At just 18 years old, Nathan Ottink is already living up to the promise many saw in him. The 2024 European Junior Autocross Champion made a strong impression in Montalegre as he debuted in Rallycross’s fiercely competitive Open 4WD category, driving a Ford Fiesta built by former FIA European Championship legend Jos Kuypers.
After Saturday’s second free practice session, the Dutch rookie was visibly pleased, having posted an impressive ninth-fastest time in his very first outing behind the wheel of a Supercar.
“Things are going pretty well so far,” Nathan said.
“It’s a new track for me and a completely new experience. I’ve never raced in a Supercar before—just a few test runs. I’m really looking forward to the first heat to see how it plays out. We’ve made some adjustments to the setup to improve stability. Step by step, it’s getting better—the feeling is improving—and we’ll see how things evolve over the weekend.”
Ottink quickly found his rhythm on Montalegre’s technical layout, which alternates between gravel and tarmac.
“The gravel section reminds me a lot of autocross, so I feel quite at home there. And I’ve got solid karting experience, so I’m no stranger to tarmac either. You need to drive very smoothly. The challenge is to merge both styles and strike the right balance between speed and precision.”
That adaptability paid off right away. After being knocked out in Saturday’s Pro semi-final, Ottink bounced back immediately by winning the Pro-Am final—claiming his first Rallycross victory.
Looking back on the result, Ottink remained grounded, though his ambitions were clear.
“Yesterday was a really good day. Winning the Pro-Am final was exactly what I was hoping for. Maybe I set the bar a little too high—I was also aiming to qualify for the Pro final. Unfortunately, a small mistake in the semi-final cost me that chance, but that’s all part of the game.”
By Sunday morning, after the opening qualifying heat of Race 2, the young Dutchman already sensed he could be a real threat to the RallyX regulars.
“The first heat went really well—I finished fifth fastest. I couldn’t have asked for a better start. But motorsport is unpredictable. One issue and the weekend could end right there. A mechanical failure, anything like that—and it’s game over. But right now, everything feels good. I’m getting more comfortable with the car, and I’m learning the track with every lap. That’s a very promising sign.”
Once again, Ottink made the most of the opportunity. If he didn’t repeat his Pro-Am win, he went one step further—becoming the first Dutch driver to take victory in the Open 4WD Pro category.
A standout performance in a dramatic final, which was red-flagged following a spectacular crash involving Casper Jansson.
Victorious in Montalegre’s second race, Ottink will head to his home event in Valkenswaard with even bigger ambitions for the next round of the 2025 season.
“We were lucky enough to get a test session with Kevin Abbring at Valkenswaard before the RallyX season began. That allowed us to make some key changes to the setup, which really helped build my confidence heading into Montalegre. Since then, we’ve only made a few small tweaks—the car’s already performing really well, and that’s a huge boost for what lies ahead. I think the FC2s are a bit quicker than us on the straights, but in the corners I feel we can catch up and even gain time on them”
Firmly establishing himself as one to watch, Ottink made no secret of his excitement at being part of the RallyX scene.
“The atmosphere this weekend was just amazing. Seeing such a huge crowd turn out for this event—it’s incredible. It really feels like Rallycross is coming alive again, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”