Aston Martin's Lance Stroll to Make GT3 Racing Debut During F1 Break

Aston Martin Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll will make his GT3 racing debut during the sport's April break, competing in the GT World Challenge Europe's six-hour night race at Paul Ricard. The Canadian will team with former F1 driver Roberto Merhi and young talent Mari Boya in a Pro-class Aston Martin Vantage, entering a field that includes Max Verstappen's team and motorcycle legend Valentino Rossi.

Why it matters:

Stroll's entry highlights a growing trend of active F1 drivers exploring top-level GT racing during breaks, bringing mainstream attention to the series. For Aston Martin, it's a valuable marketing opportunity to showcase its Vantage GT3 with a works-supported car driven by one of its F1 stars, blending its endurance and grand prix racing efforts.

The details:

• Stroll will drive the #18 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in the Pro category, the top class of the event.
• His teammates are Roberto Merhi, who raced for Marussia in F1, and 21-year-old Spaniard Mari Boya.
• The race is a unique six-hour endurance event run primarily at night, starting at 6 PM on Saturday, April 11th, and finishing at midnight.
• Notable competition: The grid includes the Mercedes entered by Max Verstappen's team (though Verstappen is not driving), and features other stars like nine-time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi and Ferrari junior driver Arthur Leclerc.
• Stroll's sportscar background: This isn't Stroll's first foray into endurance racing. He previously competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona twice, finishing 5th overall in the Prototype class in 2016.
• The team will participate in a pre-race Prologue test at the circuit on April 8th before official practice begins on Friday, April 10th.

What's next:

The race at Paul Ricard offers Stroll a competitive outing during the extended F1 hiatus before the championship is expected to resume. A strong performance could bolster both his and Aston Martin's reputation in the GT world, while providing him with valuable race mileage in a different, highly competitive format. It also sets a precedent for more F1 drivers to potentially fill calendar gaps with GT3 appearances.