In September 2016, Richard Verschoor was the first racing driver to join the CTO, a location where athletes can train, study and live surrounded by elite athletes from other sports, with a tailor-made programme with the focus on their sporting career.

The CTO in Eindhoven are one of the four Dutch NOC*NSF’s (Dutch Olympic Committee*Dutch Sports Federation) centres. In a CTO, elite athletes are provided with ideal conditions in which to live, train and study. A few years ago the Knac Nationale Autosport Federatie (KNAF) initiated a discussion with the CTO Eindhoven to investigate the possibilities for young racing talent to join the centre. Eindhoven was the ideal location for motor sport talent as there is a karting track, SIM centre and an Automotive Campus in the area. CTO Eindhoven were very interested and last year September, 15-year-old KNAF Talent First Red Bull Junior and Formula 4 driver Richard Verschoor was the first racing driver to join the CTO.

A personal coach creates an individual programme with the focus on motor sport activities like driving, SIM training, physical and mental training, but study is also a major part of the programme. The athletes are surrounded by experts specializing in strength and conditioning, nutrition, anti-doping, sports psychology, sports lifestyle and career planning and a team of sports physicians and physiotherapists. The KNAF can now offer young Dutch racing drivers the best possible facilities to reach the top, while also preparing them well for a life after their racing career.