Anthony Kumpen (born 3 November 1978) is a Belgian professional racing driver and team manager. Kumpen currently works as driver and team manager for PK Carsport in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. He previously competed full-time in the series, winning the championship twice, in 2014 and 2016. He also joint-held the record of the most 24 Hours of Zolder wins with six.[1]
| Anthony Kumpen | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kumpen (right) with teammate Maxime Dumarey in 2015 | |||||||
| Nationality |  Belgian | ||||||
| Born | 3 November 1978 Hasselt, Belgium | ||||||
| Related to | Max Verstappen (First cousin once removed) | ||||||
| NASCAR Whelen Euro Series career | |||||||
| Debut season | 2014 | ||||||
| Teams | PK Carsport | ||||||
| Car number | 66 | ||||||
| Starts | 57 | ||||||
| Championships | 2 (2014, 2016) | ||||||
| Wins | 10 | ||||||
| Podiums | 27 | ||||||
| Poles | 6 | ||||||
| Fastest laps | 7 | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st in 2014, 2016 | ||||||
| Finished last season | 27th in 2024 | ||||||
| Previous series | |||||||
| 2015–2017 2015 2011–2013 2010 2001–2003 2001 1999–2009 | NASCAR Xfinity Series NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Blancpain Endurance Series FIA GT1 World Championship American Le Mans Rolex Sports Car Series FIA GT Championship | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| 2014, 2016 | NASCAR Whelen Euro Series | ||||||
| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 6 races run over 3 years | |||||||
| 2017 position | 51st | ||||||
| Best finish | 51st (2017) | ||||||
| First race | 2015 U.S. Cellular 250 (Iowa) | ||||||
| Last race | 2017 Mid-Ohio Challenge (Mid-Ohio) | ||||||
| |||||||
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |||||||
| Years | 2001–2004 | ||||||
| Teams | Paul Belmondo Racing, Team Carsport Holland / Racing Box, Carsport America, Taurus Sports Racing | ||||||
| Best finish | 40th (2001) | ||||||
| Class wins | 0 | ||||||
Racing career
editIn 1988, Kumpen started kart racing.[2] He moved on to Belcar, the Belgian Racing Car Championship, in 1998, winning the GT2 championship in his first year, and the GT championship in 1999.[3] He won several more Belgian GT and GTA championships over the next decade. In 2000, he won the overall classification at the 24 Hours of Zolder, a feat he would repeat in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2012 for a record total of 6 victories.[4]
In 2000, he started competing in the FIA GT Championship for the Paul Belmondo Racing team. His first victory in a race in this championship followed in 2002. More victories followed in 2005 (2), 2006, 2008 and 2009 (2).[5]
He also competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.[6]
In 2014, he competed in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series for the PK Carsport team, driving a Holden VF Commodore. He won one race in the championship, and ended the season in first place, one point ahead of defending champion Ander Vilariño.[7]
His win gave him a license to compete in the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, racing for Bill McAnally.[8] On 7 June, as part of the Nexteer Automotive Road To Daytona program, he announced his intentions to compete in the Xfinity Series, running three races at Iowa Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.[9] In 2016, he announced that he would run the Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona for Precision Performance Motorsports, driving the No. 46 Chevy.[10] He continued his part-time slate in the Xfinity Series in 2017, adding two races at Daytona and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, driving the No. 46 Chevy for PPM.[11] Kumpen was also in discussions with Rick Ware Racing to make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut with the team in 2018,[12] but it never materialised because of his doping suspension (NASCAR is a member of ACCUS, which honours FIA doping suspensions such as the one imposed by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium).
