Podcast With Local News
From local karting to building a racing brand. This podcast covers the story behind me and the goals for the future.
listen to the full episode
At an age when many young people are mainly focused on exams and part-time jobs, 16-year-old Luc Camphuijsen mainly thinks about corner lines, setups, and rain races. In the latest episode of VechtVibes, the young karter speaks openly about his life in motorsport — a world of speed, technology, and an empty wallet. Luc started karting at a young age after his mother saw a call from former Dutch rental kart champion Rick den Hartog. What started as a hobby grew into serious ambitions toward GT and DTM races. His ultimate dream is not Formula 1, but rather races with brands like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes appeal to him. "I actually find a GT car at the Nürburgring more beautiful than Formula 1," he says enthusiastically. That enthusiasm does not come out of nowhere. Racing runs in the family. His parents visited circuits at home and abroad for years and took Luc to races from an early age.
In the meantime, he competes in races across the Netherlands and Germany, including on circuits like Emmen, Kerpen, and Strijen. What stands out most is how technical Luc is with his sport. Together with his father — who is also a mechanic — he analyzes every training session and race. "I don't just want to drive, but also understand why something works," he says. This sometimes leads to almost Formula 1-like discussions about tire pressure, gear ratios, and understeer. Yet motorsport remains primarily an expensive hobby. According to Luc, karting can easily cost thousands of euros per month. Therefore, he cautiously looks ahead to affordable racing classes such as the Peugeot 206 GTI Cup from the DNRT. Sponsors are indispensable in this. Despite all the challenges, Luc remains realistic and ambitious. In five years, he hopes to be active in GT racing. Preferably in the rain, because that's when he feels strongest. "When it rains heavily, I actually just enjoy it even more."