Lance Stroll is following in the footsteps of Max Verstappen. The Aston Martin driver will make his debut in GT3 racing during the spring break. During the weekend of April 11 and 12, when the Bahrain GP was originally scheduled, Stroll will drive the opening race of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Circuit Paul Ricard. The Canadian will compete in an Aston Martin from Comtoyou Racing.
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The 27-year-old driver has previously tasted other racing classes. In 2016 and 2018, he participated in the 24 Hours of Daytona, in both the DPi and LMP2 classes. In April, however, he will make his GT3 debut at Paul Ricard. Stroll shares his Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 with former F1 driver Roberto Merhi and the young Mari Boya, who has made the switch from single-seaters to GT3 and is also part of Aston Martin’s driver development program.
‘Lance loves pure racing’
“Aston Martin can confirm that Lance Stroll will participate in the first race of the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Circuit Paul Ricard,” the team said in an official statement. “Lance has always enjoyed pure racing, in whatever form. He is very excited to have the opportunity to compete in a different, but highly competitive class during the F1 spring break.”
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Max Verstappen is also very active in GT3 racing this year, mainly at the Nürburgring. In March, he already participated in the NLS season opener, and after the Japanese GP, he was back on the German asphalt for several test laps. In May, the Dutchman will be at the start of the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, where he will race with a Mercedes-AMG GT3.
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