The agreement marks a major milestone in DBR co-founders and drivers Jon De Jager and Alan VanderMolen’s journey from novice drivers to licensed competitors and is part of the team’s commitment to building an Abu Dhabi-focused, all-UAE racing program. 

DBR will make its Gulf ProCar race debut on October 24, with the team’s new race livery to be unveiled ahead of the opening race. 

“From the beginning, we said we wanted to build this properly and build it here,” said Jon De Jager, Chairman, Co-Founder and Driver, Dutch Brothers Racing. “Werks has built a competitive platform specifically for racing in the UAE. We’re an Abu Dhabi team racing in a UAE championship, and we want the people and companies around the program to reflect that.” 

A PROVEN UAE-BUILT PLATFORM 

UAE-based Werks Motorsport is an independent road and race performance specialist with extensive experience in Volkswagen Audi Group vehicles. Its Volkswagen Golf Mk7 GTI has already competed successfully in Gulf ProCar Class 5, demonstrating both pace and reliability. 

The DBR Golf will feature a turbocharged Volkswagen powertrain and race-specific modifications to its chassis, suspension, braking, cooling and safety systems. Under the current Gulf ProCar technical framework, Class 5 provides for up to 400 wheel horsepower and a minimum power-to-weight ratio of 3.8 kg per wheel horsepower, subject to championship regulations and vehicle approval. 

For DBR, the Golf provides a serious competition car while remaining an effective platform for De Jager and VanderMolen to continue developing their racecraft. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Dutch Brothers Racing to the WMS Racing program,” said Andy Knappett, Co-Owner, Werks Motorsport. “Werks was founded around making motorsport more accessible and helping develop new racing talent in the UAE. We’ve taken this Golf platform from road car to FIA-approved race car, proven it in championship competition, and we’re excited to support Jon and Alan as they take the next step from novice drivers to the Gulf ProCar grid. It’s exactly the kind of grassroots, community-focused motorsport programme we want to help grow here in the UAE.” 

“There’s something very Dutch Brothers about starting our racing career in a Volkswagen Golf,” said Alan VanderMolen, Co-Founder and Driver, Dutch Brothers Racing. “It’s a proper race car, built in Abu Dhabi and it’s going to require Jon and me to learn how to drive it properly. That last part remains the principal technical risk.” 

FROM NOVICES TO THE GRID 

Founded in Abu Dhabi in 2026, Dutch Brothers Racing is built around the real journey of two older novice drivers attempting to become competitive racing drivers — and documenting what happens along the way. 

Since its launch, De Jager and VanderMolen have progressed through coaching, simulator work, physical preparation and track training under the guidance of Team Manager and Coach Andy Boux. 

That journey reaches its biggest milestone yet when DBR lines up for its first Gulf ProCar race on October 24. 

“The Golf gives us a very good development platform,” said Andy Boux, Team Manager and Coach, Dutch Brothers Racing. “It’s quick enough that Jon and Alan will have to respect it, forgiving enough that they can learn from it, and proven enough that we can concentrate on developing the drivers. 

“My job now is fairly straightforward: make sure the car is ready, make sure the drivers are ready and try to ensure those two things remain in roughly the same condition after October 24.” 

BUILT IN THE UAE 

The Werks partnership is part of DBR’s broader strategy to build an Abu Dhabi-focused team using UAE-based technical, operational and commercial partners wherever possible. 

“Abu Dhabi has everything required to build a serious motorsport platform,” De Jager said. “We have world-class facilities, a strong automotive culture and growing technical expertise. We want DBR to be part of that ecosystem.” 

DBR will unveil the Golf’s full 2026/27 race livery ahead of its October 24 debut, bringing the team’s identity and Abu Dhabi roots to the race track for the first time.