• Veteran racer Jaap van Lagen joins as third driver for Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux
• Long-term collaboration between team and driver gets new chapter
• Season kick-off during test and media day on 3 April

Maastricht, 18 March 2025 - Jaap van Lagen will return to Team RaceArt as the third driver in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux season. The veteran racing driver and Porsche single-make stalwart will make his first racing appearance with the team since 2012, teaming up with Sam Jongejan and Jules Grouwels.

Van Lagen, hailing from Ede, has been active in motorsport for nearly 30 years and can look back on a successful and highly varied career. After making his debut in the Radio 538 Saxo Cup in 1999, success in formula cars at home and abroad soon followed. He then drove in the World Touring Car Championship for two seasons before developing a relationship with Porsche that would see the 48-year-old compete all over the world. Opportunities in the United States would see him compete in both the American Le Mans Series and the IMSA championship, while he also raced in the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans and took part in several editions of the Nürburgring 24.

In later years, Van Lagen became known for his long-term participation in various Porsche single-make series. Between 2007 and 2024, he drove no fewer than 92 races in the Porsche Supercup, peaking with a victory on the streets of Monte Carlo. Van Lagen is aiming to hit a landmark 100 race starts in Porsche Supercup this year, with September’s Monza season finale set to be the occasion.

RaceArt and Van Lagen have enjoyed a good relationship for several years, initially coming on board as a driver coach for Roger Grouwels. Grouwels and Van Lagen then became teammates when RaceArt debuted in the Blancpain Endurance Series, in which the pair shared a BMW Z4 GT3 with, among others, future BMW and Corvette factory driver Nicky Catsburg.

Van Lagen hasn’t raced for the team since, but remained closely associated in his role as a driver coach. Last year, he worked with Jules Grouwels and Sam Jongejan, who won several races last year with Van Lagen's support and both have been retained as part of the team’s lineup as well.

‘It's super nice to participate in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux with RaceArt,” said Van Lagen. I have known Roger for a long time. First as a coach, then as a teammate with the BMW Z4 GT3 in the Blancpain Endurance Series and then again as a coach, also for Jules and Sam Jongejan last year. We always worked well together. Everything always ran smoothly, not just with the engineers and mechanics, but also with the rest of the team, like the person that takes care of catering. This team really gives you that family feeling and I love that.

“I am hugely looking forward to working with this team as a driver this year. The expectations are high, both for me personally and for the team. I expect Sam and I to fight for overall podiums. We will do everything we can to make this season a success. I'm looking forward to it!’

To ensure optimal preparation for the season ahead, Van Lagen will join the team for a shakedown test at Spa-Francorchamps on March 28. The team will then attend the official test and media day at Circuit Zandvoort on 3 April, before returning to Spa for an additional test day on April 9. The opening round of the championship is scheduled for May 8-10, also held at Spa as part of the support bill for the FIA World Endurance Championship.