The MP Group has further expanded its karting activities by acquiring the legendary karting circuit Karting Genk. To this end, MP owner Henk de Jong reached an agreement with the Lemmens family, who opened the outdoor track at Horensbergdam in 1983 and have owned it ever since. MP, best known in the Netherlands for its leading Formula racing team MP Motorsport, has been working for several years to grow its presence in karting—the foundation of the talent ladder that MP Motorsport offers all the way up to Formula 2.
The acquisition came after it became clear that there was no successor within the Lemmens family. Koen Lemmens had already taken over day-to-day operations from his father Paul, but none of his children were interested in taking on Paul Lemmens’ life’s work as the third generation. With the purchase by the MP Group, the future of Flanders’ most famous outdoor karting track is now secured. According to MP owner Henk de Jong, Genk should stay exactly as it is: “Genk is one of the most beautiful tracks in Europe, and nothing about it needs to change.”
De Jong himself grew up at a karting circuit—though at the one in Strijen, in the Hoeksche Waard, just a few kilometers from MP Motorsport’s home base in Westmaas and MP’s Kartstore International in Oud-Beijerland. At Strijen, and later during his 20 years as owner of MP Motorsport, De Jong’s passion for motorsport grew. “MP works closely with F1 teams such as Williams, Red Bull, and Ferrari to develop young talent,” De Jong explained. “Everything starts with karting, which is why we are expanding in this area. Today, high-level karting mostly takes place in Southern Europe. We would like to see more major races in the North and therefore plan to launch a Northern European championship. A legendary circuit like Genk fits perfectly with that ambition.”
Koen Lemmens chose to sell after successfully obtaining a zoning permit for the karting circuit, which was the first step in securing the track’s future. That future will now continue under the MP Group. “This is an emotional step for us,” said Lemmens, who will remain involved as an operator, along with the 22 permanent employees. “That’s why it’s crucial that Henk de Jong has a true passion for motorsport and will continue the operation of the circuit while retaining the staff.”
With the addition of the Genk karting track, the MP Group has reached another milestone. In addition to MP Motorsport, the MP Group also includes the karting teams MP Kart Racing and MP Academy Gamoto, the brands Henza and Falcon, Kartstore International, and the Karting Champions League. Further news from the Karting Champions League is expected shortly.