At just 18 years old, Dutch driver Nathan Ottink has chosen to compete in the Open 4WD/Supercar category of the RallyX championship and could well be one of the outstanding sensations of the 2025 season.
Having already made a name for himself as one of the brightest prospects in European Autocross, Ottink clinched the Junior Buggy championship title in 2024. With such a rapid rise, the temptation to break into RallyX was simply too strong to resist.
“The reason we decided to commit to RallyX is quite simple: over the past two years, the championship has established itself as one of the most prestigious in Europe,” explains Nathan.
“The series is incredibly competitive, which makes it a fantastic opportunity for me to improve and gain valuable experience.”
While the young Dutchman will be relying on a Ford Focus built and developed by former European Rallycross legend Jos Kuypers, it is Open 2WD driver Bart Bel who has secured Ottink’s place in the premier class.
“Initially, our plan was to take part in a few RallyX rounds in CrossCar. However, Bart Bel gave us the opportunity to compete with his car in this championship. Of course, I couldn’t turn down such an offer, and I’m truly grateful to Bart for this chance. Additionally, with more and more Dutch drivers eager to make a name for themselves on the international stage, the expansion of RallyX naturally stood out as an exciting and accessible opportunity.”
This winter, Nathan got his first taste of his future race car during a test session at Schlüchtern in Germany.
“It was an incredible experience to get behind the wheel of this beast. It took me a little time to adjust to how it handles, but I was able to gain a solid understanding and build confidence with it pretty quickly.”
Having battled through the intense European Autocross Championship on some of its most legendary tracks, such as Nova Paka (often compared to Höljes in Autocross) and Nyirád, Ottink, who claimed five victories and eight podiums in 2024 to secure his first continental title, could well spring some surprises on the RallyX grid.
“I am already familiar with four-wheel drive cars thanks to my time in Junior Buggy. I hope that experience will give me a small advantage on the gravel sections, but my main goal is simply to give it my all. From my point of view, any strong result we achieve will be a big bonus.”
“The biggest challenge for me will probably be adapting to the format of the competition, as you have to perform in every qualifying heat. The level of competition is so high that you can’t afford any setbacks. I have no idea what to expect in 2025, but hopefully we’ll be able to fight for top positions.”
