Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is expanding his passion for motorsports by launching his own racing team, Verstappen.com Racing. The team will compete in the 2025 season of the GT World Challenge Europe, a premier endurance racing series featuring some of the world’s best GT3 drivers and teams.
The Dutch driver, known for his love of sim racing, has carefully selected British sim racing star Chris Lulham as the final driver to complete the team’s lineup. Lulham, a veteran of the esports racing scene, will now transition into real-world motorsports while still competing in sim racing events.
Verstappen.com Racing to Compete in 2025 GT World Challenge Europe
Verstappen.com Racing is set to participate in all 10 rounds of the GT World Challenge Europe, with the season opener taking place on April 11, 2025, at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France. One of the major highlights for the team will be competing in the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa in June, marking a significant milestone for the newly formed squad.
The team’s full driver lineup includes:
- Chris Lulham – A highly skilled sim racer making his real-world racing debut.
- Thierry Vermeulen – An experienced GT3 driver and longtime associate of Verstappen.
- Harry King – A rising talent in GT racing with multiple podium finishes.
Chris Lulham: From Sim Racing to Real-World GT3 Competition
Chris Lulham’s journey from esports racing to professional motorsports is one of the most intriguing aspects of Verstappen’s new project. Lulham has been a standout driver for Team Redline, one of the most successful sim racing teams globally.
He played a crucial role in Redline’s victory in the 2023 ESL R1 Spring Season and secured a podium finish in the IMSA Esports Global Championship on iRacing.
Verstappen’s decision to bring Lulham into the team reflects a growing trend of sim racers transitioning to real-world motorsports. Lulham will not only compete in the full GT World Challenge Europe season but also race in the GT3 Sprint series under Emil Frey Racing.
Can Sim Racers Succeed in Professional Motorsport?
The rise of esports racing has opened the door for many sim racers to transition into real-world competition. One of the most famous examples is Jann Mardenborough, who won the first-ever GT Academy in 2011 and went on to finish on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013.
With advanced racing simulators providing realistic physics, car dynamics, and track conditions, many believe that sim racing is an effective training ground for real-world motorsports. Verstappen himself is a strong advocate for sim racing and frequently competes in high-level virtual competitions.
Conclusion
Max Verstappen’s new venture into GT racing with Verstappen.com Racing is an exciting development for both motorsports and sim racing communities.
With a strong driver lineup and a mix of real-world experience and sim racing talent, the team is well-positioned to make an impact in the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe. All eyes will be on their performance when the season kicks off in April.
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