McLaren Racing, a Woking-based team in Formula One, has announced that Dries Van Langendonck, the 2023 World Junior Karting Champion, has joined the McLaren Driver Development program.
The 13-year-old Belgian racer from Heusden-Zolder is a gifted young talent who has won several karting titles, including the 2023 WSK Final Cup.
He recently achieved two podiums and four race victories in the 2024 Super Masters Series, placing him second overall. In the OK-Junior class of the 2024 FIA Karting European Championship, Van Langendonck has shown promise.
He has finished second at the Val d’Argenton in France and has won twice at the Slovakia Ring and Valencia. He is now leading the COTF Championship and witnessed the Chequered Flag at the Champions of the Future Round 4 in Sweden.
Van Langendonck will enter the McLaren Driver Development program in the first stage of the team’s talent pipeline, under the direction of F1 Business Operations Director Stephanie Carlin. There, he will get assistance in transitioning from karting to professional racing driver.
“I’m pleased to welcome Dries to the McLaren Driver Development program,” stated Stephanie Carlin, Director of F1 Business Operations at McLaren, in reference to the new hire.
“During his racing career, he has demonstrated enormous promise. He made a tremendous impression in the FIA Karting European Championship this season.
Dries will now be part of the McLaren family and we will work closely with him as he progresses through our talent pipeline. Dries Van Langendonck remarked, “It feels amazing to join the McLaren Driver Development program,” in response to his signing.
I’ve been putting a lot of effort into being on track to maximize my results this year, and McLaren will now offer me excellent assistance to help me advance.
“It’s an honor to be a member of the Papaya family, and I’m committed to developing further with Stephanie and the McLaren Driver Development team as my mentors.”
