Laurens Vanthoor Bio
Laurens Vanthoor is a Belgian professional racing driver who has established himself as a prominent figure in endurance racing and GT competition. Born on May 8, 1991, in Hasselt, Belgium, Vanthoor currently races for Porsche Penske Motorsport as a factory driver in the FIA World Endurance Championship. He resides in Waiblingen, Germany, outside of Stuttgart. Vanthoor is the older brother of BMW factory driver Dries Vanthoor, making the Vanthoor family notable in international motorsports.
Early Life and Background
Laurens Vanthoor was born in Hasselt, Belgium, where he developed an early passion for motorsports. His karting career began at a young age, setting the foundation for his future in professional racing. In 2005, Vanthoor achieved significant success by becoming both French and Belgian Champion in the ICA-J class. He also finished fourth in the European Championship that year, demonstrating his competitive ability on the international stage.
In 2007, Vanthoor advanced to become an official factory driver for the CRG racing team in the KF2 category. His season was interrupted by a serious accident that resulted in six fractures and kept him out of competition for five months. Despite this setback, he showed resilience by achieving a runner-up position in the North European Championship. This period of his career highlighted both his talent and his determination to overcome obstacles.
Path to NASCAR
Vanthoor did not pursue a traditional path to NASCAR. Instead, he transitioned from karting directly into formula racing, beginning his single-seater career in the 2008 German Formula Three season. His impressive performances caught the attention of Volkswagen Motorsport, which made him an official driver. The Belgian Automobile Club also recognized his potential by making him a member of their National Team initiative.
His success in Formula Three led to opportunities in GT racing and endurance competition. Vanthoor became a factory driver first for Audi Sport and later for Porsche, focusing on international GT and sports car racing. This trajectory established him as a specialist in endurance racing rather than NASCAR competition, with major achievements in series such as the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA SportsCar Championship, and the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Laurens Vanthoor Career
Early Career (2008-2012)
Vanthoor began his formula racing career in the 2008 German Formula Three season, jumping from karting directly into Formula Three. He finished fourth overall in the championship with two wins and three poles. Following his successes, he became the youngest driver ever in the history of the Macau Grand Prix, where he finished in sixth position. In 2009, Vanthoor dominated the field and secured the championship title at the Nürburgring.
In 2010 and 2011, Vanthoor competed in the Formula Three Euroseries with Signature. While he scored several podium finishes during these two seasons, he did not achieve a race victory. In 2012, he switched to the FIA GT1 World Championship with WRT, partnering with Stéphane Ortelli. The duo won both the qualifying and championship races at the first round at Nogaro, marking Vanthoor’s successful transition to GT racing.
Audi Sport Factory Driver Era (2013-2016)
In 2013, Vanthoor won the FIA GT Series together with Ortelli for Audi and WRT, establishing himself as a serious contender in GT competition. The following year, he competed in both the Blancpain Sprint Series and Blancpain Endurance Series, winning the Endurance Series as well as the overall Blancpain GT Series championship. His 2014 season also included victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa, where he drove alongside fellow Audi Sport factory drivers René Rast and Markus Winkelhock.
Vanthoor’s 2015 season began with a pole position at the Bathurst 12 Hour, where he set a new lap record before finishing second. He also competed in Stock Car Brasil and won the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with Belgian Audi Club Team WRT driving the new Audi R8 LMS. However, his season was disrupted by a major crash at Misano that resulted in serious injury. He made his comeback at the Sepang 12 Hours, which he won with Stéphane Ortelli and Stuart Leonard. In 2016, Vanthoor won the Dubai 24 Hour, the FIA GT World Cup in Macau, and became the first winner of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Porsche Factory Driver Era (2017-2021)
In December 2016, Vanthoor announced his move from Audi to Porsche, with focus on the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driving a Porsche 911 RSR alongside Kévin Estre. His first season with Porsche in 2017 showed promise, and he took his first victory for the manufacturer at the 2018 Mid-Ohio round. That same year, Vanthoor joined the Porsche Le Mans lineup for the #92 car, famously painted in the Pink Pig livery. The team took the lead early and went on to win the GTE Pro class at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In 2019, Vanthoor won the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the GTLM class for Porsche together with Earl Bamber. The duo achieved three wins and seven podiums across eleven races. After Porsche ended its factory involvement in the GTLM class at the conclusion of the 2020 season, Vanthoor was loaned to customer team Pfaff Motorsports for the 2021 IMSA season. He and teammate Zacharie Robichon won the GTD class championship that year. Vanthoor also claimed his second victory at the 24 Hours of Spa in 2020 driving a Porsche 911 GT3 R for Rowe Racing.
