Car Blanche has wasted absolutely no time making its long-term intentions clear, becoming the very first team to officially confirm an entry for the 2027 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The squad is locking in a full-season Grand Touring Daytona Pro program, and they are bringing a proper machine for the job: an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO, shared by drivers Valentin Hasse Clot and Marco Sorensen.
That striking white livery and the team's distinctive branding have certainly turned heads, but it is the raw pace on the asphalt that has really done the talking. Speaking ahead of the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Valentin Hasse Clot pointed out just how quickly the outfit made its presence felt. "A fast car is a nice car, and we still have scored two podiums on Car Blanche's debut," he said, noting that being competitive right out of the box ensured nobody could ignore them.
We'll be chasing the GTD PRO championship next. We want to have the strongest effort possible, whatever that means.
This early commitment follows a toe-in-the-water GTD PRO campaign across most races in the second half of 2026, which began after YRB Racing acquired the former van der Steur Racing outfit prior to the Watkins Glen International weekend. Led by Team Principal Christopher Deely, the newly branded operation made an immediate impact by securing a pair of podium finishes in its first and thus far only two Grand Touring Daytona starts. Those outings saw Hasse Clot team up with Marius Fossard and Trenton Estep in the No. 068 Aston Martin at Watkins Glen and Road America.
Meanwhile, Hasse Clot has been the unwavering constant through every transition, handling driving duties in both GTD and GTD PRO classes throughout 2026. He shared the No. 68 Aston Martin in GTD PRO first with Scott Andrews at CTMP, before partnering with Sorensen starting at VIRginia International Raceway. Speaking on his pairing with Sorensen, Hasse Clot noted the natural chemistry: "It's been easy when you have good co-drivers. I've known him for a while. He and I have known each other for seven or eight years."
Reaching the premier GT class was never an accident; it was a deliberate target brewing in the background for years. According to Hasse Clot, he and Chris Deely had set their sights on GTD PRO years in advance, ultimately deciding to dive into the current season early to accelerate their learning curve. While they could have waited until the end of the year, jumping in early served as valuable testing, especially following a stellar weekend at Watkins Glen.
Although missing WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca meant they were not in the hunt for points this year—compounded by a class change—Hasse Clot has thoroughly embraced the unique rhythm of IMSA racing, praising a championship structure that rewards consistency and reliability. With the foundation now firmly laid, Team Principal Christopher Deely has made the ultimate objective for the upcoming campaign crystal clear: "We'll be chasing the GTD PRO championship next. We want to have the strongest effort possible, whatever that means."
