Next stop: Spa-Francorchamps, where Lawrence Herbots and Vic Stevens will represent the programme in the Ligier European Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup. Frenchman Romain Boeckler, a new recruit to Benjamin Bailly’s organisation, will also be in action.
Bailly Driver Development has been operating at full speed since the start of the season. With Beau Lowette competing in the Spanish Formula 4 Championship, Thomas Strauven in Eurocup-3, Vic Stevens in the Michelin Le Mans Cup and Lawrence Herbots in the Ligier European Series, the race weekends have come thick and fast. The summer break nevertheless provided an opportunity to take stock of the first half of the season.
“All of our drivers have shown that they have potential and all of them achieved promising results during the first half of the season,” says Benjamin Bailly, founder of Bailly Driver Development.
“In his first year in single-seaters, Beau Lowette scored his first podium at Jarama in the E4 Spanish Winter Championship. Thomas Strauven, meanwhile, was among the leading rookies in the E3 Spanish Winter Championship and is making steady progress in Eurocup-3. Vic Stevens finished an encouraging sixth at the Michelin Le Mans Cup season opener in Barcelona, while Lawrence Herbots successfully made the transition from karting to car racing, scoring several top-five finishes in the Ligier European Series. Now we need to confirm that potential in the second half of the season.”
That second half begins this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, with the fourth rounds of the Michelin Le Mans Cup and Ligier European Series. “I’m really looking forward to it,” says the Belgian manager, who has been based in Denmark for the past ten years. “A home race weekend is always special. With all the travelling from circuit to circuit, it is an opportunity to see my family again, but also to show the Belgian motorsport community all the work we are doing with our drivers.”
Three drivers will represent Bailly Driver Development in the Ardenne. Competing in the Ligier European Series, Lawrence Herbots will head into the event with some previous experience of the track. In early July, he took part in the Spa round of the Ligier JS Cup France. “His performance level was promising. That bodes well for this weekend,” says Benjamin Bailly.
In the Michelin Le Mans Cup field, Vic Stevens will be joined by Romain Boeckler, the latest recruit to Bailly Driver Development. The Frenchman will team up with Switzerland’s David Droux at CLX Motorsport. “Romain is a very talented driver and I’m delighted that he has joined us,” says Benjamin Bailly. “Last year, he was one of the leading drivers in the Ligier European Series and could have fought for the title without a mechanical issue. A recent test session at Silverstone confirmed that he can be competitive at Spa. One to watch! Looking further ahead, the goal will be to continue in the Michelin Le Mans Cup or European Le Mans Series next year.”
Expectations are also high for Vic Stevens. Teamed with Jude Peters, the Belgian used the break to rack up mileage in Team Virage’s Ligier. “They completed a few days of testing together and everything went well,” Benjamin explains. “They should be on the pace, and I hope they have a little more luck than they did at the start of the season so they can target a top-five finish.”
Vic Stevens’ programme will continue after Spa. The following week, the Limburg driver will take part in the 24 Hours of Zolder, one of Belgium’s great endurance classics. “He will race an NGT Porsche 992 GT3 Cup,” Benjamin Bailly confirms. “For Vic, who won the GT4 category last year, it will be a major test. He is already looking forward to getting to grips with the car in a race that means a great deal to him.”
