Verstappen in new kart <I>contretemps</I>.

Still hoping for a belated Formula One return, Dutch ace Jos Verstappen decided to take part in the annual karting Winter Cup at Michael Schumacher's 'home' circuit of Kerpen at the weekend. Unfortunately for the Minardi aspirant, however, things did not go quite to plan.

Although not necessarily the most famous name at the circuit, Verstappen still presented a formidable challenge - and target - for the local racers assembled, culminating in an unsavoury incident which closely resembled that for which the Dutchman and his father were taken to court by a Belgian family in 1998.

On that occasion, Verstappen pere et fils received five-year suspended sentences after being found guilty of their involvement in the brawl, which also led to an out-of-court settlement between the two parties. The 2002 incident, however, appears to have placed the Dutchman as victim rather than aggressor.

Competing in both the 100 and 125cc classes at the event, Verstappen was enduring a less than successful day, with a mixture of mechanical problems and over-enthusiastic rivals contriving to push him down the order in each of his heats. However, after one race, in which a rival was twice involved with the one-time Hungarian GP podium finisher, an irate father decided to confront the Dutchman in the pits.

After facing a tirade of abuse, Verstappen - known as the 'Dutch Devil' - then had his helmeted head seized by the man, requiring him to push his assailant away. The incident was immediately reported to race control, where Verstappen later gave a full explanation of proceedings.

"Sometimes, famous people attract a lot of attention, and things get blown out of proportion," he wrote on his personal website after the incident, "I wouldn't call it a violent dispute."

"Maybe I over-reacted too, but I am a driver of passion and, if do something, I give myself entirely," he said of his participation in the racing and the accident that brought about the altercation in the pits, "It was nothing more than a typical racing incident - something that happens all the time in karting. At races, I am one hundred per cent committed, with much adrenalin in my body - and then, at times, perhaps I do not always act rationally. But this time, alas, someone chose to make more of it... Perhaps we should both have counted to ten first..."

Neither Verstappen nor his assailant are expected to face charges over the incident.