Rhys Lloyd Joins SebLajoux Racing for Barcelona 24 Hours
Carmarthen racing driver Rhys Lloyd is set to return to 24-hour racing in Spain with the French squad SebLajoux Racing. Lloyd will line up for his second 24-hour race of the season at the Michelin 24H Barcelona event, held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from September 18–20.
Lloyd rejoins the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup team, SebLajoux Racing, founded by driver Sébastien Lajoux. This race is widely considered the most significant endurance race on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the most physically demanding events in the European calendar.
A strong year for the Welshman
Lloyd’s return to Spain follows a successful year. In January, he secured a third-place finish in the GT4 category at the Dubai 24 Hours, marking his first podium after years of attempting to complete the Middle East race. Previously, he had twice failed to reach the chequered flag.
Seasoned driver Rhys said: “I’m looking forward to taking on my second 24-hour event of the year and second time out with SebLajoux. “We understand the event will be really tough on the car and the drivers due to the heat and duration. There is also a fiercely competitive entry list with drivers converging on the prestige event from all around the world. This naturally makes it all the more of a challenge.
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Barcelona marks Lloyd’s second outing with SebLajoux
Barcelona is Lloyd’s second race of the year with the French team. Their partnership began in March at the Michelin 12H Mugello, the opening round of the 24H Series European Series. There, Lloyd, alongside Lionel Amrouche and Yannick Mettler, secured a sixth-place finish in class.
Significantly, Lloyd will race with the same team in Spain, a consistency that is valuable in endurance racing. Effective car handovers, consistent pacing, and clear communication among the team can be as key as speed. This unchanged lineup provides the team with valuable experience ahead of the more demanding Barcelona race.
Rhys said: “Where Mugello was split across two segments totalling twelve hours, Barcelona demands a full twenty-four — a step up those places entirely different demands on tyre management, fuel strategy, mechanical reliability and driver stamina.
SebLajoux Racing arrives with pedigree
SebLajoux Racing has a strong record in this category, finishing third overall in the 992 class at Mugello in 2025. The 24 Hours of Barcelona, first held in 1998 as the 24 Horas de Barcelona de Automovilismo – Trofeo Fermí Vélez, has become Spain’s premier endurance event.
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Since 2011, the race has been co-organized by Dutch promoter Creventic as part of the international 24H Series. This partnership introduced GT3 machinery and a global entry list to an already historic race. Notably, two-time Formula One World Drivers’ Champion Fernando Alonso competed in the inaugural event.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya challenge
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló is one of Europe’s busiest and most renowned tracks, hosting Formula One and MotoGP events alongside its endurance races. With a length of 4.657 kilometres and fourteen corners, it combines long straights and technical sections. However, the September race brings intense Catalan heat, making cockpit conditions extremely challenging for drivers over the full day and night.
The 992 class, in which Lloyd competes, is a one-make category for Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, known for its close racing. Lloyd has built a diverse motorsport career, spanning rallying, saloon cars, and endurance racing, including participation in TCR and Britcar competitions. In 2007, he received the Tom Pryce Trophy, awarded to the most promising Welsh racing driver, named after the last Welshman to race in Formula One.
Away from the cockpit, Lloyd is a Carmarthen-based businessman and the founder of Dra, a racing team competing in national endurance and tin-top championships which also runs a driver development scholarship for emerging talent. The Michelin 24H Barcelona takes place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from September 18–20.
