Esteban Masson

Esteban Alexandre Heinrich Masson (born 18 September 2004) is a French and Canadian racing driver competing in the European Le Mans Series for Forestier Racing by Panis in LMP2 and the FIA World Endurance Championship for Akkodis ASP Team in LMGT3. He is also the reserve driver for Toyota Racing in Hypercar. Masson won the 2025 European Le Mans Series for VDS Panis Racing, partnering Oliver Gray and Charles Milesi. In junior formulae, he was a French F4 and Eurocup-3 champion.

Early career Karting Having been born in Canada, Masson discovered karting at the age of three. He started winning titles after moving to France, with regional and national championships in the categories mini-kart, Minimes and Cadets. In 2018, Masson took the National Series Karting title and followed it up the following year by winning the French Junior Championship. Masson continued karting in 2020, finishing fifth in the IAME Euro Series.

Formula 4

2019 Masson made his single-seater debut in the final round of the 2019 French F4 Championship. He finished all three races at the Paul Ricard Circuit outside of the top-ten, with a best result of eleventh in race 3.

2020 The following year, Masson again raced solely in the last round of French F4 at Le Castellet. This time his results would improve, as he ended two races in points-paying positions. However, due to his status as a guest driver, Masson didn't receive any championship points.

2021 Masson joined the French F4 Championship on a full-time basis for the first time in 2021. He started his campaign out in brilliant fashion, winning the opening race at Nogaro and taking an early championship lead after three successive victories, two in Magny-Cours and one at the Hungaroring. However, two comparatively weak rounds at Lédenon and Monza threw Masson back behind his closest rival Macéo Capietto, who had scored four podiums from those rounds compared to Masson's one. The latter would get back to winning ways in the penultimate round in Le Castellet, and took another win in the first race of the final round in Nevers. The final race threw up controversy in the title fight: having taken pole position Masson remained in the lead of the race and the standings until the last lap, when Capietto, who was trying to make a last-gasp overtake for the lead, collided with Masson, putting him out of the race and provisionally handing Capietto the title. Following an investigation by the race stewards Capietto was disqualified from all results of that weekend, handing Masson the title.

Formula Regional 2022

For the 2022 season, Masson progressed to the Formula Regional European Championship as one of the French Federation of Automobile Sport's five Équipe de France representatives. He joined two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso's team, FA Racing, alongside Victor Bernier and Nicolás Baptiste. At Zandvoort, Masson collided with Pietro Delli Guanti approaching turn two, sending the Italian into a roll. Fortunately however, both drivers exited the scene uninjured and neither were given a penalty by the race stewards.

Before the round at Spa-Francorchamps, it was announced that Masson would switch to ART Grand Prix, replacing Mari Boya. He would not score any points with the French outfit and finished 24th in the standings, with his only point being scored at the Hungaroring.

2023 Masson racing in the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship at the Red Bull Ring. Masson returned to the Formula Regional European Championship with Saintéloc Racing during the Hungaroring weekend. Masson scored his and Saintéloc's first podium in FRECA with a second place in Circuit Paul Ricard. With three other points finishes, he ranked 16th in the standings.

Eurocup-3 Masson racing in the 2023 Eurocup-3 season at Spa-Francorchamps. Masson moved to Eurocup-3 for 2023, with Campos Racing. After a slow start to the season, Masson secured a double victory in Aragón. After a double podium in Monza propped him to the championship lead, second double victory in Zandvoort handed him a further cushion. However, he was forced to endure a double DNF in Circuito de Jerez, which significantly reduced his lead. The next two rounds would see title rival Mari Boya haul closer into title contention with two wins and two podiums, with Masson's podiums only being his two wins, reducing the gap between the two to a single point heading into the season finale in Barcelona. However, he controlled things perfectly by winning both races, clinching the title.

Super Formula Lights Masson returned to single-seaters in 2025, competing in the Super Formula Lights with TOM'S.

Sportscar career 2023 Masson made his debut in endurance racing in the final round of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship at the 8 Hours of Bahrain. He joined Kessel Racing in the LMGTE Am category. He finished in fifth place.

2024 For 2024, Masson pivoted to the World Endurance Championship on a full-time basis, joining Akkodis ASP Team in the LMGT3 category alongside José María López and Takeshi Kimura.

2025

Masson would step up to sports prototypes for 2025, racing in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series for VDS Panis Racing alongside Ollie Gray and Charles Milesi. After finishing second in the Pro class at Barcelona and sixth in class at Le Castellet, the trio took victory at Imola. A commanding middle part of the race from Masson allowed VDS Panis to win again at Spa. Masson then claimed pole at Silverstone in his first ever LMP2 qualifying appearance. During the race, a penalty for Gray set the team back, leaving the No. 48 eighth in class. Nevertheless, Masson and his teammates were able to clinch the LMP2 title by winning the Portimão finale in dominant fashion.

Masson also raced for the team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, partnering Gray and Franck Perera. Having fought for the lead alongside the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition entry from the race's second half onwards, Masson looked to have secured victory when rival Nick Yelloly received a drive-through penalty. However, a suspension failure with 15 minutes to go allowed Inter Europol to re-take the lead, with Masson nursing the car home in second place. At the end of the year, Masson was given an honourable mention by online magazine Dailysportscar in its article about the Prototype Driver of the Year.

2026 At the start of 2026, Masson competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona with Vasser Sullivan Racing in the GTD category.

In April 2026, Masson won the opening round of the European Le Mans Series, the 4 Hours of Barcelona, with Forestier Racing by Panis alongside Oliver Gray and Louis Rousset.

Racing record

Racing career summary Season still in progress. † As Masson was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

Complete French F4 Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) † As Masson was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

Complete Formula Regional European Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Season still in progress.

Complete Eurocup-3 results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Season still in progress.

Complete European Le Mans Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points 2024 Kessel Racing LMGT3 Ferrari 296 GT3 Ferrari F163 3.0 L Turbo V6 CAT LEC IMO SPA MUG ALG 2nd 74 2025 VDS Panis Racing LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT LEC IMO SPA SIL ALG 1st 106 2026 Forestier Racing by Panis LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT LEC IMO SPA SIL ALG1st* 70* Season still in progress.

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 2024 Akkodis ASP Team Jack Hawksworth Takeshi Kimura Lexus RC F GT3 LMGT3 279 37th 10th 2025 VDS Panis Racing Oliver Gray Franck Perera Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 367 19th 2nd 2026 Forestier Racing by Panis Oliver Gray Louis Rousset Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 360 17th 3rd

Complete Super Formula Lights results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Points 2025 TOM'S SUZ1 SUZ2 SUZ3 AUT1 AUT2 OKA1 OKA2 OKA3 SUG1 SUG2 SUG3 SUG4 FUJ1 FUJ2 FUJ3 MOT1 MOT2 MOT3 7th 31

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank Points 2026 Vasser Sullivan Racing GTD Lexus RC F GT3 Toyota 2UR-GSE 5.0 L V8 DAY SEB LBH LGA WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS PET 10th* 237*