Former WEC driver and racing team owner Frits van Eerd is now facing prison for money laundering, bribery, and document forgery
Former racing driver and racing team owner Frits van Eerd will now have to go to prison after all: The Dutchman, who was arrested in September 2022 on suspicion of money laundering, has now been sentenced to two years in prison.
Last year, it was initially reported that the money laundering allegations had not been substantiated, which is why van Eerd, who had recently withdrawn from public life, was visibly surprised. After the verdict was announced, he left the courtroom hastily and without comment.
Frits van Eerd, who is also known as the CEO of the Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo, had even been involved in drug-related crime, the presiding judge explained. He found the former racing driver guilty of money laundering, bribery (“extra-official corruption”) and document forgery.
Former racing driver found guilty of money laundering
The sentence was even higher than the prosecution had originally requested. The prosecution had also requested two years, but with eight months suspended. The judge, however, imposed the full two years’ imprisonment without parole.
Not without reason: the money laundering charge involved a sum of over 427,000 euros, which was found in his apartment, including in a refrigerator and in several envelopes hidden in books.
The second defendant, car dealer Theo E., with whom van Eerd had done extensive and dubious business despite his criminal reputation, was also convicted of money laundering, among other things. He will even have to spend three and a half years behind bars.
Frits van Eerd with a motorsport past
Van Eerd started competing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in the 2018/19 season and celebrated victory in the 2019 Fuji 6-Hour Race together with Giedo van der Garde and Nyck de Vries. In the 2021 season, the Dutchman even won the LMP2 Endurance Trophy for Pro-Am drivers.
Van Eerd then moved to the American IMSA series. His team finished in the top three in the LMP2 class at Daytona, Sebring, and Watkins Glen. Before the season finale at Road Atlanta, van Eerd was arrested and has since retired from motorsport.
The verdict is now final, but the last word may not have been spoken yet: Van Eerd’s lawyer has already indicated that they will appeal the verdict.
