Le Castellet (FR), April 17, 2026 – The opening race weekend of the GT4 European Series season at Circuit Paul Ricard immediately put TeamFloral and its new driver pairing, Michiel Haverans and Sam Paley, to the test. Despite setbacks in the first race, the duo managed to gain valuable experience together with the team while showcasing their resilience and pace - a promising sign for the remainder of the season.
A new season with a new driver pairing for TeamFloral
During the opening round of the 19th GT4 European Series season, more than 70 drivers from around the world gathered in the south of France to compete. At Circuit Paul Ricard, Michiel Haverans and Sam Paley, both members of the Ford Racing Driver Development Team, made their appearance. The duo embarked on their first race weekend together under the banner of Belgian outfit TeamFloral.
For Paley, it marked his debut in European competition, while Haverans returned for his second season with the team in the Ford Mustang GT4.
Paley and Haverans stand out with strong race pace and resilience
From the test sessions onwards, it quickly became clear that the dynamic between both drivers and their combined racecraft carried strong potential. In a highly competitive and closely matched field, they were given the opportunity at Paul Ricard to quickly adapt to each other, the car, and the team. This resulted in an impressive ninth-place starting position in qualifying.
After a strong start in the first race on Sunday morning, their number 68 car became involved in a race incident, forcing them to retire early. The team was then faced with the challenge of preparing the car in time for the second race later that day. Thanks to their flexibility and technical expertise, they succeeded in getting the car back on the grid.
Paley and Haverans went on to deliver competitive lap times and demonstrated their ability to fight back through the field, climbing to seventh position on track. A ten-second time penalty ultimately dropped them to nineteenth in the final classification. Their fighting spirit highlighted how Haverans’ experience within the team and Paley’s international background are combining into a complementary and promising partnership.
Looking ahead to Monza
Although the opening weekend did not deliver the results initially hoped for, the overall feeling is that a strong foundation for the season has been established. The progress shown, their ability to fight back through the field, and the continued development of the car provide confidence heading into the next round.
Focus now shifts to the next race weekend, taking place from May 29 to 31 at the Monza circuit. In Italy, the duo will have another opportunity to build on the insights gained and take the next step in their development.