Silverstone 500 Preview: Leung and Harper Aim for Historic Third Win
Darren Leung and BMW factory driver Dan Harper are poised to make history this weekend at the Silverstone 500, targeting a third victory in this prestigious event. Competing with Paradine Competition, which expands to a two-car GT3 entry, they seek to defend their title following last year’s triumph.
Leung and Harper’s prior victories have established them as front-runners; their efforts last year matched Sandy Mitchell’s tally of two wins with Barwell Motorsport, a benchmark they now aim to surpass. Both drivers are motivated to secure their second consecutive win after last year’s success with Paradine.
The 2026 British GT schedule features only one three-hour race, granting teams strategic flexibility. Paradine’s dual-car strategy is expected to enhance their competitiveness against full-season rivals such as 2 Seas, Barwell, and Optimum Motorsport. “We essentially get two shots at assessing setup and strategy,” Leung noted, citing the advantage of thorough data collection from both cars.
The sister car (#6) introduces Ian Loggie, the 2022 British GT champion, alongside accomplished driver Phil Keen. Leung expressed admiration for Loggie’s support during his early career, underscoring a strong team dynamic. “I’m confident Ian and Phil will be great teammates and help each other,” he remarked.
Both Leung and Harper will utilize the BMW M4 GT3 package, which has shown consistent performance in previous editions. Leung praised the car’s engineering, noting, “It’s very reliable, but it can be sensitive in certain conditions.”
Ahead of the race, Paradine utilized a Media Day to conduct valuable testing with the #91 car, completing 74 laps and gaining insights into the competitive field. “There’s quite a varied pool of driver ability,” Leung assessed, emphasizing the importance of mastering traffic and strategy.
Last year, Leung and Harper clinched victory by a mere 0.6 seconds. As they prepare for what promises to be a closely contested race, their experience and dual-entry strategy could prove crucial in their quest for a historic third win.
