Yet, beyond FF1600 and F3, De Vliegende Hollander’s progress suddenly stalled.
Son of a de Meern car breaker, van Kouwen’s gentle persona, boundless enthusiasm, tireless work ethic, insatiable appetite to learn and intense loyalty endeared him to everybody he met.
Banned for autocrossing a VW Beetle with his cousin, when it was discovered they were only 15, Gerrit topped a Zandvoort circuit course a year later alongside police drivers.
Winner of a Marlboro-supported Crossle 32F FF1600 drive, the Dutch motorsport governing body granted an exemption, enabling him to race before holding a road licence.
In 1982, having bought two engines from David Minister, he earned the first of two successive Dutch and Benelux championships in a Van Diemen, guided by Kees van der Grint of Barron Racing and Bridgestone fame.
In September 1983, Lola’s Mike Blanchet loaned him a T642E ahead of Zandvoort’s EFDA Euroseries decider. He thrashed Harald Huysman and Manuel Reuter to win by almost 30 seconds in the rain.
With Festival aspirations strengthened, van Kouwen entered two Champion of Brands precursors, finishing third first time out and winning the latter.
At the big event, second in his heat and third in the quarter and semi-finals looked promising. Alas a holed radiator thwarted his final charge while lying fourth.
Source: Autosport