After a number of selection rounds together with OTTO Work Force, with the latter ‘GoFor Selection Day’ taking place at the Race Salon in Rotterdam, A1 Team Netherlands has chosen for Jaap Vlijm from the five finalists after personal interviews with Team manager Dave Stubbs and General manager Robert Hoevers.
It goes without saying that the 28-year old firefigher from Ermelo was very happy with his selection from the hundreds of candidates who had applied for this unique job through the OTTO Work Force website: “In all honesty, It started as a joke, applying for the Gofor job. I was reading the news item on a website together wit a friend who immediately said; ‘this is perfect for you’. When I thought about this more I realised that he could be right. So, I filled out the application form and that kicked off everything”, said Jaap. “I became a racing fan when I went to kart races with my father in Italy and I also followed F1 then. Later on I went to some races. When A1GP started in 2005 I was immediately enthusiastic, a series with equal cars, relative small size teams and drivers who compete for their country. Last year I sat in the dunes and enjoyed the fantastic race. And now I am going to experience everything from really up close. After racing at club level in karts for several years I passed my racing licence exam in the beginning of this year. If I’ve got the time I am going to compete in the ‘Volvo 360, No Modena, Cup, organised by the DNRT. I have to admit that I have to get used to the idea. When I tell my friends that I have been hired as A1 Team Netherlands GoFor and am going to travel the world together with the team it seems like a dream. Reactions from everyone are fantastic. I am really looking forward to this and hope to be a real asset to the team! ”.
Jaap will be the A1 Team Netherlands GoFor this season, and will have a whole range of tasks within the team. That ranges from build-up and packing up of the garage, cleaning the car, doing the pitboard for Jeroen and Arie jr and helping out with the pitstops.
Robert Hoevers; “OTTO surprised us in a pleasant way with their very professional approach of the selection process. All five final candidates were very suited for the job, it was more a question of who was most suited. We think Jaap is an excellent, positive candidate who can handle stress well and he will be an asset to the team”.
Jaap will be working as A1 Team Netherlands GoFor for the first time during the second official A1GP test at Silverstone, which is held on September 18 & 19.
The A1 Team Netherlands GoFor project is supported by OTTO Work Force employment agency. They handled most of the selection process with their expertise. The candidates were tested amongst others on stress handling, language skills, flexibility and working within a team.
Frank van Gool, OTTO Work Force CEO; “As market leader in foreign employment we have very extensive tests and selection methods. That is why we are able to get the right person on the right place. I am therefore confident that Jaap Vlijm will do very well within A1 Team Netherlands”.
| 
|