Boutsen VDS has confirmed the driver line-ups for both of its full-season Audi entries.
The Belgian squad begins a new chapter in 2023 as the established Boutsen Racing outfit led by Olivier Lainé and Olivia Boutsen joins forces with Marc Van der Straten. The latter is best known for his Marc VDS programme, which earned a popular home victory at the 2015 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
Having largely focused on single-car entries in the Fanatec GT Endurance Cup in recent seasons, Boutsen VDS will expand to run a pair of cars in the full 10-round championship this term. The #9 Audi will compete in the Gold Cup class with Adam Eteki, Aurélien Panis and Alberto Di Folco sharing the wheel at Endurance rounds. In the Fanatec GT Sprint Cup, Panis and Di Folco will form a duo.
Eteki retains his place with the team following a strong debut season in 2022, during which the Frenchman frequently showed impressive speed. Panis joins Boutsen VDS after two years with fellow Audi squad Saintéloc Racing, while Di Folco is preparing for his first full programme after making numerous one-off appearances in recent seasons.
The sister #10 car will contend for Silver Cup honours at Fanatec GT Endurance Cup rounds with the young crew of Andrea Cola, César Gazeau and Roee Meyuhas. In Sprint, the #10 will compete in the Gold Cup class with Eteki and Gazeau sharing the wheel.
Though just 19, Gazeau is the only member of the trio with Fanatec GT Europe experience: the Frenchman completed last year's Endurance schedule with Sainteloc Racing and was previously FFSA GT Am champion in 2020. His teammates also come with pedigree: Meyuhas graduates to GT3 competition after winning last year's GT4 European Series crown, while Cola earned the Italian GT Endurance title and made his Fanatec GT Europe debut at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
Boutsen VDS will begin its new alliance at the season-opening Endurance Cup race at Monza on 21-23 April. The Sprint campaign gets under way at Brands Hatch on 13-14 May, while its home event – the marquee CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa – is scheduled for 29 June–2 July.
#9 AUDI
Endurance – Gold Cup
Adam Eteki
Aurélien Panis
Alberto Di Folco
Sprint – Gold Cup
Aurélien Panis
Alberto Di Folco
#10 AUDI
Endurance – Silver Cup
Andrea Cola
César Gazeau
Roee Meyuhas
Sprint – Gold Cup
Adam Eteki
César Gazeau