As part of their 2025 ‘ACO Challenge’, Team WRT continues its commitment to meaningful, human-driven initiatives. After winning the 2024 ACO ‘Coup de Cœur’ Award for its project with the Fondation Arthritis, the Belgian team now shines the spotlight on a young driver with an extraordinary story: Gabin Léger.
The nine year-old from Guérard in Seine-et-Marne, France, is a passionate motorsport enthusiast with an unbreakable spirit. At just six years old, he was diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, a rare hip disorder that forced him to stop walking for many months. Two years in a wheelchair, sleepless nights wearing orthopaedic braces and daily rehabilitation, yet Gabin never gave up on his dreams.
He discovered karting thanks to his father, who was racing for fun with friends. Since karting was one of the few sports he could practice while sitting, a position that suited his condition, Gabin naturally turned to it, and it quickly became his escape. The results were astonishing. He began stacking up victories: two Ufolep championship titles, a win in the French Cup for Karting Schools, and podium finishes against older competitors, sometimes even racing under exemption, as he wasn’t yet old enough to compete officially.
Despite all his success, Gabin has never had the means to afford a custom-painted helmet, like the ones worn by the top drivers he admires. He has always raced with a plain white helmet. That’s why Team WRT, in collaboration with BELL Helmets, decided to gift him a very special one.
For the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Léger family has been invited to experience the event from the inside Team WRT. Gabin, who doesn’t know this yet will meet Belgian artist Pieter Van den Bergh, known as PIROEH, who will paint his helmet live on the WRT hospitality terrace on Saturday, after the race start. Surrounded by his family, the WRT team, and all those moved by his journey, Gabin will receive much more than a helmet. It will be a powerful symbol of his resilience, passion, and strength.
“My motto? I never lose: either I win, or I learn.” - Gabin
Today, Gabin is dreaming even bigger. He hopes to compete in FFSA national championships. But the road ahead is far from easy. Motorsport comes with high costs, and so the whole Léger family operates like a proper race team: Gabin drives, his dad Ludovic handles the mechanics, his mum Pauline takes care of travel and social media, and Gabin himself reaches out to companies to find sponsors.
Through this project, Team WRT is celebrating more than just motorsport. It’s about inspiration, resilience, and solidarity. The team can’t wait to see Gabin hit the track with his Team WRT x PIROEH BELL helmet and to watch him shine.
Gabin Léger: "It’s such an honor to be invited by WRT to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I’m so excited to go back, but this time right at the heart of the action! Thank you so much to the team for this amazing invitation. I’m really happy, and I can’t wait to meet everyone!"
Kathleen Schurmans: “Every great racer starts with a dream and with a challenge, and Gabin’s challenge is just part of his incredible story. Healing takes time, but step by step, he is getting stronger. Every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. Gabin, your dream is out there waiting for you, and we are right next to you. You're already on the road towards it. Keep going, your courage, patience, and determination are what make you a true champion already now. Today, a WRT champion, and who knows where tomorrow will take you.”
PIROEH: “When I heard Gabin's story, I immediately knew this would be more than just painting a helmet. This is a tribute to his determination, and I'm proud that my art can become a small part of his big dream".