The season starts early in The Netherlands, with two rounds of an eight-round domestic championship already done and dusted. It was no surprise that renowned sand specialists had a good start to the year. WSC regular teams featured very strongly, making up the greater part of the entry lists more resembling those for a Grand Prix.
Justin Keuben and Dion Rietman were back on the sand for the first time in ten months and admitted to being off the pace in the opener at Oss. A start-line crash in heat one saw them battle back to seventh place, whilst Koen Hermans and Ben van den Bogaart fared little better following a similar catastrophe off the line. Glory went to Stephan Wijers/Han van Hal from Tim Prummer/Jarno Steegmans with veteran Stuart Brown and Scott Grahame bringing it home in third. Hermans made it to sixth from way back.
Race two was a different story for Hermans as he took a fine victory from the Lielbardis twins. Keuben did enough to edge Prummer into fourth with fifth-placed Wijers claiming the overall result. This was a brilliant start to the Wijers/van Hal season. Hermans/van den Bogaart made silver, and Keuben/Rietman completed the podium.
Source: Ilsa Photography
Round two took place on March 16 in St. Isidorushoeve near Haaksbergen as the fierce action continued. The same three protagonists made the running in the first race with Justin Keuben setting the fastest lap on his way to runner-up spot. Hermans hit the front however and brought it home for victory.
It was a disastrous first race for both Tim Prummer/Jarno Steegmans and Brett Wilkinson/Joe Millard who finished well down the order after problems.
Both crews made up for it next time out as Prummer took victory in race two, with Wilkinson following Hermans home in third place.
Koen Hermans and Ben van den Bogaart showed what they have planned for the new season by emerging top of the series standings after two rounds. They all have more domestic action in April before the Kramolin WSC opener.
Source: Ilsa Photography
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From Barry Nutley.
