James excited to continue with CSA Racing for second consecutive year.
James Kell will bid for success in the high-profile GT World Challenge Europe Sprint and Endurance Cups this year.
The 28-year-old official McLaren GT3 Junior Driver will race a CSA Racing entered McLaren 720S EVO in both series which gets underway with a six-hour Endurance Cup night race at Paul Ricard (France) on 11 Apr.
James will have Arthur Rougier (F) as his team-mate in Sprint events with the pair joined by Simon Gachet (F) in the Endurance races, as was the case last year.
James made his GT World Challenge Europe debut in 2023 and was victorious in Silver Cup at the Spa 24 Hours the following year. James finished third in the Endurance Gold Cup with CSA last year, having scored three podium finishes including a class victory at Paul Ricard last April in a McLaren 720S EVO.
A British Racing Drivers’ Club Full member since 2023, James was in contention for the Gold Cup title but a non-finish at Monza effectively cost the Brit dearly. He lay second in class in the Italian race before pitting to his team-mate, their car unfortunately forced into retirement after a collision.
Racing at Misano, Zandvoort and the Magny Cours tracks will be new for James, but he will be especially looking forward to competing in the Spa 24 Hours again and to make a rare appearance on “home” soil at Brands Hatch in May.
CSA Racing is based in Grenoble and was founded by entrepreneur Kevin Chanas in 2022, beginning a long-term association with McLaren Customer Racing in 2024. CSA is the reigning outright French FFSA GT Champions having finished 2024 GTWC Europe Sprint Gold Cup Teams’ Vice Champions and third overall in the 2025 Gold Cup.
“I thoroughly enjoyed working with CSA Racing in 2025, we had some very strong results for their first year running the McLaren 720S GT3,” said James. “I’m excited to be back with them for this year, ready to build on the momentum of last season, and to reward McLaren Customer Racing for their faith in me.
“The team were very driven to improve the car where possible and eager to learn and implement changes to give us, as drivers, the best car possible and I’m certain this mentality will carry forward into 2026.
“My GT World Challenge Europe calendar has doubled this year by taking on both Sprint and Endurance Championships. I’m extremely excited to get the season underway especially as there is less time between events than in previous years. This will allow me to work with the team more closely across the whole season while racing with the best drivers on a monthly basis.
“Testing begins next month and I’m raring to get the season underway with the first round at Paul Ricard, that’s when the gloves come off and we’re racing again!”
For further information, please contact:
Martyn Pass Public Relations Ltd. Tel: 07801 859502
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