Niels Langeveld has been appointed as the Sport Manager of KNAF Talent First as of March 1. The 36-year-old resident of Sassenheim will be responsible for the entire talent program within the Dutch KNAF Academy.
Niels Langeveld became familiar with the KNAF Talent First program at a very early stage, but at that time as a participant. In early 2007, the then 19-year-old Langeveld, with no prior motorsport experience, participated in a KTF selection day and emerged as the winner out of 60 participants. Together with the second and third-place finishers, Langeveld was then allowed to compete that year in the RST class of the rallycross championship.
In 2008, Langeveld transitioned to motorsport and made his debut in the then junior development class, the Formido Swift Cup. He won the title in this class in 2010. Langeveld then built a successful international career, including winning championships in the Renault Clio Cup, SEAT Leon Eurocup, TRC Benelux, and in 2022, even in the highly competitive Italian TCR Touring Car Championship. After finishing second in the same championship in 2023, Langeveld moved to the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux last year. Langeveld has also become well-versed in the commercial side of motorsport, as he was always personally responsible for securing sponsors and partners throughout his career. With this background, he can offer valuable insights from his own experience not only in sports but also in marketing and promotion to the talents in his new role as Sport Manager KTF.
Equally important is that Langeveld has extensive experience in mentoring talent, not only as a driver coach and instructor or in terms of physical development, but also in creating career development plans for drivers.
With all of this in mind, it was no surprise that when Langeveld saw the job opening, he immediately responded, and the choice ultimately fell on him. In addition to getting acquainted with all parties involved in the KNAF Academy and the talents included in the program, Langeveld will quickly start scouting new talents, developing a training plan, and redesigning the KNAF Academy structure to be more straightforward and effective.
Langeveld has already completed his first orientation days and is eagerly looking forward to starting on March 1. “I’m really excited to get started as the Sport Manager of KNAF Talent First within the KNAF. Due to the continuously growing popularity of motorsport in the Netherlands, I believe there are tremendous opportunities to scout and train talents within the different sectors. Motorsport is diverse, and in order to achieve results, it’s often not just about being good at the sport itself. We want to offer a program where they can understand what is needed to succeed. If they succeed and achieve results, they will be rewarded. Additionally, a large-scale plan for the long-term vision will be developed over the coming months. The KNAF Talent First program must be goal-oriented and clear. To reach the top, I will set high standards for the athlete, who in turn can set demands on me. The absolute top should always be the ultimate goal. Beyond all of this, I hope to be a listening ear for the athletes with my experience, to guide them, and share my own experiences in the sport. I know the ins and outs of motorsport and have experienced a lot within the sport. I really enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with the talents. Results don’t always say everything; it’s the complete package that makes a motorsport athlete successful,” said the new Sport Manager of KNAF Talent First.
As a partner of Niels Langeveld we are proud that Niels is dedicated to helping Dutch motorsports talent to the top step.
