Two days before the opening race of the GT World Challenge Europe championship at the Circuit Paul Ricard, the Namur-born driver was confirmed as a new “GT3 Junior Driver” by McLaren Motorsport.
Having joined CSA Racing this winter to drive a McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, Lorens Lecertua is set for a 2026 season full of new experiences. In addition to this change of team, the young Belgian will take an important step in his career by joining, for the first time, a programme set up by a manufacturer.
“I am really happy and extremely proud to have been selected by McLaren Motorsport to join their young driver development programme,” Lorens says with a smile. “This is the first time I have been linked to a manufacturer in this way, and it is another step towards my dream: to become a professional driver representing a brand at the highest level."
Founded in 1963 by New Zealand racing driver Bruce McLaren, the British brand has since built up an impressive record of success in Formula 1. But McLaren’s history is not limited to single-seaters. Since 1992, the Woking-based manufacturer has also been developing its GTs, which are type-approved for road use and adapted into competition cars. The legendary F1 GTR thus entered the history books by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 on its debut. Since then, McLarens have continued to shine in Grand Touring competitions, and McLaren has also announced its return to the World Endurance Championship – and thus to the 24 Hours of Le Mans – from 2027.
“McLaren is a prestigious and ambitious brand,” explains Lorens. “It is becoming increasingly active in other areas of motorsport. Under the leadership of Giorgio Sanna, a former driver who took charge of McLaren Motorsport a few months ago, they want to invest more in developing young drivers. Becoming a GT3 Junior Driver notably includes coaching and participation in a Training Camp at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. For me, this is a real opportunity. If I perform well and meet their requirements, I might one day have the chance to become an official driver for the brand. To achieve that, I need to prove my worth to them. It is a huge challenge, but I am ready to work really hard!”
It is therefore with motivation at its peak and this new status as a McLaren Motorsport GT3 Junior Driver that Lorens Lecertua will kick off his season this weekend at the Circuit Paul Ricard. “Alongside my team-mates Baptiste Moulin and Romain Andriolo, we will be competing in the Silver Cup, the category for young professionals or semi-professionals,” says Lorens. “And I am approaching this season with great enthusiasm. The rapport with the CSA Racing team is excellent and I hope that we can achieve great things together. See you on Saturday at 18.00 for the start of this new season!”
Starting at 18.00, the six-hour race will therefore finish after dark. Qualifying and the race can be watched live and completely free of charge on the GT World YouTube channel.
