Belgian squad Boutsen VDS has announced that it will switch to Porsche machinery in 2026, as well as confirming its return to GT World Challenge Europe.
Founded ahead of the 2023 season as a collaboration between Boutsen Racing and Marc VDS, Boutsen VDS spent a season running Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo IIs before switching to the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.
The team has found significant success in GT World Challenge Europe’s classes, winning the Gold Cup teams’ title in 2023, before triumphing in both the Silver Cup drivers’ and teams’ contests in ’24 and ’25 with Aurelien Panis and Cesar Gazeau behind the wheel.
Its Pro entry, introduced in 2024, has struggled to reach quite the same heights, with just a pair of podium finishes to show for its effort.
The team is now set to transition to its third different manufacturer in four seasons, as the first confirmed GT World Challenge Europe customer for the new 992.2-spec Porsche 911 GT3 R. The Belgian squad also fills a hole in Porsche’s line-up in the series, caused by former partner Rutronik Racing leaving the Weissach brand to run the new Lamborghini Temerario GT3.
For its GT World Challenge Europe campaign, Boutsen VDS has already confirmed 2025 Endurance Cup drivers’ champion Alessio Picariello, who will feature alongside two more official Porsche drivers in a Pro class entry.
No drivers, or class, have been announced for the second car so far.
“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,” said 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 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.”
Van der Straten added: “I really appreciate working with Olivier, his wife Olivia Boutsen and all the staff around them. There is a family atmosphere, but there are also results. In three years of collaboration, we have accumulated titles: after being teams’ champions in the Gold Cup in 2023, we won the drivers’ and teams’ 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!”
The 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season begins at Circuit Paul Ricard on 11/12 April.
Images © SRO, Porsche