Kumpen was suspended for four years by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium after he failed a drug test during the 2018 24 Hours of Zolder.[13] He had neglected to apply for a therapeutic use exemption concerning ADHD medication.[14] During his suspension, he moved to a management role in PK Carsport and is currently working as the team manager for the Euro Series operations of the team.[15]
He returned to racing in late 2022,[16] and embarked on a full-time season in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series for the 2023 season always with their PK Carsport team.[17]
Personal life
editKumpen is the son of Paul Kumpen, a former race pilot, Belgian Rallycross Champion 1987 with Porsche 911 BiTurbo 4x4, director of the building company Kumpen, president of VOKA Limburg, and founder of PK Carsport. Paul Kumpen owned 50% of the shares of Ridley Bikes, and Anthony worked as a commercial director for the company, which became the largest bike manufacturer in Belgium.[18] Anthony stayed on at the company after his father sold his share in 2013.[18]
Kumpen lives in Hasselt and is married to Griet Vanhees. They have a son.[19] Kumpen has a daughter and a stepson, from his and his wife's previous relationships.[20] He is the first cousin of Sophie Kumpen, the mother of four-time F1 World Champion Max Verstappen.[21]
In 2010, Kumpen participated in Sterren op de Dansvloer (the Belgian version of Dancing with the Stars) on vtm.[22] He was voted out of the show in the third episode and finished as 8th out of 10 contestants.[23]
Motorsports career results
editNASCAR
edit(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Whelen Euro Series – Elite 1
edit| NASCAR Whelen Euro Series – Elite 1 results | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | NWES | Pts | Ref | ||
| 2014 | PK Carsport | 24 | Chevy | VAL 3 |
VAL 4 |
BRH 4 |
BRH 2 |
TOU 7 |
TOU 8 |
NÜR 5 |
NÜR 3 |
UMB 2 |
UMB 5 |
BUG 1 |
BUG 2 |
1st | 656 | [24] | |||
| 2015 | VAL 5 |
VAL 3 |
VEN 16 |
VEN 1* |
BRH 5 |
BRH 5 |
TOU 18 |
TOU 9 |
UMB 4 |
UMB 10 |
ZOL 3 |
ZOL 3 |
4th | 610 | [25] | ||||||
| 2016 | VAL 1* |
VAL 4 |
VEN 2 |
VEN 1** |
BRH 1** |
BRH 10 |
TOU 4 |
TOU 5 |
ADR 1* |
ADR 2 |
ZOL 1** |
ZOL 7 |
1st | 657 | [26] | ||||||
| 2017 | VAL 23 |
VAL 4 |
BRH 1** |
BRH 7 |
VEN 1** |
VEN 2 |
HOC 2 |
HOC 1* |
FRA 6 |
FRA 16 |
ZOL 3 |
ZOL 3 |
2nd | 609 | [27] | ||||||
| 2018 | VAL 3 |
VAL 2 |
FRA 4 |
FRA 5 |
BRH 4 |
BRH 23 |
TOU 18 |
TOU 18 |
HOC | HOC | ZOL | ZOL | 23rd | 200 | [28] | ||||||
| 2022 | ESP | ESP | GBR | GBR | ITA | ITA | CZE | CZE | BEL 26 |
BEL 2 |
CRO | CRO | 37th | 46 | |||||||
| 2023 | ESP 7 |
ESP 4 |
GBR 4 |
GBR 2 |
ITA 12 |
ITA 6 |
CZE 2 |
CZE 12 |
GER 6 |
GER 3 |
BEL 5 |
BEL 6 |
4th | 388 | |||||||
| 2024 | 66 | ESP | ESP | ITA | ITA | GBR | GBR | NED | CZE | CZE | GER | GER | BEL 19 |
BEL 11 |
27th | 88 | |||||
Xfinity Series
edit| NASCAR Xfinity Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | NXSC | Pts | Ref | ||
| 2015 | Rick Ware Racing | 15 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | IOW | CLT | DOV | MCH | CHI | DAY | KEN | NHA | IND | IOW 28 |
GLN | MOH | BRI | ROA | DAR | RCH | CHI | KEN | DOV | CLT | KAN | TEX | 52nd | 53 | [29] | ||||
| Precision Performance Motorsports | 55 | Chevy | PHO 24 |
HOM 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 46 | DAY 26 |
ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | DOV | CLT | POC | MCH | IOW | DAY | KEN | NHA | IND | IOW | GLN | MOH | BRI | ROA | DAR | RCH | CHI | KEN | DOV | CLT | KAN | TEX | PHO | HOM | 70th | 15 | [30] | ||||
| 2017 | DAY 22 |
ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | IOW | DAY | KEN | NHA | IND | IOW | GLN | MOH 16 |
BRI | ROA | DAR | RCH | CHI | KEN | DOV | CLT | KAN | TEX | PHO | HOM | 51st | 36 | [31] | |||||
K&N Pro Series East
edit| NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | NKNPSEC | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Bill McAnally Racing | 99 | Toyota | NSM 14 |
GRE | BRI | IOW | BGS | LGY | COL | 40th | 53 | [32] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marsh Racing | 36 | Chevy | NHA 21 |
IOW | GLN | MOT | VIR | RCH | DOV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
edit| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | GTS | 44 | DNF | DNF | ||
| 2002 | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | GTS | 93 | DNF | DNF | ||
| 2003 | Pagani Zonda GR | GTS | 10 | DNF | DNF | ||
| 2004 | Lola B2K/10 | LMP1 | 35 | DNF | DNF | ||
References
edit- ^ "dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Verstappen - the rise of a new generation of F1 world champions (1): family environment".
