Motorsport photograph
Launched in 2022 as a platform for Jos Verstappen’s rally journey, Thierry Vermeulen’s GT profession and Staff Redline’s sim racing actions, Verstappen.com Racing is taking the following step in 2025 by getting into the GT World Problem Europe (GTWCE) by means of supporting present groups.
Commercial
Sim racing standout Chris Lulham will compete within the Endurance Cup of the GTWCE alongside GT drivers Harry King and Thierry Vermeulen, driving an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO.
Their first outing is that this weekend at Paul Ricard within the south of France, the place a 6-hour race is scheduled.
Driver line-up
Considered one of Max Verstappen’s ambitions with Verstappen.com Racing is to assist proficient sim racers make the leap to real-world racing. He needs to show that sim racing is usually a viable various to launching a racing profession as a substitute of beginning in karting, which is one thing not everybody can afford. Lulham, a 22-year-old from Coldharbour, is the primary sim racer Verstappen has chosen for this function.
Commercial
“Chris has a protracted monitor document with Staff Redline,” Raymond Vermeulen informed Autosport on the Japanese Grand Prix. “Max holds him in excessive regard as a result of he at all times supplies robust suggestions after they’re engaged on the set-up of the digital automotive.
“Final 12 months, Max invited Chris for a personal check. He bought within the automotive and was instantly on the tempo, although monitor situations have been very troublesome,” Vermeulen continued. “That made it clear to us that he has plenty of expertise and the power to make the transition from sim to actual GT3 vehicles. We have carried out a number of extra assessments with him since then.”
Thierry Vermeulen, Harry King, Chris Lulham, Verstappen.com Racing
Thierry Vermeulen, Harry King, Chris Lulham, Verstappen.com RacingVerstappen.com / David Klopman
Verstappen.com / David Klopman
Commercial
King adopted a extra conventional path by beginning in karting earlier than shifting up the Ginetta ladder within the UK. After successful the Ginetta GT4 Supercup in 2019, he went on to assert titles in each the Porsche Carrera Cup Nice Britain and Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux. Final 12 months, he completed second within the Porsche Supercup in addition to the extremely aggressive Porsche Carrera Cup Germany.
“A fast, skilled man, an actual racer,” Vermeulen stated of the 24-year-old Briton. “When he turned obtainable final 12 months because of circumstances in his profession, we moved rapidly to safe him for this season.”
Vermeulen’s 22-year-old son Thierry, who has been forging his motorsport profession since 2020 and has been a part of Verstappen.com Racing household from the beginning, completes the motive force line-up.
Associate group
For the GT World Problem Europe Endurance Cup, Verstappen.com Racing has determined to associate with British-Bahraini GT3 race group 2 Seas Motorsport.
Commercial
“We have had a relationship with 2 Seas Motorsport for a very long time,” Vermeulen defined. “Nick Cristofaro, who arrange the group with Bahraini Isa Al Khalifa after racing himself, is a detailed pal of Max’s.”
Since 2024, Verstappen has owned an Aston Martin Vantage that he often takes to the monitor. On these events, he has already relied on the Silverstone group for on-track help. Vermeulen: “So it made sense for us to associate with them for this step into the GTWCE Endurance Cup.”
Thierry Vermeulen, Harry King, Chris Lulham, Verstappen.com Racing
Thierry Vermeulen, Harry King, Chris Lulham, Verstappen.com RacingVerstappen.com / David Klopman
Verstappen.com / David Klopman
Commercial
An lively position
Regardless of his busy Method 1 schedule, Verstappen is closely concerned within the GT3 challenge. He helps the drivers with recommendation throughout personal assessments and sim periods, delivers suggestions on the automotive livery and even contributes to the setup of the Aston Martin. He additionally shares his views because the engineers are making ready for the race weekend.
“He is carried out sufficient mileage in that automotive himself to have the ability to make a significant contribution to the baseline set-up,” Vermeulen stated. “He additionally helped develop the sim fashions for the Aston Martin, to translate what was examined on monitor within the sim setup.”
How probably is it that in some unspecified time in the future we’ll see Verstappen himself racing with a Verstappen.com Racing liveried automotive?
Commercial
“I can see that taking place,” stated Vermeulen, earlier than rapidly clarifying that it would not occur anytime quickly. “His predominant focus stays Method 1, in fact. And there are plenty of business concerns if Max have been to drive a automotive aside from his Crimson Bull. However maybe the group would not be towards it. Crimson Bull does are likely to assume exterior the field. We have not put this query to them but.”
