Dries Vanthoor Bio
Dries Vanthoor, born on April 20, 1998, in Heusden-Zolder, Limburg, Belgium, is a professional racing driver from Belgium. He currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship with BMW M Team WRT. Previously an Audi factory driver, Vanthoor has achieved significant success, including victories at the 2018 Bathurst 12 Hours and the 2019 24 Hours of Nürburgring, as well as securing three consecutive GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup titles from 2020 to 2022 alongside Charles Weerts. He is the younger brother of Laurens Vanthoor, a Porsche factory driver.
Early Life and Background
Dries Vanthoor was born and raised in Heusden-Zolder, a town in the Limburg province of Belgium. His early exposure to motorsports came through karting, where he competed until 2014. This foundational experience helped develop his racing skills and prepared him for higher levels of competition. In 2015, Vanthoor transitioned to junior formula racing, competing in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup with Josef Kaufmann Racing. During this season, he secured a win at Assen and a third-place finish at the Nürburgring, concluding the championship in sixth place overall.
Path to NASCAR
While Dries Vanthoor has not pursued a career in NASCAR, his path has been firmly rooted in sports car and endurance racing. He began his professional career in 2016 by joining Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, competing in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and Sprint Cup. His early years in these series allowed him to gain valuable experience and showcase his talent in GT racing, setting the stage for his future successes in international endurance events and GT championships.
Dries Vanthoor Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Vanthoor’s professional sports car racing career began in 2016 with Team WRT, where he competed in both the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and Sprint Cup. Partnering with Frédéric Vervisch and occasionally racing alongside his brother Laurens Vanthoor, he achieved two podium finishes in the Endurance Cup and finished eighth overall. That year, he also won the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in the Cup 5 class with Bonk Motorsport and made his prototype racing debut in the European Le Mans Series, finishing second at the 4 Hours of Spa.
In 2017, Vanthoor continued with Team WRT, securing two Sprint Cup victories and a podium finish, ending the season fifth in the standings. A highlight of the year was his victory in the LMGTE Am class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he set a lap record in qualifying and contributed to a dominant race win alongside teammates Will Stevens and Rob Smith. Following this success, Audi Sport named him a factory driver starting in 2018.
GT World Challenge Europe and Endurance Success (2018–2022)
As an Audi factory driver, Vanthoor achieved notable victories including the 2018 Bathurst 12 Hours with teammates Robin Frijns and Stuart Leonard. In the Blancpain GT Series, he competed in both Sprint and Endurance Cups, winning races such as the Monza Endurance round in 2018. Despite some setbacks, he consistently delivered strong performances.
In 2019, Vanthoor added to his accolades by winning the ADAC GT Masters race at Zandvoort and securing overall victory at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with Team Phoenix. From 2020 to 2022, he partnered with Charles Weerts to win three consecutive GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup titles, establishing themselves as the most successful pairing in the series’ history. During this period, Vanthoor also competed in the ADAC GT Masters and achieved wins and podiums across various endurance events.
BMW M Team WRT Era (2023–Present)
In 2023, Vanthoor transitioned from Audi to BMW, joining BMW M Team WRT and competing with the BMW M4 GT3. He successfully defended his Dubai 24 Hours win and secured a Sprint Cup victory at Valencia, finishing third in the championship standings. In the Endurance Cup, the team faced challenges, finishing eleventh overall due to retirements at key races.
For the 2024 season, Vanthoor advanced to the Hypercar class in the FIA World Endurance Championship, driving the BMW M Hybrid V8 alongside Marco Wittmann and Raffaele Marciello. He secured pole position in qualifying at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans but started sixth after a crash in the Hyperpole session. Despite setbacks during the race, Vanthoor and his teammates achieved the car’s first podium at the 6 Hours of Fuji, finishing second.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dries Vanthoor is known for his strong racecraft and adaptability across various track types. His ability to perform under pressure, combined with strategic pit stops and effective collaboration with his crew chiefs and teammates, has been key to his success in endurance and sprint racing formats.
Notable Races and Milestones
Vanthoor’s career highlights include victories at prestigious endurance events such as the Bathurst 12 Hours and the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. His three consecutive GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup titles with Charles Weerts mark a significant milestone, showcasing consistent top-level performance. Additionally, his pole position at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Hypercar class underscores his ongoing competitiveness at the highest level.
Dries Vanthoor Career Wins
Throughout his career, Dries Vanthoor has accumulated multiple wins across various GT and endurance racing series. His victories span marquee events and championships, reflecting his versatility and skill as a professional racing driver.
GT World Challenge Europe Highlights
Vanthoor secured three consecutive GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup championships from 2020 to 2022 alongside Charles Weerts. Their partnership yielded numerous race wins, including multiple victories at Misano and the season finale in Valencia. These achievements established them as the most successful duo in the series’ history.
Other Wins & Performances
In addition to his GT World Challenge success, Vanthoor won the 2018 Bathurst 12 Hours and the 2019 24 Hours of Nürburgring, two of the most prestigious endurance races globally. He also claimed a win in the ADAC GT Masters at Zandvoort in 2019 and contributed to podium finishes in prototype racing events such as the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Dries Vanthoor Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Dries Vanthoor comes from a family with strong motorsports ties. His older brother, Laurens Vanthoor, is a professional racing driver and Porsche factory driver. This family connection has influenced Dries’s career and provided a supportive environment for his development in racing.
2025 Season Performance
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Dries Vanthoor is set to continue competing with BMW M Team WRT in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Early in the year, he achieved the first-ever pole position for the BMW M Hybrid V8 at the 24 Hours of Daytona, demonstrating the team’s competitiveness. Despite a late-race issue that led to a fourth-place finish, Vanthoor and his teammates remain front-runners in endurance racing. The season promises to be a critical period as they aim to build on their successes and contend for championship honors.
