Daryl De Leon to Make GT3 Debut at Algarve
Daryl De Leon, a British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) race winner, is set to make his GT3 debut this weekend at the final round of the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, taking place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal.
De Leon will pilot the Paradine Competition’s #992 BMW M4 GT3 Evo in the Silver Cup class, joining established team members Christian Hahn and Josh Rowledge. The trio aims to capitalize on their best finish of the season, achieved at the Nürburgring.
The 21-year-old driver follows previous BTCC stars Ashley Sutton and Bobby Thompson, who also raced the #992 BMW this season. “I am thrilled to make my GT3 debut… competing with the world’s best drivers like Max Verstappen is a huge achievement,” De Leon remarked, expressing gratitude for the opportunity.
In addition, Paradine Competition has strengthened its lineup for the Bronze Cup-entered #991 BMW. Full-season Endurance Cup drivers Darren Leung and James Kellett will welcome Robert De Haan, who previously drove for the team at Monza. De Haan stated, “I’m massively looking forward to sharing the car… it’s shaping up to be a special weekend.”
The final round of the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup will run from October 16-17 at Portimão, promising a competitive showdown as the season concludes.
