By First established in 1967, the Hengelo based Varsselring course is unquestionably amongst the Netherlands most famous race circuits.
Currently the only active roads course on Dutch soil, it’s hosted since 2010 a round of the International Road Racing Championship.
It’s not an IRRC star though that holds the Varsselring lap record. This honour is held by World Endurance Championship competitor Nigel Walraven who in 2018 surpassed Arie Vos long standing lap record of 1.45.633, lapping at an incredible 1 minute 45.480 seconds.
Photo by Robby Repsol
The fastest non Dutch exponent of the just over 4.8 kilometres long Varsselring is reigning IRRC Superbike Champion Davey Todd.
Todd last year on route to kicking off his triumphant maiden IRRC campaign with back to back Superbike victories, registered a best lap time of 1 minute 46.555 seconds which also makes him the fastest event newcomer in history.
Concluding the ten fastest Varsselring exponents from the past nine years are Belgian roads royalty, three times combined IRRC Superbike Champions Sebastien Le Grelle (1.46.678) & Vincent Lonbois (1.46.692).
Finnish star Erno Kostamo (1.46.931), former Moto GP racer Chris Burns (1.46.973), Imatranajo lap record holder Danny Webb (1.47.014) and respective German, Czech roads legends Didier Grams (1.47.295), Marek Cerveny (1.47.318).
The full list of those throughout the past nine years at the Varsselring to dip under the 1 minute 50 seconds mark, reads as follows:
1 Nigel Walraven 1.45.480
2 Arie Vos 1.45.633
3 Davey Todd 1.46.555
4 Sebastien Le Grelle 1.46.678
5 Vincent Lonbois 1.46.692
6 Erno Kostamo 1.46.931
7 Chris Burns 1.46.973
8 Danny Webb 1.47.014
9 Didier Grams 1.47.295
10 Marek Cerveny 1.47.318
11 Raymond Schouten 1.47.409
12 Allard Kerkhoven 1.47.412
13 Kevin Bos 1.47.506
14 Jochem Van Den Hoek 1.47.769
15 Danny De Boer 1.47.775
16 Kevin Valk 1.47.917
17 Johan Fredriks 1.47.962
18 Nelson Rolfes 1.48.071
19 Peter Schalken 1.48.106
20 Tim Van Ooijen 1.48.176
21 Gregory Fastre 1.48.246
22 Martin Partelpoeg 1.48.288
23 Marc Fissette 1.48.317
24 Frank Bakker 1.48.387
25 Bastien Mackels 1.48.392
26 Joan Veijer 1.48.433
27 Yan Ancia 1.48.550
28 Thijs Peeters 1.48.583
29 Virgill Amber Bloemhard 1.48.625
30 Branko Srdanov 1.48.630
31 Randy Gevers 1.48.642
32 Lukas Maurer 1.48.672
33 Jamie Coward 1.48.677
34 Bas Winkel 1.48.735
35 Denny Lannoo 1.48.842
36 Roger Batli 1.48.910
37 Koen Zeelen 1.48.939
38 Juha Kallio 1.48.941
39 Sander Claessen 1.49.116
40 Jonathan Goetschy 1.49.189
41 Kamil Holan 1.49.208
42 Joey Den Besten 1.49.263
43 Daley Mathison 1.49.334
44 Wim Theunissen 1.49.386
45 Richard White 1.49.528
46 Steven Michels 1.49.541
47 Maarten Bekker 1.49.636
48 William Hommersom 1.49.719
49 Vick De Cooremeter 1.49.760
50 Enzo Momerency 1.49.808
51 Tom Van Looy 1.49.815
Words by Stevie Rial
