Paul Meijer

Paul Ronald Johan Meijer (born March 27, 1985 in Utrecht) is a Dutch racing driver. He is a former Benelux Formula Renault champion.

As many formula drivers, Paul started his career in karting at the age of 10. He participated in national and international competitions.

In 2001 Paul participated in a Challenge organized by Avaya Communications, with 7 candidates. He won the Challenge and earned a season driving in the first Dutch Toyota Yaris Cup for free.

The ex Formula One racing driver Jan Lammers took Paul into the Formula Ford in 2002. With Racing for Holland Paul learned the essentials about driving a formula racing car and participated in the Benelux Formula Ford Championship. During this education Paul also tested the DOME S101 sportcar at Magny Cours.

In 203, he won the Benelux Formula Renault 2.0 with AR Motorsport. He also debuted in the European Championship of this serie. As Dutch Champion a test is offered him in the Formula Renault V6. Later that year he also tested with Fortec in a Formula 3 car at Silverstone.

The Italian team Vergani Racing invited Paul into the World Serie light by Nissan. In November that year he tested at the circuits of Albecete and Jarama and on both occasions he drove the fastest laps of the day. The team invited Paul for the final race weekend, where he finished third.

In 2004 Meijer entered the strong competition of the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. With his team AR Motorsport he became 6th in the Championship and finished 3 times second, 3 times fourth and 2 times fifth.

At the side he participated also in the Benelux Formula Renault 2.0 Championship and could only drive 7 out 12 races. He finished 6 times first and 1 time second.

In 2005 and 2006 Paul Meijer did not drive a racing car because sponsors could not be interested.

For 2007, AR Motorsport invited Paul to test their cars. After being absent on the tracks for almost 2,5 years Paul still is very fast and within ten minutes he has pole-position again in the training. Reason enough for teamchef Ronald Heiligers to interest Marius Ritskes (Antonov Transmissions) to invite Paul for the last three race weekends in the North European Championship of Formula Renault 2.0. (NEC) He won 2 out of six races and finished second in the other 4 races.

Ritskes also arranged a test in the Lamborghini Gallardo in Spain with the team of Hans Reiter. After 40 laps the teams calls him in with applause.

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Wikipedia