De Haan Eyes Full-Time GT3 Move “in Europe or Japan”

Porsche one-make star Robert de Haan has laid out his ambition to graduate full-time to GT3 racing next year, and is open to doing so in Japan as well as in Europe.

De Haan has established himself as one of the leading Porsche Carrera Cup drivers of recent years, winning last year’s Carrera Cup Germany title, and will wrap up his dual campaigns in Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and Carrera Cup Japan this month.

At the same time, the Dutchman has been gathering experience in GT3 cars, most notably with selected outings in GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup at the wheel of Paradine Competition’s BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

Having also raced a Porsche 911 GT3 R in the Michelin 24H Series this year, the 20-year-old is hoping that the connections he has made both in Europe and Japan will lead to a full-time GT3 program of some description in 2027.

“It’s definitely in the planning to make a move next year, to go out of Cup racing and make the step to GT3, whether it’s in Japan or Europe,” de Haan told Sportscar365.

“Driving the Cup car for the last three years has been great. It has taught me a lot of things you need to know as a racing driver. But this should be my last year.

“This year I’ve started to do a bit more GT3 stuff and it’s a completely different way of working. I did two races in GT World Challenge with Paradine, which has been a great experience, learning more about fuel saving and tire management.

“I also did the 12 Hours of Spa in a 911 GT3 R together with Joerg Dreisow and Proton, and we actually won that race [in Pro-Am], which was really good.

“Next year I hope I can win more races in GT3.”

De Haan is racing in Carrera Cup Japan for Seven x Seven Racing, and sits second in the championship behind teammate Taichi Watarai with two weekends to go.

He was won from pole in every race he has entered so far, albeit missing the third round of the series at Fuji Speedway in July owing to a Porsche Supercup clash.

De Haan was also at one point scheduled to drive for Seven x Seven in SUPER GT’s pre-season test at Fuji in March, but his maiden outing in the team’s 911 GT3 R Evo was instead postponed to the next possible opportunity.

“It has been a big pleasure to be here,” said de Haan. “Since the first day I’ve been in Japan I have felt very welcome and I have absolutely loved it.

“Every session I have driven, we have been fast, and I’ve had the opportunity to fight for pole positions and race wins. It’s a small grid, but we cannot underestimate the level of the drivers at the front, who have Super Formula and SUPER GT experience.

“I would hope also to build a career in Japan as well, as I have loved it until now. Racing in SUPER GT would be an absolute pleasure and a dream as well.”

At the end of last year de Haan was handed the chance to sample Proton Competition’s Porsche 963 LMDh in the end-of-season FIA World Endurance Championship rookie test in Bahrain as a reward for his domestic success for the team.

He set out a long-term goal of racing in the WEC’s Hypercar class or the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTP class off the bank of the experience.

“That was a remarkable and memorable opportunity that I got from Proton for winning Carrera Cup Germany,” said de Haan. “That was something really special.

“It was of course very fast, a lot more horsepower, a lot more downforce. It’s definitely an experience that I will never forget. It also opened my eyes that this is the place where I want to be and prove myself against the best of the best.

“But to get there you first have to climb some ladders, and I’m trying to climb those ladders now.”