Text: A. Giustini - Photo: FM Images
For me, Kees van de Grint is like a father, a “professional” one, I mean. I had the honor of meeting him at a European Championship in Sarno; I was a boy full of dreams, he one of the most authoritative, if not the most authoritative person in international karting. What did we have in common? The passion for this motorsport discipline. Also, let’s face it, who is ready to sacrifice part of his adolescence to follow the “circus” around the world, and above all, who still has the courage to get behind the wheel of a kart at, shall we say, an older age? Two enthusiasts, to be precise. And a good harmony was established between us. There was no shortage of reprimands but, made by a person of his caliber, they are more like a certificate of esteem. The farewell to the Vice Presidency was in the air; many had guessed it and many of us feared for the sake of karting which, in such a complicated period of its history, suffered the withdrawal of such an important pillar. A year after leaving office, taken by a little nostalgia for times gone by, I decided to confide some of my impressions to van de Grint with the aim of gathering indispensable answers so as to continue living the paddock with a better perspective. And who better than him to provide some insight …