Darren Leung is aiming for a future Le Mans entry with his Paradine Competition outfit, convinced that the squad has now moved beyond the early days of being an unknown name in the paddock.
The outfit only established itself as a standalone entrant in 2025, soon after Leung clinched the 2024 GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup Bronze class title with Dan Harper in a Century Motorsport-run BMW that benefited from substantial Paradine involvement.
GTWC Europe has been the team’s central focus since then, yielding several class triumphs, the latest coming in Magny-Cours’ Bronze Sprint Cup earlier this month when Leung won aboard a BMW M4 GT3 EVO with Augusto Farfus.
Team founder Leung told Sportscar365 that he takes pride in how the squad has evolved from a little-known challenger to a “respected outfit capable of going toe-to-toe with some of the strongest teams in the field.”
“I’m genuinely happy with how things are progressing,” he said. “We’re solidifying our foundations and trying to replicate what we’ve accomplished over the last couple of years.”
“The ultimate goal for Paradine is to secure a Le Mans entry.”
“That’s really where I want the team to head — achieving that means winning a championship, plain and simple.”
Leung currently sits in second place in the GTWC Europe Bronze Cup standings, with the champion of the season earning an automatic invitation to the French endurance classic.
Last year’s Bronze Cup champions, Kessel Racing’s Dustin Blattner and Dennis Marschall, who finished ninth in Blattner’s Le Mans debut this year thanks to the invitation, currently lead the standings.
While Leung finds watching the squad’s progress highly rewarding, he continues to enjoy racing himself, including competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
“It’s incredibly fulfilling,” he noted. “I’m the sort who needs a pursuit to chase, and motorsport for me is 98 percent blood, sweat, tears and heartache, with only about 2 percent of the day being a peak moment.”
“It’s something truly special, and it allows me to create lasting memories with my family who travel with me.”
“I want them to see firsthand that the sport is driven by that 98 percent sacrifice and 2 percent pure exhilaration.”
“You have to decide: will you chase it relentlessly, or let it slip by? That’s at the core of what motorsport is about.”
“It’s a magnet for like‑minded people, and that is another enjoyable aspect of coming to the track for me.”
Leung Supporting “Mini Augusto” Vicky Farfus in Ginetta Junior Ranks
In addition to sharing a WRT BMW with Farfus in the LMGTE3 class of the WEC and continuing their GTWC Europe Sprint Cup campaign, Leung and Farfus also have a shared link through the Ginetta Junior series in Britain.
Farfus’ daughter Vicky is one of Paradine’s two entrants in the SRO Motorsports Group-operated championship, which provides a platform for aspiring drivers aged between 14 and 17.
Vicky Farfus has so far peaked with a best finish of 12th this season, though Leung says she began the year slightly disadvantaged against some rivals.
“She’s like a miniature Augusto,” Leung remarked. “She possesses extraordinary talent, a strong work ethic, the right attitude and a feisty Brazilian spirit reminiscent of her father, which has been a pleasure to witness.”
“She’s been performing exceptionally well. She started the year with less track time than many others, yet she’s shown she can comfortably run in the top ten, and I expect some exciting results from a very fresh rookie as the season progresses.”
Leung views Vicky’s inclusion in the Paradine fold as an additional shared experience between himself and Augusto Farfus.
“There are moments when we discuss our own races, and other times when we talk about Vicky’s program, so it’s genuinely enjoyable,” Leung explained.
