Fast Dutch junior racer Calvin de Groot joins 2024 NXT Gen Cup grid

Dutch junior racer Calvin de Groot, who topped seven of the eight pre-season test sessions at Misano in March, has joined the 2024 NXT Gen Cup which starts this weekend at Norisring.

"I'm thrilled to join the NXT Gen Cup and the pre-season test earlier this year really left me with a taste for more. NXT Gen Cup is an innovative and competitive championship and I can't think of a better place than this to take the next step forward in my career," said Calvin de Groot.

The 20-year-old made the switch from karting to racing just three years ago and finished third in the junior category of the Dutch Fiesta Sprint Cup last year - a series he is currently leading overall.

Despite a late arrival and having no experience of the LRT NXT1 race car, the Dutch racer impressed during the official 2024 NXT Gen Cup pre-season test at Misano in March and was just 0.137 seconds from the overall top time - topping all sessions but one.

"I was really satisfied with the test, I got a good feeling of the LRT NXT1 quickly together with my engineer Tim and now I'm really excited to put this to the test in a full season," said Calvin de Groot.

"Of course, testing is one thing and racing is another. I will race against a lot of quick drivers with more experience than me in NXT Gen Cup and I'm not taking anything for granted. I will work hard and try to get as close as I can to the top in the first race weekend and take it from there."

Calvin de Groot will join the NXT Gen Cup field in the 2024 season opener at the legendary Norisring circuit this weekend together with the DTM on July 5-7.

"Calvin was one of the drivers who impressed us the most during the pre-season, especially considering his limited experience. He is definitely one to watch and we are very glad to welcome him to the NXT Gen Cup family," said Fredrik Lestrup, NXT Gen Cup founder.

NXT Gen Cup, the world’s first electric junior touring car cup, will race together with the DTM, Europe’s premier and best-known racing series, this year for 12 intense races across four race weekends from July to October.

Are you interested in joining the NXT Gen Cup? Learn more here.

About NXT Gen Cup
The NXT Gen Cup is the world’s first 100% electric junior touring car cup where young female and male drivers race the LRT NXT1, a fully electric race car based on the MINI Cooper SE road car - engineered and built by Lestrup Racing Team. The series races together with DTM and is organised through an “arrive and drive” concept, enabling the junior drivers to focus on driving and creating the foundation for a professional racing career. 

About DTM
DTM is Europe’s premier and best-known racing series and is celebrating its 40th birthday in 2024. As one the most competitive racing series, DTM features seven prestigious brands in its anniversary season. The DTM has a German core, but a strong international fan base. Races are broadcasted live in 150 territories. The series is also a leader in sustainable motorsport. For the second season, all cars are powered by a sustainable fuel made of 50% renewable components. Not only the cars racing in DTM are in the center of sustainable project. For the events itself the ADAC as promoter of the DTM offers innovations like an initiative to reduce plastic waste and a digital carpool solution, which has been recognised and awarded by the FIA.