Following on from recent motorsport seasons crowned with victories and titles in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and the Belcar Endurance Championship, with the icing on the cake being victory in the 2024 edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder, D’Ieteren Luxury Performance is about to embark on a new chapter in motorsport. The focus will be on the prestigious GT World Challenge Europe, with the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa as the absolute highlight. The Boutsen VDS team will field two Porsche 911 GT3 R cars in the European GT competition in 2025.
It was during the press day of the Brussels Motor Show on Friday morning that D’Ieteren Luxury Performance officially announced its participation in the GT World Challenge Europe 2026 with two Porsche 911 GT3 R cars.
‘Motorsport is a particularly powerful marketing and communication tool that unleashes passion and emotions,’ said Denis Gorteman, CEO of D’Ieteren Auto. “Porsche has helped shape its brand image through motor racing, with nineteen victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, eight victories in the 24 Hours of Spa, world titles and international titles in Europe, America and Asia. By participating in the GT World Challenge Europe, D’Ieteren Luxury Performance wants to honour that tradition. Every effort will be made to ensure that the two Porsche 911 GT3 R cars bearing our colours will stand out…”
A new prestigious chapter is beginning, one that perfectly aligns with the values of D’Ieteren Luxury Performance while highlighting Porsche’s tradition.
“The ‘Luxury’ aspect is reflected in the context of this Brussels Motor Show, where we are present with all our brands,” explains Jean-François Bernaerts, Director of D’Ieteren Luxury Performance. “In this context, it is more than symbolic to immediately focus on the “Performance” aspect, something that will take shape in 2026 through a highly international commitment, in line with our ambitions. This participation in the GT World Challenge Europe is a logical continuation of our presence in the national and Benelux competitions over the past two seasons. 2026 is therefore fully in line with our objectives…”
The two Porsche 911 GT3 R cars in the colours of D’Ieteren Luxury Performance will be run by the Boutsen VDS team, led by Olivier Lainé and Olivia Boutsen, together with their son Amaury. On Friday morning, during the press conference in Brussels, Thierry Boutsen and Marc van der Straten represented the Belgian team. The Belgian team joins the Porsche family with the ambition to shine in both the overall standings and the Gold Cup of the GT World Challenge Europe.
The first Porsche will compete in the PRO category and is therefore aiming for overall victory in both the Sprint Cup and the Endurance Cup. French Porsche factory driver Dorian Boccolacci will complete the entire programme and will be joined in the Endurance Cup by Belgian Alessio Picariello, also an official Porsche driver, and Dutchman Morris Schuring. These two drivers will also assist Boccolacci during the Sprint Cup races, depending on their respective availability.
D’Ieteren Luxury Performance’s second Porsche 911 GT3 R will compete in the Gold Cup. Behind the wheel will be Sweden’s Robin Knutsson and Belgium’s Gilles Magnus, while a third driver will be officially announced at a later date.
At the heart of what promises to be a particularly intense sporting season, the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is an absolute key event for D’Ieteren Luxury Performance. The brand will be launching numerous initiatives to pamper and inspire loyal Porsche enthusiasts.
“When we started talks with Lionel Hansen, the 24 Hours of Spa was a dream, a goal to strive for,” says Lionel Janssens, Marketing Manager at D’Ieteren Luxury Performance. “The collaboration that followed went very smoothly and now enables us to participate in the 24-hour race in the Ardennes, which is considered the world’s greatest endurance race exclusively for GT cars. I am extremely proud of the progress we have made in such a short time and even more determined to shine in such a prestigious setting.”
This marks the start of a new chapter for D’Ieteren Luxury Performance, with international involvement in the most competitive GT championship in the world.
Edited and translated press release D’ieteren Luxury Performance
