver reset his personal best for the third time this season. After a winning 5.81-second ET in the semifinal, Tooren had to face, yes there he is again, Arnover in the final. Tooren had a better reaction time and seemed to be on his way to victory, when the burst panel failed for no apparent reason, causing the parachutes to deploy. Tooren finished the race in the runner-up position and concluded the Motorsport UK Pro Modified Championship with an excellent second position in the final standings.
Besides the impressive results and personal bests, the most important positive points this season were that the Pro Dutch Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 went in a straight line to the finish on almost every run and recorded consistently low 5.8-second ETs. Tooren was happy, looking back on the 2025 season. “It’s been a very good and successful year, especially considering how competitive the Pro Modified class is. At the beginning of the season, the Camaro didn’t always go straight, but after a few minor adjustments to the chassis setup, that was resolved, and we went in one straight line to the finish on almost every run. We did nine races this year and recorded more than twenty ETs in the 5.8-second range, which is something to be very proud of. We also learned a lot again.” In preparation for the 2026 season, the Pro Dutch Racing Camaro was recently run on the dyno at Gorter Race Engineering, to learn more about the effects of engine setup adjustments. This is another area where Pro Dutch Racing can take advantage of next season.
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, Maritiem Media, Noordtrans Scheepvaartbedrijf, Oonincx Scheepsonderhoud BV, Petrostar AG, RBC Nederland BV, RTR Barging, Sinttruije Marine Service B.V., Solution Maritiem BV, Tristan Shipping BV, Verhaar Omega, VKV Service BV, Vrooam Powersports Lubricants International BV, Waterpoort Tankvaart and WB Scheepsservice BV. For more information about Pro Dutch Racing, also see www.produtchracing.nl, Facebook and Instagram.
Text and photos: Remco Scheelings
