Dutch Brothers Racing Gears Up for Gulf ProCar 2026/27 with UAE-Built Volkswagen Golf GTI
Abu Dhabi’s motorsport scene is welcoming a new team to the racing grid as Dutch Brothers Racing (DBR) prepares to make its Gulf ProCar debut this October.
The Abu Dhabi-based team has selected Werks Motorsport as its race car provider for the 2026/27 Gulf ProCar season, with co-founders and drivers Jon De Jager and Alan VanderMolen set to compete in a Volkswagen Golf Mk7 GTI prepared for Class 5 racing.
Their first Gulf ProCar race is scheduled for 24 October 2026, with the car’s new racing livery set to be revealed ahead of the season opener.
Team: Dutch Brothers Racing
Championship: Gulf ProCar 2026/27
Race Debut: 24 October 2026
Race Car: Volkswagen Golf Mk7 GTI
Class: Gulf ProCar Class 5
Race Car Provider: Werks Motorsport
Drivers: Jon De Jager and Alan VanderMolen
Base: Abu Dhabi, UAE
From Novice Drivers to Licensed Racers
What makes the Dutch Brothers Racing story particularly interesting is how the team began.
Founded in Abu Dhabi in 2026, DBR follows two older novice drivers as they attempt to transform themselves into competitive racing drivers-and document what happens throughout the process.
De Jager and VanderMolen have been working through coaching, simulator sessions, physical preparation and track training under the guidance of Team Manager and Coach Andy Boux.
The October race will represent their biggest milestone yet as they move from training to competing on the Gulf ProCar grid.
The team isn’t pretending that transition will necessarily be easy either. VanderMolen joked that while their new Volkswagen is a proper racing car, learning how to drive it properly remains their “principal technical risk.”
A Volkswagen Golf Built for UAE Racing
For their first season, DBR will race a Volkswagen Golf Mk7 GTI developed by UAE-based Werks Motorsport.
Werks specialises in road and race performance, particularly Volkswagen Audi Group vehicles, and its Golf platform has previously competed in Gulf ProCar Class 5.
The DBR car will feature a turbocharged Volkswagen powertrain, alongside competition-focused modifications to its chassis, suspension, brakes, cooling and safety systems.
Under the current Gulf ProCar technical framework, Class 5 allows for up to 400 wheel horsepower, with a minimum power-to-weight ratio of 3.8kg per wheel horsepower, subject to championship regulations and vehicle approval.
For two drivers still developing their racecraft, the team believes the Golf provides a useful balance between genuine racing performance and a platform on which they can continue learning.
Building an Abu Dhabi Motorsport Team
There is another important element to the DBR project: keeping as much of the programme as possible within the UAE.
The partnership with Werks Motorsport forms part of the team’s strategy to work with UAE-based technical, operational and commercial partners wherever possible.
For De Jager, Abu Dhabi already provides the ingredients needed to build a serious motorsport operation, from international-standard facilities and automotive culture to an expanding pool of technical expertise.
Werks Motorsport Co-Owner Andy Knappett similarly sees the partnership as an opportunity to develop new racing talent and contribute to grassroots motorsport within the UAE.
That local focus means DBR isn’t simply an Abu Dhabi-branded team competing in a UAE championship- the intention is to build much of the ecosystem supporting the team here as well.
October 24 Marks the Next Chapter
Team Manager Andy Boux now has the job of preparing both the drivers and their new machine for competition.
As he put it, the immediate goal is to make sure the car and drivers are ready-and ensure both remain in “roughly the same condition” after their first race.
That sense of humour could become an interesting part of the team’s identity as De Jager and VanderMolen document the realities of learning to race competitively rather than presenting only the polished side of motorsport.
The next reveal will be the full 2026/27 Dutch Brothers Racing livery, which will be unveiled before the team lines up for its first Gulf ProCar race on 24 October.
For Abu Dhabi motorsport followers, DBR’s debut adds a grassroots story to a city already strongly associated with international motor racing – this time following two newcomers attempting to earn their place on the grid.
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