After Flynt Schuring claimed the Porsche Supercup title in the penultimate round at Zandvoort, his home track, with Schumacher CRLT, he is taking the next steps in his racing career on the same circuit with Lionspeed GP in the Sprint Cup race of GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS. With the German team adding a Silver Cup entry, the 20‑year‑old will be driving a GT3 car for only the second time in his career so far, sitting behind the wheel of the #89 Porsche 911 GT3 R alongside 22‑year‑old Belgian Nicolas Baert.
Home track, new challenge
Scoring two poles, seven podiums and four wins, the young Dutchman ended the season with 132.5 points, 25 more than his closest rival Robert de Haan. Looking back at his successful campaign with GT REPORT, he sums up the season in his own words:
“I think it was a very special season. I was up there every weekend and I was very happy with that. I think Budapest was probably the most difficult. The pace was good but then retiring was a real shame. Zandvoort here, on the other hand, was definitely a team highlight. Becoming champion and winning the race, everything at once. It was very special to do that with this team as a Porsche Junior in the Supercup.”
In the two races at the Dutch track he scored pole position for the first race (but started third due to a grid penalty) and finished third. In the second race he came out on top as race winner and claimed the title early on.
Now the freshly crowned champion lines up for his GTWCE debut.
“I don’t think I would have been able to do it without having a strong Supercup season,” says the debutant about getting this chance to take the next step in his career. “As a Porsche Junior, it becomes very difficult. So that was definitely very important.”
On the question if winning the title was a must, he says:
“No, it kind of came about naturally. But I don’t know if it would have happened if I hadn’t become champion, so that’s also important. But it wasn’t like, ‘You become champion and then you’re allowed to do this.’”
GT3 Nordschleife debut; Lionspeed arrival
Making the step up from Porsche Cup cars to GT3 machinery, the differences are notable:
“You have a lot more performance and the braking is different as well.”
Driving the Porsche 911 GT3 on this track is something he takes plenty of enjoyment from:
“I really liked it. It was a lot of fun. Some things were in line with what I expected or what I could feel, and some things were completely new. So there were some nice surprises.”
But it wasn’t the first time driving this car, as one week earlier the junior driver raced alongside Nico Menzel for Dunlop Motorsport at NLS 8 & 9 on the iconic Nordschleife circuit, scoring a P5 finish on Saturday and P2 on Sunday.
“That was super cool. It was a matter of learning quickly. So many impressions, some mega experiences and really scary drives as well, being on full slicks in the rain. With the spray and everything it was a whole new experience.”
Having the experience of the 28-year-old German alongside him helped him a lot.
“Driving with such a good teammate, it was really nice to learn from him and the whole team as well.”
Taking that experience with him, he is ready to take on the next chapter of his career together with Lionspeed, who arrived with a second car, the #89 Porsche 911 GT3 R, as a Silver Class entry in the penultimate Sprint Cup round of the season. “To be here with them, it came through Porsche. Actually Robin Heijnen, who is the team manager of Lionspeed, came up with the idea and thats how it got together. I only heard about it quite late, but I’m very happy to be here.”
New beginnings, clear targets
When Danish driver Bastian Buus joined Lionspeed as a Porsche Junior and Supercup champion in 2024, the team was still competing in the Bronze Cup of the GT World Challenge Europe. Two years later they won the Spa 24 Hours from the back of the grid as a Pro Cup entry, with the now 23-year-old Buus still part of the lineup, the Dutch driver learns a lot from that experience.
“He made a pretty similar step. When I came here for the first time, you learn about the things you run into, the first experiences. You also learn from his experience, what should I look out for? So that’s really helpful. I ask a lot of questions.”
Going into his first weekend with the team in a new championship and a new format compared to Supercup, having to make a pit stop and a driver change is the biggest difference. “We’ve never really had to deal with pit stops ourselves. It’s a sprint race, you get in half an hour beforehand and then you have to get to work. Now you have to do the pit stop within 12 seconds and make a driver change, so that’s definitely hard work.”
That driver change will be done with his teammate Nicolas Baert. The 22-year-old Belgian knows how to win in this championship, having come out on top in the latest endurance round of GTWCE at the Nürburgring driving the #65 Ford Mustang GT3 for Haupt Racing Team. “He is very important for the team, you really have to do it together.”
With both drivers hoping to keep their momentum going, the aim for this weekend is simple: “To do well in the Sprint Cup. To gain experience. And above all, to learn a lot.”
Aiming to show his worth, he has his sights set on bringing more to the team in the future. “To move into GT3, that’s the clear goal and hopefully continue with Lionspeed from there.”
Beyond that, there’s more to come for the newcomer. “Next week I’m probably racing in China, in Shanghai, an eight-hour race. So that’s exciting. It will be my first time in Asia.”
On the question of which team, his answer stays short. “I’m not allowed to say that yet.”
