Lortie Aviation owner André Lortie will make his NASCAR Euro Series debut in 2026, competing in the PRO and OPEN classes with his Hunter Aviation Racing team.
EuroNASCAR welcomes an expert of aerial machinery to the grid in 2026. Canadian André Lortie, owner of Lortie Aviation, is set to trade his pilot wings in favor of the driver’s seat with his decision to join the NASCAR Euro Series.
Lortie will enter EuroNASCAR with his self-owned Hunter Aviation Racing, having purchased one of the 26 full-time entry spots available for 2026.
“Quebec’s own André Lortie has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series season, bringing a high-flying pedigree and a brand-new team to the grid: Hunter Aviation Racing,” announced EuroNASCAR on 9 February 2026.
While no stranger to high speeds thanks to his expertise with aircrafts, Lortie is still a newcomer to motorsport.
The 59-year old only made his racing debut in 2025, running a part-time campaign in the French rally championship after purchasing one of Team FJ’s Peugeot 208 Rally4.
Despite this general lack of experience behind a race car, Lortie has decided to challenge himself by racing in both EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR OPEN in 2026.
“Lortie isn’t just showing up to fill a spot on the entry list,” NASCAR Euro Series adds. “He’s taking on the ultimate iron-man challenge by pulling double duty.”
A life-long aviation enthusiast, Lortie became famous for operating Lortie Aviation, one of Canada’s largest civilian-owned military training companies. Lortie Aviation, which was opened in 2002, currently operates and maintains 21 Hawker Hunters.
Most of his Hunters are purchased from the Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe), although Lortie made headlines in 2021 when he made a bid to purchase five decommissioned Hunters from the Lebanese Air Force (Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnaniyya).
According to EuroNASCAR, Lortie is also a former pilot for the Canadian Air Force, having been part of their official flight demonstration team “Snowbirds” – known officially as the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron.
While Lortie’s status as a racing driver is still very much a “rookie”, the Quebecois does quietly harbor a passion in the automotive industry.
When SkyNews Switzerland visited Lortie Aviation’s hangars in 2025, Lortie was shown to have ownership of some legendary sports cars, such as a Porsche 911 996 and a Toyota Supra JZA80.
As such, it is perhaps only natural that Lortie’s encounter with Team FJ and motorsport has led him to accept the challenge of stock car racing – a sport that’s already massive in his home nation.
“I’m happy to join the series,” said Lortie to nascar.eu. “It is a great challenge and will be a great thrill.”
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