The MP Group has expanded its karting activities by purchasing the legendary Belgian karting track of Genk, as MP owner Henk de Jong has entered into an agreement with the Lemmens family, who opened the outdoor track in 1983 and have owned it ever since. In the past few years, MP – best known for its leading single-seater racing team MP Motorsport – has been working to grow in the karting world, which forms the foundation of the talent ladder that MP Motorsport offers up to Formula 2.

The acquisition followed the realisation that there was no successor within the Lemmens family. While Koen Lemmens had taken over day-to-day management from his father, Paul, none of his children were interested in continuing the family business into the third generation. As a result, the purchase by the MP Group has secured the future of Flanders’ most famous outdoor track. According to MP owner Henk de Jong, Genk should remain as it is: “Genk is one of the most beautiful tracks in Europe, and nothing should be changed.”

De Jong himself grew up on a karting track — the one in Strijen, in the Dutch region of Hoeksche Waard, just a few kilometres from the MP Motorsport workshop in Westmaas and MP’s Kartstore International in Oud-Beijerland. It was at Strijen, and then for 20 years as MP Motorsport owner, that De Jong’s love for motorsport grew. “MP works with F1 teams such as Williams, Red Bull and Ferrari to train young talent,” says De Jong. “Everything starts with karting, which is why we are expanding in this area. Currently, high-level karting largely takes place in Southern Europe. We would like to see more major competition in the north, which is why we have plans to establish a Northern European Championship. A legendary karting track like Genk would be a perfect fit for that ambition.”

Koen Lemmens decided to sell the karting circuit after obtaining an environmental permit as the first step in securing the track’s future. The MP Group will now take it to the next level. “This is an emotional decision for us,” says Lemmens, who will remain involved as the track’s operator, as will the 22 permanent employees. “It’s crucial that Henk de Jong is passionate about motorsport and will continue to run the circuit while retaining the staff.”

The addition of the Genk karting track to the MP Group marks another milestone for the group. As well as MP Motorsport, the MP Group includes the karting teams of MP Kart Racing and MP Academy Gamoto, the Henza and Falcon brands, and the Karting Champions League. News from the Karting Champions League is also expected in the near future.