Dutch racing driver Max van der Snel literally has speed written in his name. He’s debuting in European Le Mans Series this year and aims to take his career in prototypes to the next level. He’s doing a double season, as he will also continue in Michelin Le Mans Cup.

A couple of weeks before the start of the ELMS and Le Mans Cup season, GT REPORT catches up with Van der Snel at the Nordschleife, where he and his father, Mark van der Snel, raced in a BMW M240i. Van der Snel successfully obtained his permit and will debut in the 24 hours of the Nürburgring as well.

Jumping from prototypes to a GT car is of course “a completely different experience,” he explains. “De M420i is a lot more ‘loose’, and with this track, with lots of bumps, you sometimes bounce from left to right.”

The father-son duo will return to the Eifel in May to race in a GT4 car. “That car will be more stable. Not as stable as a prototype, but it will be a move in a good direction,” Van der Snel adds. Moving up to GT3s eventually would be great, he says.

‘We’re going to push it to the max’

Until then, all eyes are on his season in LMP3. “The endurance side of prototypes really attracts me,” he explains. “Plus: it’s really nice to have a car with a lot of downforce and a lot of grip!” Van der Snel smiles. “The faster it goes, the more fun it is.”

The 22-year-old, who has the Prototype Cup Germany Junior title already under his belt, will form a trio with Matt Bell and Douwe Dedecker in ELMS, on the LMP3 car of Eurointernational. 

Max van der Snel (22) goes for the LMP3 double in 2026 © KHO Productions

In Le Mans Cup, he is part of the only Dutch racing team in the series, run by him and his family: More Motorsport. He also has a Dutch teammate this year, Tim Gerhards. Van der Snel already has two seasons in this championship on his name and knows the LMP3 car like the back of his hand.

“In both ELMS and Le Mans Cup we have the feeling that we have a good baseline, so we’ll see what we can do. We will find out during the first weekend in Barcelona. Some things have changed, like the tyres for this season. Everyone has to find performance again, and we’re going to push it to the max.”

 “[LMP2, LMP3] is the way to the Hypercar,” Van der Snel points out. “That way, more and more drivers are interested in prototypes.”

Van der Snel joins group of Dutchies in ELMS

Van der Snel is joining other Dutch drivers in ELMS. Job van Uitert is a very familiar face in the paddock there, as is Rik Koen. Richard Verschoor debuts in prototypes this year as well, while Mex Jansen debuts in the Ferrari 296 GT3.

The ELMS and Michelin Le Mans Cup seasons will start on April 6,7 and 8 with testing days in Barcelona, after which the first races of the season will take place on April 11 and 12 – also on the Spanish circuit.