Born into a family steeped in racing heritage, her father was chairman of the Belgian football club KRC Genk, while her uncle used to be a rally driver and her cousin Anthony Kumpen is a two-time champion of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. That was the setting the family provided while growing up in the world of motor racing.
Karting Career
Sophie started karting at the age of 11 and soon proved to be a very talented young driver on the track. She had competed against some of the future Formula One drivers like Jenson Button, Nick Heidfeld, Jarno Trulli, and Giancarlo Fisichella. Her smooth driving style and consistent lap times earned her recognition as one of the top karting talents globally.
Until 1995, Sophie did what most had always believed was unlikely when she became one of the few women to win a major international karting title as she took the Formula A category at the Andrea Margutti Trophy. Success here raised speculation of an impending F1 career, none less than from luminaries such as David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan.
Transition to Touring Cars and Retirement
But despite this promising career, in 1996, Sophie decided to retire from professional racing upon marrying the Dutch Formula One driver Jos Verstappen. She decided to be with her family and support her husband in his career. Blessed with two children, Max and Victoria, both took after their parents’ interest in racing.
Return to Racing and Final Retirement
In 2013, Sophie made the occasional return to motorsport until then in the Formido Swift Cup in the Netherlands but experienced a severe crash during one of the races at Circuit Zandvoort; this left her with a broken vertebra that finally made her retire from racing.
Life Beyond Racing
After her career in motorsports, Sophie had also been a social worker for the OCMW in the city of Maaseik. She is polyglot, mastering Flemish, Dutch, German, English, French, and Italian through her career in international motor racing. A role model that influenced the career of Max Verstappen Sophie grew up in a family deeply connected to the races, a surrounding that also suited her child very well, her son, Max. So, she directed his first steps related to this sport. They consisted of training and competing at an early stage, in which karts competed instead of full-speed cars; multiple times Max made declarations about his both parents when being asked over matters dealing with development of driver-skills.
Personal Life
She and Jos Verstappen divorced in 2008, but Sophie remained very close to the kids and continued supporting Max in racing. Quite often, one finds her at every Formula One race, where she supports her son from the paddock. Of late, few years Sophie has not been out of limelight; she has always been in the news- one reason being she is the mother of Max Verstappen and the other being that she herself was a prolific car driver.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sophie Kumpen?
Ex-Belgian karting champion and mum of F1 driver Max Verstappen, Sophie Kumpen started karting when she was just 11 years old, out on track with several drivers who would later go on to F1.
What is Sophie Kumpen’s achievement so far in races?
With this result, Sophie became one of only a few women to have won a major international karting title when she took the Formula A category of the Andrea Margutti Trophy in 1995.
What is the role of Sophie Kumpen in Max Verstappen’s career?
Having been an avid racing driver herself, Sophie was there to mentor and encourage Max during his formative karting years, playing an essential role in his development as a driver.
What is Sophie Kumpen doing now?
Now retired from sports, Sophie had become a social worker in OCMW based in Maaseik of Belgium.
Is Sophie Kumpen on social media?
Yes, Sophie is active on social media sites where she shares her life and supports her son’s racing career.
