American racer Rory Van Der Steur has set his sights on securing the Michelin Le Mans Cup GT3 title. In his debut season alongside Austrian Philipp Sager and with French team Code Racing Development, he has already made his mark, currently lying in second place in the championship standing, just two points behind the leaders.
A second-place finish in Barcelona for the no11 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO was quickly followed by a win at the French team’s home event in Le Castellet. So, what are the positives the 25-year-old American taken from the season so far?
“The positives I've taken away is how fast we've been able to come together as a team,” he replied. “Code Racing Development is new to GT3 and new to Aston Martin. I think I brought a little bit of experience of being with Aston in GT4. I know the people at AMR pretty well, so I've been able to bring some vital members to the team, like engineers, as well as my experience from doing IMSA.”
So, what has attracted him to come to Europe and race in the Michelin Le Mans Cup alongside a campaign in the GTD category in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship? “I think for me, it's very positive that we get so much track time in Le Mans Cup as compared to IMSA, where we barely get any in practice. So, to get all that track time is huge for us and to get up to speed with the car.”
Another new track for Rory Van Der Steur was the full 13.6km La Sarthe circuit at Le Mans. What were his thoughts on making his Road To Le Mans debut? “Le Mans was special. The first laps I had coming out of Mulsanne corner. I think the straightway from Mulsanne to Indianapolis was probably the coolest section I've ever driven on a racetrack with pine trees going everywhere. It was amazing.
“You never really get a huge a lot of track time, because the lap is so long and there was a lot of red flags. I think every lap I was on track, I was improving, so, it was quite good in that aspect. Road To Le Mans gives you a taste of what Le Mans is like, just the driving the track. So, one day, I want to be in the big race, I don't know, maybe in a couple of years.”
There is now a long break until the next race at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in August.This is another new track for the young American to learn but he is certainly looking forward to the challenge.
“I’m really looking forward to Spa,” he said.“I know Philipp has driven Spa, so it'll be a good for him, but I've never driven it. In fact, every track I go to is a brand new for me, so quite a challenge for me, but I have overcome the challenge two times already in Barcelona and Le Castellet. So, I accept these challenges; I actually like the challenge, because I think it's really, really rewarding when you when you do get a good result.
“Because some of these drivers have been growing up on these tracks, so beating them at their home tracks is makes it feel that much better. But like I said, it's very beneficial for me to have this much track time with the test day, the day before each race weekend.
“I know Spa is definitely a bucket list item for me. It’s not an easy track, a very long track. I think that it's going to suit the Aston very well. I am looking forward to taking the car through Eau Rouge.”
The competition in the GT3 category this season is very fierce, so who does Rory Van Der Steur see as his main competitors for the title this year? “At first it was David Fumanelli and the no33 Ferrari, but they had two bad races in Le Mans.Now it’s the no51 AF Corse car and the no17 Kessel car, those guys that are right with us in the championship. I think this championship is won by not making mistakes. So, it's very, very important to not make them; it's just damage limitation and to finish each race well.”
“So, I think we still have a good chance. I think Le Mans was our weak point, because this lack of track time for both of us. However, looking ahead to the next three races at Spa, Silverstone and Portimao, we will have plenty of opportunity to build on the progress we’ve made so far.”
The next race on the 2025 Michelin Le Mans Cup calendar is the Spa-Francorchamps Round in Belgium, which will be held on Saturday 23 August.
CLICK HERE to see the GT3 standings after Round 3, the Road To Le Mans.
