Racing drivers, celebrities and amateur racers came together at Race Planet Delft on 7 October for the Kleine Kabouter Kart Kup, an evening of karting and entertainment in support of Stichting Groot Hart. Among them were Jop Rappange, Colin Caresani and Jeroen Bleekemolen, who spoke to GT REPORT about familiar rivalries, the relaxed atmosphere and the cause that brought everyone together.
The Kleine Kabouter Kart Cup – which translates to ‘Little Gnome Karting Cup’ – is organised by Dutch presenter and racing driver Rob Kamphues. The annual event raises money for the foundation’s track events for chronically ill children. Riding alongside professional drivers in racing cars gives those children and their families a chance to enjoy an experience away from the pressures of illness.
The fundraiser itself has an unusual origin. Nicknamed the ‘kleine kale kabouter’ – which means ‘little bald gnome’ in Dutch – by his racing rivals, Kamphues invited drivers, mechanics and sponsors to a kart race on one condition: everyone had to dress up as a gnome. That idea developed into an event combining racing with live performances and entertainment, while retaining its original sense of humour.
The little bald gnome with the huge gnome cup award © Stichting Groot Hart
A return to familiar event
Rappange, racing full season in GT World Challenge powered by AWS Sprint Cup, did not need much persuading to take part. Beyond supporting the charity, the chance to share a kart track with drivers he has known for years made the occasion particularly appealing. “It’s great fun, and it’s also nice to share this with other drivers,” he says. “It’s really nice to be here and help make other people’s day. It feels like coming home, especially with Colin [Caresani], Maxime [Oosten] and Dante [Rappange]. We see each other a lot, of course, but not in a kart, and that makes it extra enjoyable for us as well.”
The setting was more relaxed than a normal race weekend, although Rappange was under no illusion that everyone would simply wave each other through once the racing started. “It’s all very relaxed together. But ultimately, we’re old rivals, so we still want to beat each other!” he laughs. “And it’s nice to put on a good show for everyone else.”
Caresani, GTWCE Silver Champion of 2024, also recognised that combination of friendship and competition. Having attended previous editions, he already knew what to expect from an event that dispenses with much of the preparation drivers usually rely on. “I’ve participated two or three times before, when it was in Bergen,” he explains. “That was still with the KNAF, with a carefully selected group of drivers. It’s always great fun, every year.
“There’s no preparation at all. We go straight into the race, do one stint, and that’s it. So, of course, it puts pressure on to be the fastest!”
Colin Caresani swapped his Mercedes-AMG GT3 for a kart to participate in the charity racing event © Stichting Groot Hart
Ten minutes to work it out
The format gives amateur participants the opportunity to race with professional drivers. Teams that reach the final are paired with a professional through a draw, adding another unknown to an evening with little time to get comfortable. Even Bleekemolen, whose family hosted the event at Race Planet, could not count on much of a home advantage.
“The way it’s set up, we do very little driving, really only about ten minutes,” he says. “You only get a few laps, and you don’t know where you’ll start because that’s decided by the draw. None of us really knows the tracks, including me, because I’ve hardly driven here either. They’ve been completely changed, so that makes it even more complicated.”
Bleekemolen has experienced enough gatherings of racing drivers to know how quickly a friendly competition can become serious. In Delft, however, he felt the atmosphere kept that instinct in perspective.
“I’ve done indoor karting events with well-known drivers where it became a real mess because everyone wanted to win. Here, the thinking is a bit different. Of course we’ll go for it, but it’s different from having already done practice and qualifying. It’s more about the fun factor.
“There was always a lovely atmosphere, with lots of people we know and lots of great drivers. Everyone wants to be here, and so many people want to support the event. It’s fantastic that we get to host it now.”
A small contribution to something bigger
For Caresani, the reason to return extends well beyond the karting. Kamphues’ longstanding commitment to Stichting Groot Hart gives the gathering a purpose that the drivers are happy to support. “What Rob has been doing for more than ten years is really wonderful,” he says. “We’re very happy to take part, and that only makes it more enjoyable to be here.”
Bleekemolen shared that appreciation. With performances taking place around the racing, the scale of the evening also reflected the support behind it: “When you see what Rob has built over all those years, it’s very impressive. It’s lovely to contribute even a little bit to that,” he says. “The sponsors have helped make the event possible, and that makes it even more special.
“Hopefully it attracts more attention and brings in more people who want to get involved. Then we can raise even more money, because ultimately, that’s the goal.”
