Jaap van Lagen

Jaap van Lagen is an experienced Dutch race driver who has been active in professional racing for almost 20 years. Early in a career, he earned a few championship titles in the single-seater competitions (Formula Ford and Formula VW) and Megane Trophy Eurocup (2006).  In recent years, he mostly competed in GT races and touring car championships.

Jaap van Lagen

Three championship titles in three seasons

Jaap van Lagen was born on December 22, 1976, in Ede, Netherlands. After several amateur competitions, he started his professional racing career in the Dutch Citroen Saxo Cup in 1999, in which he finished as a runner-up. After the cup championship, he switched single-seater race cars in Formula Ford, Formula VW, Eurocup Formula Renault V6 and Formula Renault 3.5 Series between 2000 and 2005.

In that period, he clinched three championship titles. First, he became the Formula Ford Benelux champion for two years in a row (2001 and 2002). In 2003, he switched to German Formula Volkswagen championship, taking his third title in three years.

Jaap was the 2006 Megane Trophy champion

2006 Eurocup Megane Trophy champion

In 2006, Jaap remained in Formula Renault 3.5 Series but focused on the Eurocup Megane V6 Trophy, driving for Equipe Verschuur.  With four wins in fourteen races, Van Lagen became the champion. In 2007, Jaap participated in seven races of the Porsche Supercup, driving for Bleekemolen Race Planet team, but without notable results.

Van Lagen joined Lada WTCC team in 2008

WTCC adventure with Lada

The next step was the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2008. Jaap was the first West European driver who joined Russian Lada in manufacturer's WTCC effort. He was driving the Lada 110 for Russian Bear Motorsport, finishing 8th in the Independent's classification, scoring one podium.

In the same season, Van Lagen participated successfully in the Porsche Supercup with DAMAC Kadach Racing. With one victory (Istanbul Park), he finished 7th in the points. Van Lagen spent one more season with Lada, driving Lada 110 and Lada Priora in 21 races. Since the team was not so competitive, his best result was the 10th place at Oschersleben.

Jaap Van Lagen

Racing all over the world

In 2010 and 2011, Jaap's main competition was the Dutch Supercar Challenge. He was driving Porsche 997 GT3. In 2010, he finished second in the points. A year later, Van Lagen was the Supercar Challenge champion, winning six out of 14 races. His partner in the FE Racing team was Wolf Nathan.

In 2011, Jaap van Lagen also participated in nine races of the German Porsche Carrera Cup, finishing 6th in the points, but also started racing in endurance championships. He joined Kelly-Moss Motorsports in two races of the American Le Mans Series, at Lime Rock Park and Road America.

Only Le Mans 24h participation in 2011

In June 2011, Van Lagen debuted at 24 hours of Le Mans, together with Marc Goossens and Marco Holzer in Prospeed Competition's Porsche 997 GT3 RSR. They finished 23rd overall and 8th in GTE Pro class.

The German Porsche Carrera Cup was his main competition from 2012 to 2014. In 2012, he scored two podiums in 17 races, finishing 6th in the points. In 2013, he scored two wins but finished 7th in the points.

2014 ADAC GT Masters runner-up

ADAC GT Masters runner-up in 2014

Van Lagen dropped to the 15th place in the 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany. On the other side, he finished as a runner-up in the 2014 ADAC GT Masters, driving the Porsche 911 GT3 for GW IT Racing Team Schütz Motorsport. He won both races at Zandvoort, sharing the car with Kevin Estre. His other teammates were Christian Engelhart and Martin Ragginger.

Half of WTCC season with Lada

In 2015, Van Lagen rejoined Lada in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, driving Lada Vesta in ten races. His best result was the 6th place at Slovakia Ring. Van Lagen had a versatile schedule in 2015, participating in the German Porsche Carrera Cup and Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, but also at 24h Nurburgring with Mercedes and he participated in several races of ADAC GT Masters with Lamborghini. The highlight of the season was his victory in Porsche Supercup race at the streets of Monte-Carlo.

Van Lagen after Monaco victory in the 2015 Porsche Supercup race

Back to ADAC GT Masters in 2016

In 2016, Van Lagen switched his focus again on the ADAC GT Masters, participating full season with HB Racing's Lamborghini Huracan GT3. He was sharing the car with Norbert Siedler.  The duo scored one podium and finished 23rd in the points. Besides driving Lamborghini, Van Lagen had occasional participations in some endurance races with BMW and Porsche. He also had one one-off appearance in the Porsche Supercup at German round at Hockenheimring.

2017 - TCR races in a focus

In 2017, Van Lagen raced the most in TCR competitions, joining three different teams on a part-time basis in three championship. He was driving VW Golf for Leopard Racing in the TCR International Series, Audi RS3 LMS for Certainty Racing in the TCR Benelux and Audi RS3 LMS for Bas Koeten Racing in the ADAC TCR Germany.

In the GT competitions, he had occassional appearances in the 24H Series, Blancpain GT Series, Porsche Supercup and 24 Hours of Nurburgring.

Racing with Porsches in 2018 and 2019

In 2018, Van Lagen spent a year in Porsche one-make competitions, driving for Fach Auto Tech in the Porsche Supercup and for Förch Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany.

He had similar programme in 2019, driving for Förch Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and for Martinet by Almeras in the Porsche Supercup.

Jaap van Lagen in 2017

Jaap is versatile driver who knows how to win

Jaap van Lagen has a great experience when it comes to racing various types of race cars. From small hot hatch cup series to single seater formula cars and from touring sedans to endurance GT racers, van Lagen knows them all. So, even though he is not currently in the spotlight, his experience, knowledge and a little luck could surprise his racing colleagues.

Photos: jaapvanlagen.eu, automobilsport.com, newsroom.porsche.com, wikipedia.com, dedeporsche.com