Leung and Vanthoor Unite for British GT Comeback at Silverstone

Reigning British GT champion Darren Leung is gearing up for a thrilling comeback at the Silverstone 500, and this time he’s partnering with BMW factory ace Dries Vanthoor.

Last year, Leung and his teammate Dan Harper clinched victory at the championship’s pinnacle event, solidifying their position as serious contenders for the title. Their triumph behind the wheel of Century’s BMW M4 GT3 set the bar high for competition.

While Leung and Harper had initially set their sights elsewhere this season, with commitments spanning Europe and FIA WEC, a last-minute twist altered their plans. Harper’s unexpected full-time call-up for British GT left Leung in search of a new teammate for the upcoming three-hour race at Silverstone.

In Dries Vanthoor, Leung and Century Racing have secured the services of one of the globe’s most accomplished GT drivers.

The Belgian maestro boasts an impressive resume, having been a linchpin in Audi’s GT3 factory lineup before transitioning to BMW in early 2023. Vanthoor’s accolades include multiple triumphs in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS, along with victories at prestigious events like the Nürburgring 24 Hours, Bathurst 12 Hour, Suzuka 10 Hours, Kyalami 9 Hour, and Indy 8 Hour.

Expressing his anticipation, Vanthoor remarked, “I’m very much looking forward to the race weekend at Silverstone. It will be my first race in British GT, so it will be special, and I am looking forward to racing in the UK. Looking at last year’s performance from Darren and Dan, there’s not much we can do to do better than that, so for sure we will try and do the same! Hopefully, we can have some good fun and a successful weekend together.”

Leung echoed Vanthoor’s sentiments, expressing regret at not sharing the track with Harper but affirming confidence in their new partnership. “I would love to have done the Silverstone 500 with Dan in what would have been our only British GT race together this year. But then circumstances changed, and we had to assess other options,” said Leung. “There is so much GT racing these days but, fortunately, BMW has a very deep pool of factory drivers to choose from, and Dries was available for Silverstone. Speed-wise he’s top tier, but I’ve also always admired his approach. I know he will be flat out at every opportunity, and that’s something I really appreciate. We’re not racing for points, a result, or even a podium; I want to defend that win, and that’s the mentality we’ll have all weekend.”

Vanthoor will join his BMW compatriots Harper and Raffaele Marciello on the Silverstone 500 entry list, set to feature more than 40 cars on April 27/28. Among them are five Century BMWs, with Leung’s car joining two full-season GT3 entries, while another pair of M4s will contest the GT4 class.