 | This article needs to be updated. (September 2013) |
| Charles Zwolsman Jr. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||
| Nationality |  Dutch | ||||||
| Born | June 15, 1979 Lelystad, Netherlands | ||||||
| Achievements | 2005 Toyota Atlantic Champion | ||||||
| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 15 races run over 2 years | |||||||
| Years active | 2005-2006 | ||||||
| Team(s) | Team Australia (2005) Conquest Racing (2006) | ||||||
| Best finish | 13th - 2006 | ||||||
| First race | 2005 Gran Premio Telmex/Tecate (Mexico City) | ||||||
| Last race | 2006 Gran Premio Telmex (Mexico City) | ||||||
| |||||||
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
|---|---|
| Years | 2009 |
| Teams | Kolles |
| Best finish | 7th |
| Class wins | 0 |
Charles Zwolsman Jr. (born June 15, 1979, in Lelystad, Netherlands) is a race car driver who formerly competed in the Champ Car World Series. He is the son of former sports car racing driver Charles Zwolsman Sr., who competed in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[1][2]
Zwolsman started racing go karts before competing in Formula Ford, Formula Renault and Formula 3 in Europe. He finished 16th and 17th during his two seasons in the Formula 3 Euro Series before moving his career to the United States.
In 2005 Zwolsman made his debut in the Toyota Atlantic series with Condor Motorsports. The unknown driver made an impression quickly; he was fastest in qualifying in the first race at Long Beach. However, his car failed the technical inspection and he was forced to start last. During the race, he moved up steadily to finish third. Zwolsman went on to win three races that season and clinch the championship over rivals Tõnis Kasemets and Katherine Legge. The newly crowned Atlantic champion made his Champ Car debut in the season finale in Mexico City for Team Australia.
In 2006 he competed in a full season of the Champ Car series with Mi-Jack Conquest Racing, finishing 13th in the season standings with two seventh-place finishes as his best results. He did not return in 2007, and has not competed in American open wheel racing since. In 2009 Zwolsman is driving for the Kolles LMP1 team in the Le Mans Series where he is currently placed 9th in the LMP1 driver standings.[3] The team also ran the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans, where they placed 7th overall despite team driver Narain Karthikeyan not being able to compete due to a non-racing related injury just prior to the start.
In 2011, Zwolsman Jr. was charged in the Netherlands with involvement in money laundering. According to the prosecutors, Zwolsman jr. has financed his racing career with the proceeds of the criminal activities of his father. The prosecution has asked for a 240-hour community service sentence, a 15-month suspended prison sentence and a 20,000 euro fine.[4] Zwolsman jr. has denied all charges.[5]
Zwolsman jr. proceeded to fight these allegations and after some major investors/sponsors where acquitted in 2013[6] Zwolsman himself was also cleared of all charges in 2016[7]
- ^ "The failure of Dutch drug policy". Archived from the original on 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
- ^ onore:Charles 'Sjarrel' Zwolsman (in Dutch)
- ^ "Le Mans Series". Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
- ^ OM eist werkstraf voor Zwolsman jr. (De Telegraaf, 22 November 2011, (in Dutch))
- ^ Justitie zet proces tegen Zwolsman jr. door (De Telegraaf, 26 October 2011, (in Dutch))
- ^ "ECLI:NL:GHARL:2013:BZ8986, voorheen LJN BZ8986, Gerechtshof Arnhem-Leeuwarden, 21-000529-12". May 2013.
- ^ "Hoger beroep Strafrecht overig - Uitspraken.nl".