- ^ "dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "SPORTWEEKEND: Monza en Zolder". Autowereld.be (in Dutch). 10 September 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ "Anthony Kumpen". driverdb.com. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- ^ "Anthony Kumpen". racingreference.info. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- ^ Estrada, Chris (14 October 2014). "NASCAR: Belgium's Kumpen takes Whelen Euro Series title at Le Mans". NBC.
- ^ "Anthony Kumpen volgend seizoen in het Nascar: "Dit is een unieke kans"". De Morgen (in Dutch). Belga. 18 November 2014.
- ^ "Anthony Kumpen To Debut In XFINITY Series". NASCAR Home Tracks. 7 June 2015. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ "NASCAR Euro champion Kumpen to race Xfinity season-opener at Daytona". Motorsport.com. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
- ^ "NWES Champ Set For Xfinity Series Campaign". NASCAR Home Tracks. 20 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ "Episode #54 – If we knew it was in The Lakes – MOATF Podcast". MOATF Podcast. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-06-03.
- ^ "EURONASCAR-FAHRER UND -TEAMS 2019: DIE SILLY SEASON LÄUFT" [Euro NASCAR Drivers and Teams 2019: The Silly Season is On]. Motorvision TV (in German). Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- ^ Wouters, Martijn. "Anthony Kumpen kondigt comeback aan na dopingperikelen". www.autosport.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-11-27.
- ^ "Dylan Derdaele met PK Carsport naar EK NASCAR op derde wagen!". autosport.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- ^ "TWO-TIME CHAMPION ANTHONY KUMPEN SET FOR EURONASCAR COMEBACK AT CIRCUIT ZOLDER".
- ^ "TWO-TIME CHAMP IS BACK: ANTHONY KUMPEN TO CHASE THIRD NWES TITLE".
- ^ a b "CEO koopt familie Kumpen uit bij Ridley bikes". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). Belga. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ verhoogen, Inne. "Griet Vanhees is mama van Henri-Constant". Deredactie.be (in Dutch).
- ^ jva (4 June 2011). "Racepiloot Anthony Kumpen gehuwd met babe Griet Vanhees". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch).
- ^ Bonardel, Cécile (18 August 2014). "Verstappen's son in F1 in 2015". 24h-lemans.com. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Anthony Kumpen" (in Dutch). vtm. 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ "Anthony Kumpen mag niet meer dansen". De Standaard (in Dutch). 16 April 2010.
- ^ "Anthoyn Kumpen – 2014 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Anthoyn Kumpen – 2015 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Anthoyn Kumpen – 2016 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Anthoyn Kumpen – 2017 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Anthoyn Kumpen – 2018 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Anthoyn Kumpen – 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Anthoyn Kumpen – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Anthoyn Kumpen – 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Anthoyn Kumpen – 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Anthony Kumpen Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ "Anthony Kumpen". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
External links
edit- Official website
- Anthony Kumpen driver statistics at Racing-Reference