Ricardo van der Ende
Ricardo van der Ende | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 13, 1979 Poeldijk, Netherlands |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Years active | 1998–2019 |
| Known for | Winning the 2001 Formula Chrysler Euroseries, Dutch GT4 Championship titles, GT4 European Cup victories |
Ricardo van der Ende (born 13 July 1979 in Poeldijk) is a Dutch professional racing driver who has achieved numerous championships across different motorsport categories. He claimed the championship in the 2001 Formula Chrysler Euroseries season while driving for the Belgian squad Vortex Motorsport. Earlier in his career, he earned victories in the Winter Series of the British Formula Ford Championship (1998) and triumphed at the Formula Ford Festival in 1999. After a successful karting career—highlighted by winning the Dutch Rotax Max Challenge in 2003 and securing both the European and French ICC 125cc karting titles in 2004—he transitioned into single-seater racing during that same year.
In 2005, Van der Ende shifted focus to touring cars, participating in the Dutch BMW 130i Cup where he finished as runner-up in 2006 before capturing the championship crown in 2007. His GT racing endeavors include finishing second in the 2009 Dutch GT4 Championship behind the wheel of a BMW M3 GT4, along with a sixth-place standing that same season. He regained the Dutch GT4 Championship title in 2011 and also secured victory in the GT4 European Cup that year, narrowly edging out Stefano D'Aste. In 2017, Van der Ende once again won the GT4 European Cup Silver Cup category, this time alongside teammate Max Koebolt. His latest known competition appearance was in the 2019 edition of the GT4 European Cup, where he partnered with British racer Euan McKay.