-  My dear father passed away in October 2009. He was my mentor, teacher, mechanic and dear friend through my first 20 years of racing. He taught me everything about the sport. About winning and loosing, about never giving up and about how to share the sport with friends, family and sponsors.

My father and I have shared a lot of good times together on the races. He let me race a F3 catamaran at age 8 with him, and I was his proud "mechanic" for several years before I started racing myself in 1989 and he became my mechanic. We won three European Champinship in S-550 together. He as a mechanic and me as a driver. 

My dad started his racing carreer in the middle of the 60's and he had many stories about racing with the big stars as Van der Velden, Bill Seebold and not to forget Renato Molinari. I had the privelige together with my mom and sister, to meet both Bill Seebold and Renato Molinari during the F1 in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah and my only wish was that my dad would be there with me. His carreer highligts was racing in 6 hour races of Berlin and Paris.

During my past four years of racing in the 24 hour race of Rouen, my dad and mom called numerous times during the races and my dad was always there to give advices and support. Endurance racing was imortant for my dad. When I started in F1, he was very proud, but also concerned about the safety, the boats and engines.

His favourite expression was "Winning pays in many ways".  I miss him so much, but I know he's still supporting my racing and all his advices will always be in my memory.

With all the love in the world Marit