Freek Koekkoek, 1-5-2006

7.0K GT3 Driver for Maniti Racing

In 2014, Freek became captivated by Formula 1 after hearing about Max Verstappen, a young Dutch driver tipped to become a future star. Intrigued, Freek began following F1 closely, watching every race from that point onward. That same year, he played his first racing game, F1 2014, on PlayStation 3, sparking a growing interest in sim racing. Over the years, Freek honed his skills, consistently ranking in the top 6% on every track in F1 21 time trials, which were widely regarded as the pinnacle of the F1 game series.

As his passion for racing deepened, Freek transitioned to Assetto Corsa Competizione, a GT3-focused sim that he found even more engaging than the F1 games. His dedication to racing led him to invest in professional-grade sim racing equipment, allowing him to take his skills to the next level. Alongside sim racing, Freek began following real-world racing series like DTM and the GT World Challenge, even visiting Circuit Zandvoort to experience the action up close. This solidified his desire to take sim racing more seriously, and he began competing in online leagues such as LowFuelMotorsport to challenge himself against stronger opponents.

In December 2023, Freek made the leap to iRacing, the most respected sim racing platform, despite initial reservations about the cost. This decision turned out to be pivotal. Within a year, Freek had secured multiple wins and podiums, regularly competing in the top splits of the IMSA and GT3 series. His efforts caught the attention of Absolute Motorsport Acelith, with whom he participated in prestigious iRacing events like the Daytona 24H and Bathurst 12H, finishing in the top 5 in both. He also claimed his first sim racing trophy, finishing second in the Pro-Am Championship of the ARL GT3 Trophy.

Despite his successes, Freek felt it was time for a new challenge and an opportunity to grow further, so he decided to move on from Absolute Motorsport. He took a chance on Maniti Racing, succeeding in their driver shootout and joining their roster. With renewed focus and a fresh team, Freek is now committed to competing at the highest level in iRacing. His upcoming challenges include the Indy 6HR and the SRR Sportscar Championship, with the ultimate goal of winning an iRacing Special Event in the highest split he can reach. With Maniti Racing behind him, Freek’s journey is just beginning, and he’s determined to push himself to new heights.