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 subsequent step in 2025 by coming into the GT World Problem Europe (GTWCE) by supporting present groups.
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
One among Max Verstappen’s ambitions with Verstappen.com Racing is to assist gifted sim racers make the leap to real-world racing. He needs to show that sim racing is usually a viable different to launching a racing profession as an alternative 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 objective.
“Chris has a protracted monitor document with Staff Redline,” Raymond Vermeulen instructed Autosport on the Japanese Grand Prix. “Max holds him in excessive regard as a result of he at all times gives robust suggestions once they’re engaged on the set-up of the digital automobile.
“Final 12 months, Max invited Chris for a personal check. He received within the automobile and was instantly on the tempo, regardless that monitor situations have been very tough,” Vermeulen continued. “That made it clear to us that he has lots of expertise and the flexibility to make the transition from sim to actual GT3 vehicles. We have finished a number of extra exams with him since then.”
Thierry Vermeulen, Harry King, Chris Lulham, Verstappen.com Racing
Picture by: Verstappen.com / David Klopman
King adopted a extra conventional path by beginning in karting earlier than transferring up the Ginetta ladder within the UK. After profitable 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 grew to become obtainable final 12 months attributable to 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 driving force line-up.
Companion workforce
For the GT World Problem Europe Endurance Cup, Verstappen.com Racing has determined to companion with British-Bahraini GT3 race workforce 2 Seas Motorsport.
“We have had a relationship with 2 Seas Motorsport for a very long time,” Vermeulen defined. “Nick Cristofaro, who arrange the workforce with Bahraini Isa Al Khalifa after racing himself, is a detailed buddy 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 workforce for on-track assist. Vermeulen: “So it made sense for us to companion with them for this step into the GTWCE Endurance Cup.”
Thierry Vermeulen, Harry King, Chris Lulham, Verstappen.com Racing
Picture by: Verstappen.com / David Klopman
An lively function
Regardless of his busy System 1 schedule, Verstappen is closely concerned within the GT3 venture. He helps the drivers with recommendation throughout personal exams and sim periods, delivers suggestions on the automobile 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 finished sufficient mileage in that automobile 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 automobile?
“I can see that occuring,” stated Vermeulen, earlier than rapidly clarifying that it would not occur anytime quickly. “His predominant focus stays System 1, in fact. And there are lots of business issues if Max have been to drive a automobile apart from his Crimson Bull. However maybe the workforce would not be in opposition to it. Crimson Bull does are inclined to assume exterior the field. We’ve not put this query to them but.”
Excessive ambitions
Verstappen will not have the ability to attend the debut of his GT workforce at Paul Ricard, as he’ll be racing within the Bahrain System 1 Grand Prix this weekend. However he has made clear that he’ll be carefully following the performances of Lulham, Vermeulen and King.
“I’ve received a reside connection, so I can maintain a detailed eye on issues,” he instructed a small group of media, together with Autosport, on the Japanese Grand Prix.
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 onerous to say prematurely since you’re depending on the BoP, however the purpose 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 very good factor, proper?”
“We’re competing within the Gold Cup, however our reference level is the highest. That is who we have to measure ourselves in opposition to,” Verstappen stated. “They’ve finished lots of testing, in order that undoubtedly will not be the difficulty. We have examined on all of the tracks that we’re racing at and gathered lots of information. Now it is as much as them and the workforce 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.”
“We’re bold,” Vermeulen agreed. “We’re not right here to make up the numbers, we need to compete on the entrance regularly.”
He acknowledged this may not be simple within the ultra-competitive GT World Problem Europe. “There are some large groups with lots of expertise. It is going to be robust. However we do anticipate to combat within the entrance in our class.”
Thierry Vermeulen, Emil Frey Racing
Picture by: Verstappen.com / David Klopman
Dash Cup
Lulham and Vermeulen may 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.
The truth that Lulham and Vermeulen shall be driving in two completely different vehicles within the GT World Problem Europe can solely be a constructive, in keeping with Verstappen’s supervisor. “The Ferrari is clearly a really completely different automobile 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 once they’re switching between them.”
Solution to unwind
Along with the GT World Problem Europe, Thierry Vermeulen is coming into his third 12 months in DTM. “Hopefully, he can problem for podiums extra usually this season,” Vermeulen Sr. stated. “He ought to no less than be constantly 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. “System 1 is the top, in fact, however after that, Jos thinks rallying is the best factor,” Vermeulen famous.
Will he nonetheless have time to attend a few of Max’s races this 12 months? Vermeulen: “His schedule is packed. I feel he’ll nonetheless be at a couple of F1 races. However even when he is not, he will not miss something. We have a gaggle 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 will then assist.”
Verstappen.com Racing is backed by Crimson Bull. “We’ve 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 have to be considered individually from what occurs in F1. Even when Verstappen have been to someday depart Crimson Bull Racing, the vitality drinks model might proceed to assist Verstappen.com Racing. “I do not see why not. They assist many groups and drivers.”
With Verstappen.com Racing rising, you may marvel how Verstappen is ready to handle all these actions subsequent to his F1 job. “For him, it is a technique to unwind,” Vermeulen stated. “Some folks 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 leisure seems to be like.”
On this article
Erwin Jaeggi
GT World Problem Europe Endurance
Jos Verstappen
Max Verstappen
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