Sepp Koster

Sepp Koster
Nationality	Dutch
Born	September 17, 1974 Heemskerk, North Holland
Formula Ford
Years active	2008-2009
Previous series
2008-2009 2002 1998-2001 1996-1997 1994-1995 1989-1993	Formula Ford Atlantic Championship Barber Dodge Pro Series Formula Opel Formula Ford Karting
Championship titles
1995 1995	Dutch Formula Ford Benelux Formula Ford

Josephus (Sepp) Koster (born 17 September 1974 in Heemskerk) is a former Dutch racing driver. Koster made appearances in various racing classes throughout Europe and North-America.

Career

Europe

Sepp Koster grew up in Mol, Belgium and later moved to Antwerp. Koster started kart racing in 1989 at the age of 15.^[1] After successes he graduated to the Dutch Formula Ford championship in 1993. The young driver continued racing while studying mechanical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology.^[2] The 18-year-old driver made his debut with the Ford supported GEVA Racing team. While Bas Leinders won the championship, Koster achieved a third place in the standings after his inaugural autoracing season. The next year Koster won the Dutch and Benelux championships. Driving a Swift he participated in the Formula Ford Festival achieving a 17th place in the championship race. After winning his first championship in formula racing Koster graduated to Formula Opel. The driver scored two podium finishes during his first season and was placed sixth in the standings. At the EFDA Nations Cup Koster was coupled with Sandor van Es. With all drivers racing equal Reynard Formula Opel/Vauxhall cars the couple achieved a sixth place at the 1996 EFDA Nations Cup. The following season Koster doubled the amount of podium finishes he scored in the last season. The good results meant he ended up third in the standings of the Formula Opel Europe championship. At the 1997 EFDA Nations Cup, again coupled with Sandor van Es, the duo reached a ninth place.

North-America

To continue his racing career Koster moved to the United States of America. The young driver got into contact with Arie Luyendyk who trained him to race on oval tracks.^[3] Sepp Koster made his debut in the Barber Dodge Pro Series in 1998. He drove the car for the first time during a collective test at Sebring International Raceway in February.^[4] During the first raceweekend of the series Koster qualified on pole-position. But the European driver never had done a rolling start but he managed to retain the lead. After a spin which resulted in contact he had to retire.^[5] The Dutch driver finished his first season in the Barber Dodge series in ninth place of the championship. The following year Koster achieved his first podium finish in America. At the West Michigan Grand Prix Koster started from pole position. After Todd Snyder passed him on the tight street circuit Koster settled for second place.^[6] After finishing in the top ten and top five he finished fifth in the standings.

In 2000 Sepp Koster scored his first Barber Dodge and oval racing win. Being fast all weekend long Koster won the race at Nazareth Motor Speedway. He finished in front of Ryan Hunter-Reay and Andy Lally.^[7] Koster scored another four podium finishes and finished third in the standings. The Dutchman returned for a fourth season in the racingclass in 2001. His second win in the series came at Lime Rock Park. On Memorial Day Koster passed polesitter Davy Cook for the lead. He held off Hunter-Reay for all 37 laps. The Dutchman won by 0.357 seconds.^[8] The young driver scored a second win of the season during the Grand Prix of Cleveland. At the Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport circuit Koster started from pole-position, won the race and set the fastest race lap.^[9] His final win in the series came at Road America. Koster again won the race from pole-position.^[10] Koster finished second in the standings, only four points behind series champion Nicolas Rondet.

After testing with Doricott Racing Koster entered the Atlantic Championship with Michael Shank Racing for the 2002 CART Toyota Atlantic Series season.^[11] After scoring his first top ten finish at Long Beach Koster had to withdraw from the Milwaukee race. After a crash during practice on Friday Kosters Swift 014.a was to badly damaged to race on Sunday.^[12] Koster qualified third for the Toronto race of the championship. Koster was taken out of the race by Waldemar Coronas who hit the Dutchmans car from behind.^[13] The Dutch driver failed to obtain a seat for the 2003 season and retired from racing.

Current activities

Sepp Koster made a brief return to Formula Ford in 2008. Koster drove two races in the Benelux championship achieving one podium finish at Zandvoort. Koster finished third in the first heat of the Formula Ford Festival. The Dutchman finished eighth in the championship race, behind Kevin Magnussen.^[14] Koster returned the following year finishing seventh.^[15]

Racing record

American open–wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Barber Dodge Pro Series

Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Rank	Points
1998	SEB DNF	LRP 4	DET 4	WAT 5	CLE DNF	GRA DNF	MDO DNF	ROA 9	LS DNF	RAT 4	MSC 14	CLE 14	9th	61
1999	SEB 6	NAZ 5	LRP 7	POR 12	CLE DNF	ROA 9	DET 5	MDO 15	GRA 2	LS 7	HMS 8	WAT DNF	5th	97
2000	SEB 7	MIA 7	NAZ 1	LRP 6	DET 7	CLE 2	MDO 3	ROA 5	VAN 5	LS 21	RAT 7	HMS 2	3rd	130
2001	SEB DNF	PIR 2	LRP1 18	LRP2 1	DET DNF	CLE 1	TOR 2	CHI 6	MDO 3	ROA 1	VAN 3	LS 2	2nd	151

Atlantic Championship

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Rank	Points
2002	Michael Shank Racing	MTY 13	LBH 8	MIL WD	LS 9	POR 21	CHI Ret	TOR Ret	CLE Ret	TRR 10	ROA 8	MTL 8	DEN 8	14th	40

References

1. "Sepp Koster: Racedriver biography". Speedsport Magazine. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
2. "Autocoureur en TUE-student Sepp Koster: 'Mijn eerste woord was auto, niet mama'". TU/E. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
3. "Sepp Koster wil in voetsporen van Arie Luyendijk treden". De Telegraaf. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
4. "SBRS: Sebring testing February 2-3". motorsport.com. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
5. "SBRS: Sebring Race Story". motorsport.com. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
6. "SBRS: Barber Dodge Grand Rapids Results". motorsport.com. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
7. "SBRS: Nazareth was worth the wait for Sepp Koster". motorsport.com. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
8. "SBRS: Koster victorious at Lime Rock Park". motorsport.com. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
9. "2001 Barber Dodge Pro Series Year In Review, part 1". Barber Dodge Pro Series. Archived from the original on March 18, 2002. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
10. "2001 Barber Dodge Pro Series Year In Review, part 2". Barber Dodge Pro Series. Archived from the original on March 18, 2002. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
11. "BARBER DODGE PRO SERIES RUNNER-UP SEPP KOSTER TO CONTEST 2002 CART TOYOTA ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WITH MICHAEL SHANK RACING". Champ Car Atlantic. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
12. "SATURDAY PIT NOTES FROM MILWAUKEE". Champ Car Atlantic. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
13. "O CANADA - HOME COUNTRYMEN FINISH 1-2 IN TORONTO". Champ Car Atlantic. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
14. "Formula Ford Festival - Duratec class 2008". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
15. "Formula Ford Festival - Duratec class 2009". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 February 2014.

External links

• Official website (archived)