The karting track is the birthplace of many racing careers. Almost every famous driver has done his first laps here. In order to be able to support young talent even better in the future, the Haupt Racing Team is now entering the world of kart racing. Thus, the team from Drees at the Nürburgring is giving young motorsport talents the chance to advance from kart racing all the way to the DTM.
For the new project, HRT is working with the kart team SIM-ON. Although the team, founded by Simon Steffen, has only been active in karting since 2023, it has already achieved considerable success - including two titles in the German Kart Championship (DKM OK Junior Champion 2023 and DKM X30 Senior Champion 2024). Last season, the team attracted international attention in the IAME Euro Series, where it reached an excellent second place (X30 Senior) at the race in Wackersdorf. In addition to karting, SIM-ON also offers full-service solutions for professional racing simulations.
In the 2025 season, the kart team, competing under the "Haupt Racing Team" license, will participate in the German Kart Championship, starting in Mariembourg (BEL) in mid-April. The complete IAME Euro Series is also on the schedule. The team will make its first appearance at the international Winter Cup in Valencia (ESP) in mid-February. In addition, they will compete in selected races of the ADAC Regional Series (SAKC, WAKC, OAKC) and the German Karting Series. The designated driver line-up of the SIM-ON kart team includes Lias Erbersdobler (13 years old, X30 Junior class), Joelina Denzel (13 years old, X30 Junior class), Lars Ramaer (14 years old, X30 Senior class) and Niklas Hirsch (14 years old, X30 Senior class).
The karting team will use the HRT RACE BASE for race preparation. The state-of-the-art operations center at the Nürburgring provides the team with optimal conditions. The partnership also includes strategic support from HRT's experienced race engineers, opportunities for detailed data analysis and targeted coaching of the young talents by experienced motorsport professionals. In addition, Simon Steffen will contribute his simulator expertise for driver development, training and race preparation to the GT division of the Haupt Racing Team.
Ulrich Fritz, Chief Executive Officer Haupt Racing Team: "HRT has always been committed to supporting young talent. Joining forces with the SIM-ON kart team is another important part of this effort. It gives us the opportunity to discover and inspire ambitious talents at an early stage. We can support young drivers in a targeted manner and, ideally, accompany them for many years. In line with the ADAC's "Road to DTM" initiative, we offer a consistent program from karting to the top class of the DTM. Everything in one team and from one source – this is absolutely unique in German motorsport."
Simon Steffen, Team SIM-ON: "I am incredibly proud that after only two years in business we are able to establish such a significant partnership with the Haupt Racing Team. This collaboration is a milestone for us and shows that we are on the right track with our commitment and passion for motorsport. With this partnership, we are creating a unique opportunity to support drivers holistically – from their first steps in karting all the way to the top of the GT3 class. Under one roof, we can systematically develop talented drivers and offer them clear prospects for a successful career. It fills me with great joy and gratitude to pursue this path together with such a renowned partner and to play an active role in shaping the future of motorsport."