Porsche Penske Motorsport Era (2023-Present)
For the 2023 season, Vanthoor moved into the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, partnering Kévin Estre and André Lotterer at the Porsche Penske Motorsport works team. The trio secured their first podium at Portimão and finished third again at Fuji, where Vanthoor impressed by taking the lead at the start and holding it for two hours against Toyota competitors. The team finished sixth in the championship standings, beating their sister car by ten points.
In 2024, Vanthoor, Estre, and Lotterer returned with the Porsche #6 entry. At the season-opening Qatar 1812 km race, the team achieved their first victory with the 963 chassis in a podium lockout for Porsche. Throughout the season, they scored four additional podiums, including another race win at the 6 Hours of Fuji. These results contributed to winning the 2024 FIA WEC Hypercar World Endurance Drivers’ Championship overall. In 2025, Vanthoor claimed victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona with teammates Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vanthoor is known for his versatility across different types of GT and prototype racing machinery. His experience spans from sprint racing to endurance events, allowing him to adapt to various track conditions and competition formats. He has demonstrated particular strength in wet conditions and long-distance races, where consistency and strategic awareness are crucial. His partnerships with experienced co-drivers have been a key factor in his championship success.
Notable Races and Milestones
Vanthoor’s career highlights include victories at prestigious endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Spa, and the 24 Hours of Daytona. His 2018 Le Mans victory in the Pink Pig Porsche remains one of his most celebrated achievements. He made history as the first winner of the Intercontinental GT Challenge and claimed the FIA GT World Cup at Macau in 2016. The 2024 FIA WEC Hypercar championship represents his most recent major milestone, confirming his status at the highest level of prototype competition.
Laurens Vanthoor Career Wins
Laurens Vanthoor has achieved race victories across multiple major championships, including the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA SportsCar Championship, Intercontinental GT Challenge, and Blancpain GT Series. His wins span both GT and prototype categories, highlighting his adaptability as a driver.
FIA World Endurance Championship Highlights
Vanthoor secured his first Hypercar class victory at the 2024 Qatar 1812 km race, driving the Porsche 963 for Porsche Penske Motorsport. He added another Hypercar win at the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji, contributing to his and his teammates’ 2024 World Endurance Drivers’ Championship. Earlier in his career, he claimed victory in the GTE Pro class at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of the Porsche factory team.
Other Wins and Performances
In IMSA competition, Vanthoor won the GTLM class championship in 2019 with three victories, and claimed the GTD class championship in 2021. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2025. His GT racing achievements include the 2014 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup championship, the 2014 and 2020 24 Hours of Spa victories, and the 2016 and 2017 Intercontinental GT Challenge titles. He also claimed the FIA GT World Cup in 2016 at Macau.
Laurens Vanthoor Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Laurens Vanthoor comes from a family with strong connections to motorsports. He is the older brother of Dries Vanthoor, who is also a professional racing driver and currently competes as a factory driver for BMW. This sibling relationship makes the Vanthoor family unique in having two brothers competing at the factory driver level in international motorsports.
Personal Life
Vanthoor currently resides in Waiblingen, Germany, a location outside of Stuttgart that places him near Porsche’s headquarters. This residence supports his role as a Porsche factory driver. He maintains an active presence on social media platforms including Twitter and Instagram, where he shares updates about his racing career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began strongly for Vanthoor with a victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Starting the endurance race in third position, he and teammates Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy fought through the field to claim the win. This result set a positive tone for his campaign as he continues with Porsche Penske Motorsport in the FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar class.
Vanthoor remains partnered with Kévin Estre and André Lotterer in the Porsche #6 entry, building on their successful 2024 championship season. The team aims to defend their title and challenge for race victories throughout the WEC calendar. Their proven chemistry and Porsche’s continued development of the 963 Hypercar position them as strong contenders. As the season progresses, Vanthoor’s experience and consistency will be key factors in the team’s pursuit of another championship.