When STEP Motorsport makes its debut in the Danish Endurance Championship, it will do so with two karting profiles as drivers in the team’s Ginetta G40 GT5. The goal is to prepare these two talents to take the next step in their motorsport careers.
Sønderjyske Mads Riis, who was recently named 2020’s Karting Driver of the Year, has chosen to transition from the Rotax karting classes to circuit racing. With impressive karting results under his belt, he looks forward to honing his skills throughout the season:
-My expectations for the 2021 season with STEP are primarily to take the first steps into the world of car racing. I am excited to learn a lot—not only to become a better driver but also to understand how to engage with sponsors and partners off the track. Additionally, I hope to gain valuable experience that can be used in my future career, says Mads Riis.
Silas Rytter got acquainted with the car and STEP last autumn, where he demonstrated strong potential over a couple of test days. He has primarily participated in ROTAX championships abroad for several years but is looking forward to returning to Denmark, where the focus will be on preparing for the future:
-I am very excited to work with Morten and the STEP team this year. It seems like a good and professional team, and they can definitely teach me a lot that I can carry forward. My expectation is to gain a good understanding of car setup and work with data, and of course, have some good races in the DEC championship alongside Mads, says Silas Rytter.
For STEP Motorsport, it is a dream start to have such competent and successful drivers join the team in its inaugural season. The team was founded to provide young racers with a boost toward a successful career, and with so much potential to work with, it promises to be an exciting season:
-This will be a really exciting season for us. Neither Silas nor Mads have anything to prove in karting, but both are extremely humble about the task they have taken on this season. I am very much looking forward to being part of their development both on and off the track throughout the year—we share the same goals, and now we just need to work towards them, says Morten Dons, founder of STEP Sports Management.
For the drivers at STEP Motorsport, the season will entail much more than just five races. Throughout the season, they will participate in several training sessions focusing on physical training, sponsor searching, and media training.
-I have transitioned from karting to racing at a high level myself, and my career has been largely shaped by learning by doing. In modern motorsport, there isn’t much time for mistakes, so the goal is to give our drivers a better foundation when they head out to the international tracks, explains Morten Dons.
About STEP Sports Management
Founded by Morten Dons with a focus on developing motorsport talents to succeed at the international level. This year, STEP will compete in the Danish Endurance Championship with a Ginetta G40 GT5, featuring two selected talents as part of their development journey.
Associated athletes within STEP include upcoming Peugeot factory driver Mikkel Jensen, European Le Mans Series driver Malthe Jakobsen, and TCR driver Martin Andersen.