It’s a family affair in the WRC

Two emerging Dutch World Rally Championship stars will have to be on their best behaviour on Rally d’Italia Sardegna this week.

Dennis Kuipers and Peter van Merksteijn Jr will contest the gravel event in a Ford Fiesta RS WRC and Citroen DS3 WRC respectively. Also on the entry list for the Olbia-based rally are their fathers, Rene Kuipers and Peter van Merksteijn Sr.

Kuipers Sr will pilot a Super 2000-specification Fiesta, joining son Dennis in the FERM Power Tools World Rally Team, while Merksteijn Sr will drive a DS3 WRC in competition for the first time as part of the two-strong Van Merksteijn Motorsport operation.

Dennis Kuipers began his WRC bid in Sweden in February and has scored drivers’ championship points on the last two occasions at the wheel of his M-Sport-run Fiesta. Peter van Merksteijn Jr started his programme on Vodafone Rally de Portugal at the end of March but has yet to open his point-scoring account in his Citroen Racing Technologies-prepared DS3.

As Dennis Kuipers explained, his only focus on the fifth round of the season will be on building on his strong start to 2011, rather than keeping an eye on father Rene’s progress. “It’s the first time for me on this rally so I have to focus on my performance, not what my father is doing,” said Kuipers. “Of course I will look to his times but it’s not the most important thing for me.”

Kuipers admitted his father had been the inspiration behind his decision to become a rally driver and said he still relies upon him for support and advice.

“My father has been involved in [motorsport] for a very long time and as a child I was watching him a lot,” said Kuipers. “It’s different now because he is in a Super 2000 car and I’m in a World Rally Car. But we are always discussing things like set-up and strategy. He is a big help and of course he has a lot of experience.”

Of his rivalry with van Merksteijn Jr, Kuipers said having two Dutch drivers competing at the highest level in the WRC was a big boost for the country. “It’s really good we are both in World Rally Cars and I’m sure people in our country are watching what we do,” said Kuipers. “We’ve known each other for a long time and he lives only 15 minutes from my place.”

As for who is better out of him and his father, Dennis Kuipers added: “I’m learning so much now, making big improvements. I’m at a higher level than my father now and there is still more to come.”