Excessive ambitions
Verstappen will not be capable of attend the debut of his GT group at Paul Ricard, as he’ll be racing within the Bahrain Method 1 Grand Prix this weekend. However he has made clear that he’ll be intently following the performances of Lulham, Vermeulen and King.
“I’ve bought a stay connection, so I can preserve a detailed eye on issues,” he informed a small group of media, together with Autosport, on the Japanese Grand Prix.
Commercial
Requested what his expectations are of Verstappen.com Racing’s first look within the GT World Problem Europe, Verstappen replied: “It is at all times exhausting to say upfront since you’re depending on the BoP, however the aim is certainly to be the most effective Aston Martin.”
“No stress, guys!” he grinned. “Then once more, a little bit of stress can solely be a superb factor, proper?”
“We’re competing within the Gold Cup, however our reference level is the highest. That is who we have to measure ourselves towards,” Verstappen stated. “They’ve carried out plenty of testing, in order that positively will not be the problem. We have examined on all of the tracks that we’re racing at and gathered plenty of information. Now it is as much as them and the group to extract the utmost.
“There will certainly be issues to enhance after the primary race weekend, however the principle factor is to maintain making progress. I am actually curious to see how they do.”
Commercial
“We’re bold,” Vermeulen agreed. “We’re not right here to make up the numbers, we wish to compete on the entrance frequently.”
He acknowledged this may not be simple within the ultra-competitive GT World Problem Europe. “There are some large groups with plenty of expertise. It is going to be powerful. However we do anticipate to battle within the entrance in our class.”
Thierry Vermeulen, Emil Frey Racing
Thierry Vermeulen, Emil Frey RacingVerstappen.com / David Klopman
Verstappen.com / David Klopman
Dash Cup
Lulham and Vermeulen can even be competing within the GT World Problem Europe Dash Cup. They’re going to be representing Emil Frey Racing, sharing a Ferrari 296 GT3. “We’re aiming for podium finishes there,” Vermeulen stated.
Commercial
The truth that Lulham and Vermeulen will likely be driving in two totally different vehicles within the GT World Problem Europe can solely be a constructive, based on Verstappen’s supervisor. “The Ferrari is clearly a really totally different automotive from the Aston Martin, however that solely helps the event of their driving expertise,” he remarked. “They’ve examined extensively with each vehicles, so we do not anticipate points after they’re switching between them.”
Solution to unwind
Along with the GT World Problem Europe, Thierry Vermeulen is getting into his third 12 months in DTM. “Hopefully, he can problem for podiums extra typically this season,” Vermeulen Sr. stated. “He ought to not less than be persistently ending within the prime ten.”
Jos Verstappen, in the meantime, has a packed rally schedule in 2025, together with the Belgian Rally Championship and the European Rally Championship. “Method 1 is the head, in fact, however after that, Jos thinks rallying is the best factor,” Vermeulen famous.
Commercial
Will he nonetheless have time to attend a few of Max’s races this 12 months? Vermeulen: “His schedule is packed. I believe he’ll nonetheless be at just a few F1 races. However even when he is not, he will not miss something. We have got a bunch chat and are at all times messaging one another.”
On the sim racing aspect, Staff Redline – lead by Atze Kerkhof – continues to rack up sim racing success. New in 2025 is Verstappen.com Professional Simulation. “It is a skilled simulator utilized by racing groups, the place each younger abilities and skilled drivers can work on their racing expertise. And for us, that is additionally a great way to scout drivers who we are able to then help.”
Verstappen.com Racing is backed by Crimson Bull. “We’ve got a long-term contract, which says one thing about our loyalty to Crimson Bull, regardless of every little thing that is being written and stated,” Vermeulen commented.
In line with Vermeulen, the collaboration with Crimson Bull should be considered individually from what occurs in F1. Even when Verstappen have been to at some point depart Crimson Bull Racing, the power drinks model may proceed to help Verstappen.com Racing. “I do not see why not. They help many groups and drivers.”
With Verstappen.com Racing rising, you would possibly surprise how Verstappen is ready to handle all these actions subsequent to his F1 job. “For him, it is a strategy to unwind,” Vermeulen stated. “Some individuals play soccer, others go play snooker, however Max goes sim racing, works on set-ups, and calls Thierry and the opposite Verstappen.com Racing drivers to ask how testing went. For Max, that is what rest appears like.”
