van der Steur Racing
van der Steur Racing is a true privateer team — named for and run by its driver, Gustavo van der Steur, who built this operation out of his own passion and investment. Competing at Sebring against factory-backed operations and large professional teams with a family-owned effort is the classic David vs. Goliath story that endurance racing has celebrated since its earliest days.
Race Entry
About van der Steur Racing
van der Steur Racing is named for and centered around Gustavo van der Steur — a Venezuelan-Dutch racing driver and team principal who has built his racing program from personal passion and determination. The team embodies the privateer spirit that has been fundamental to endurance racing throughout its history: individuals and small teams competing at the highest level against manufacturer-backed juggernauts.
Gustavo van der Steur's dual heritage — Venezuelan and Dutch — reflects the international nature of GT racing, where drivers and teams come from across the globe to compete at circuits like Sebring. The team's presence in GTD represents the pure heart of the class: someone who loves racing enough to build a team, hire professionals, and compete seriously for class victory.
The Car: Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO
The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cars in GT3 racing — a sleek, elegant British grand tourer transformed into a serious racing machine. The road car's design, characterized by the aggressive grille, muscular haunches, and flowing roofline of Aston Martin's design language, translates beautifully to the track with the addition of a large rear wing and racing aero.
Under the skin, the Vantage GT3 EVO uses a twin-turbocharged V8 engine developed in partnership with Mercedes-AMG. The British-German engine partnership gives the Aston Martin strong performance while maintaining the car's distinctive character. The EVO update incorporated significant aerodynamic and mechanical improvements based on competitive data, making it more competitive over the full range of circuit types.
Privateer vs. Factory: The Heart of Endurance Racing
The greatest endurance races — Le Mans, Sebring, Daytona — have always featured private teams challenging factory programs. From the original privateer Ferrari and Jaguar entries in the 1950s to modern gentleman driver teams challenging factory-backed operations, this dynamic is fundamental to what makes endurance racing special. Van der Steur Racing carries that tradition into the 2026 Sebring GTD class.
Gustav Clot (France) is a French GT racing driver with experience across European and American GT championships. His professional background brings competitive pace to the van der Steur lineup, providing the technical foundation that a privateer team needs to compete effectively against larger, better-funded operations.
Gustavo van der Steur (Venezuela/Netherlands) is the team's founder, principal, and driver — a rare combination in professional motorsport. Managing the team while also competing as a driver requires exceptional organizational ability, racing skill, and personal dedication. Van der Steur's Venezuelan-Dutch background reflects the global passion for motorsport: it is not a sport limited to wealthy European or American markets, but a universal pursuit that draws enthusiasts from every corner of the world.
Florian Baud (France) is a young French professional racing driver who brings emerging talent and fresh perspective to the lineup. Young professional drivers in GTD often represent the next generation — gaining high-level experience in the world's best GT3 class while developing their careers toward longer-term professional goals.
Two Aston Martins at Sebring
The Heart of Racing Team also fields an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO (car #27) in GTD — with F1 legend Rubens Barrichello as a co-driver. Two Astons in GTD, two very different stories. See the #27 Heart of Racing →
What is GTD?
GTD requires at least one Silver-rated or lower amateur driver per car, celebrating the gentleman driver and privateer tradition that is central to endurance racing's history. Learn more →