21-year-old Daryl De Leon is set for his GT3 and GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS debut at the final round of the championship with Paradine Competition. Joining a British-based team comes as no surprise, as the British-Filipino driver has spent almost his entire racing career in the United Kingdom, competing for several years in the British Touring Car Championship and the Radical Cup. In the latter championship, he gained some experience here in Portimão, but with that being several years ago, a completely different challenge awaits him aboard the #992 BMW M4 GT3.
The British connection leading to new challenge
Joining the British outfit came about because of someone he knows well who also works at Paradine.
“I know Jamie Warren, the team manager here at Paradine Competition. I’ve known him since 2023, when he was managing me in British Touring Cars. And then this year, he also did it with my team, West Surrey Racing, in BTCC. The conversations happened from there.”
Switching from BTCC, where he has raced for the past three years, to GT3 machinery, the differences are clear. “The speed. These cars are a lot quicker. But the biggest difference is having the ABS and TC. In Touring Cars, you’re very precise with the brakes. Peak brake pressure, then bleed off. And then in this car, there’s a different style with the braking and the way you drive.”
Getting used to those driving changes isn’t the only challenge this weekend because, after spending almost every race weekend at tracks in the United Kingdom, getting used to circuits outside it is a task on its own. “I’m learning the European tracks and the different grip levels because I feel like the grip levels are different compared to UK tracks. On the European circuits, off the racing line, there’s a lot of debris and rubber. In the UK, you get a bit of that, but not as much. And, of course, the temperatures here are a lot hotter. It’s just about adapting to that.”
Despite all of that, the confidence remains just as high as usual. “I feel like I’ve picked it up pretty well so far. Throughout the weekend, I’m always looking to improve. In the end, it’s a good learning process.”
Grounded by experience, driven by learning
Having mentioned the word ‘almost’ several times, it is because the three-time Radical champion, in the car where it all started for him, has driven here before. “It was five years ago, in the Radical SR1.” Continuing by asking him whether he still takes anything from that experience into this weekend, he tells GT REPORT: “Kind of, because here in Portugal with the Radical SR1, although it’s the same track, it’s a lot lighter. The driving style is different because you drive it more in the aero. But I guess the weight is the biggest difference.”
Not only does he take that little bit of experience at this track with him; endurance racing isn’t completely new to him either, as he competed in the British Endurance Championship in 2023. “I was racing an older-gen Porsche Cup car. It had ABS, but I think the experience that I’m taking into this is the driver changes that I was doing with my gentleman driver.”
Being alongside regular drivers 28-year-old Brazilian Christian Hahn and 20-year-old Brit Josh Rowledge, the different experiences of the three drivers improve the team overall. “I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s someone I’m pinpointing to learn from. I think we’re all just learning from each other.”
Using his own experience and learning step by step, the aim for the race is clear for the GTWCE newcomer. “It would be nice to be bringing home some silverware, but I appreciate it’s my debut as well. I’m going to approach it with an open mind, try to learn as much as possible and do the best stint I possibly can. So, as a team, we can hopefully perform well and bring home some good results.”
On a personal level, the 21-year-old aims to impress and take the next steps in his young career. “I would love to be a GT manufacturer driver. But of course, we’ll just have to wait and see. I’m trying to do my best and hopefully something comes up next year.”
