Nathan Vanspringel shows strong pace and fighting spirit at Zandvoort

The penultimate round of the 2026 GT4 European Series took Nathan Vanspringel and Academy Motorsport to the famous Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands for another intense weekend of GT4 racing.

Sharing the 61 Ford Mustang GT4 with Erik Evans, Nathan once again showed strong pace throughout the weekend and continued to demonstrate his progress in his first full season with Academy Motorsport.

Strong pace from the opening sessions

The weekend immediately offered encouraging signs for Nathan and Erik.

The 61 Mustang finished sixth fastest in the second free practice session, with a best lap of 1:43.265, putting the Academy Motorsport car firmly among the leading Silver entries.

Qualifying continued to confirm that pace.

In Q1, Nathan and Erik placed 14th overall with a 1:43.686 lap, while changing conditions in Q2 brought an even stronger performance. The 61 Mustang climbed to fourth overall, just 0.571 seconds from pole, with a 1:42.414 lap.

That result put the Academy Mustang in an excellent position for the second race of the weekend.

A solid first race

Race 1 on Saturday proved to be a competitive and closely fought affair.

Starting from the midfield, Nathan and Erik brought the 61 Mustang home in 11th position after 33 laps around the 4.259-kilometre Zandvoort circuit. The car remained competitive throughout the race, setting a best lap of 1:44.909.

Although the final position did not fully reflect the pace shown during the weekend, the Academy Motorsport crew had clearly established itself among the competitive Silver entries.

There was still plenty more to come on Sunday.

Podium pace in Race 2

Sunday's second race at Zandvoort delivered one of the most encouraging performances of Nathan Vanspringel's weekend.

Starting with strong pace, the 61 Academy Motorsport Ford Mustang GT4 quickly found itself in the thick of the battle at the front. Erik Evans settled into the opening stint among the podium contenders, keeping the Mustang firmly in the fight as the race began to unfold.

The turning point came during the mandatory pit window. Evans stayed out longer before making the pit stop for the driver change, but the stop ultimately fell outside the permitted window, resulting in a 10-second penalty for the 61 Mustang.

Nathan then climbed behind the wheel with the task of bringing the car through the second half of the race. And he delivered.

Showing strong pace throughout his stint, Nathan pushed the Mustang back into podium contention and crossed the finish line third on the road. The earlier 10-second penalty, however, was added to the team's race time and ultimately dropped the 61 to seventh in the final classification.

While the result sheet may show seventh place, the performance told a very different story. The Academy Motorsport Mustang had genuine podium pace, and Nathan demonstrated once again that he could fight at the sharp end of a highly competitive GT4 field.

For Nathan, it was another positive step in a season built around progress, experience and increasingly strong performances at the front of the pack.

Another step forward

Zandvoort once again highlighted the progress Nathan has made during his first season with Academy Motorsport.

After joining the team for 2026 alongside fellow Ford Racing Development Driver Erik Evans, Nathan has continued to gain experience at some of Europe's most demanding circuits while working within a highly competitive GT4 environment.

The Zandvoort weekend added another valuable chapter to that progression. The pace shown in qualifying, the fight for the podium in Race 2 and the ability to bring the car home in seventh despite the penalty all provided positive signs heading into the final round of the season.

For Nathan, the focus now turns to Portugal.

Next stop: Portimão

There is now just one event remaining in the 2026 GT4 European Series.

The championship will conclude at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão from 16 to 18 October, where Nathan Vanspringel and Academy Motorsport will look to close the season on a high.

After a season filled with new experiences, challenging circuits and continued progress behind the wheel of the Ford Mustang GT4, Nathan will head to Portugal with another opportunity to show the pace and consistency that have marked his 2026 campaign.

The final chapter of the season awaits.