Boutsen VDS becomes partner of Porsche Motorsport

One of the stalwarts of the GT World Challenge Europe, the Boutsen VDS team will take on a new challenge from 2026 onwards. The Belgian team is linking its future with that of Porsche Motorsport by becoming one of the legendary German manufacturer's partner teams.

As such, the Wavre-based racing team will field two new Porsche 911 GT3 R cars for the entire GT World Challenge Europe season next year, comprising the five Sprint Cup races and the five Endurance Cup races, culminating in the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa from 24 to 28 June 2026. One of the two will be entered in the Pro class with three official drivers behind the wheel. The class of the second car will be confirmed when the six drivers who will be representing Boutsen VDS in 2026 are announced.

“First of all, I would like to thank our former partner, with whom we won the GT World Challenge Europe Silver Cup in the last two seasons,” explains Team Principal Olivier Lainé. “However, we are taking on a new challenge which we hope will allow us to aim even higher. I am very excited about racing Porsches next year, especially as we will be a privileged partner of the marque in Europe. I can already tell you that we will have a Belgian driver in the Pro car in the form of Alessio Picariello, this year's GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup champion. I would like to thank my partner, Marc van der Straten, as well as Rudi Penders and Lionel Hansen. They are true lovers of the brand and their collaboration in setting up this ambitious project has been invaluable. Together with the whole team, we are looking forward to starting winter testing.”

A partner of Boutsen VDS since 2023, Count Marc van der Straten is renewing his confidence in Olivier Lainé and his team more than ever. “I really appreciate working with Olivier, his wife Olivia Boutsen and all the staff around them,” he smiles. “There is a family atmosphere, but there are also results. In three years of collaboration, we have accumulated titles: after being Team Champions in the Gold Cup in 2023, we won the Drivers' and Team classifications in the Silver Cup in the last two seasons. But that does not stop us from wanting more! In this respect, being able to work closely with a manufacturer as prestigious as Porsche is an honour. After tasting success at the 2015 Spa 24 Hours with my team, my dream now is to see the Boutsen VDS project win the world's biggest GT race. With the arrival of a major evolution for the 911 GT3 R and the support of Porsche Motorsport, I believe we will be well equipped to do so. Get ready, because the lions are determined to roar in 2026!”