Laurens Vanthoor Bio
Laurens Vanthoor (born 8 May 1991) is a Belgian professional racing driver competing as a Porsche factory driver. He currently races for Porsche Penske Motorsport in the FIA World Endurance Championship, where he pilots the No. 6 Porsche 963 in the Hypercar class. Over the course of his career, Vanthoor has built a reputation as one of the most versatile sportscar drivers of his generation, with championship titles in touring cars, GT racing, and the world endurance stage. He resides in Waiblingen, Germany, near Porsche’s headquarters in Stuttgart.
Vanthoor’s career began in karting before he transitioned into single-seater racing in Formula Three, and later moved into sportscar competition where he found his greatest success. He is the older brother of fellow factory driver Dries Vanthoor, who competes for BMW. Together, the Vanthoor brothers represent one of Belgium’s most recognized modern racing families.
Early Life and Background
Laurens Vanthoor was born on 8 May 1991 in Hasselt, Belgium, a city in the Flemish-speaking Limburg province. Growing up in a country with a deep tradition of motorsport, Vanthoor was exposed to racing at a young age through karting. His early talent was evident, and by 2005 he had become both the French and Belgian champion in the ICA-J karting class, while also finishing fourth in the European Championship.
In 2007, Vanthoor joined the CRG factory team in the KF2 category as an official driver. His season was interrupted by a serious accident that left him with six fractures and kept him out of action for five months, but he returned to take a runner-up finish in the North European Championship. The following year, he made the leap from karting directly into cars, joining the German Formula Three Championship.
Path to Professional Racing
Vanthoor’s transition into single-seater racing was rapid. In his 2008 German Formula Three debut, he finished fourth overall with two wins and three pole positions, a strong result that caught the attention of the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium, which added him to its National Team program. Volkswagen Motorsport also took notice, signing him as an official driver. He became the youngest driver ever to compete in the Macau Grand Prix, finishing sixth.
In 2009, Vanthoor dominated the German Formula Three series, wrapping up the title at the Nürburgring. He moved to the Formula 3 Euro Series with Signature for 2010 and 2011, scoring several podiums without taking a race win. Seeking new opportunities, he switched to GT racing in 2012 with WRT in the FIA GT1 World Championship, winning both races at Nogaro alongside Stéphane Ortelli. The move marked the start of his long and successful career in sportscar competition.
Laurens Vanthoor Career
Audi Sport Factory Driver Era (2013–2016)
In 2013, Vanthoor won the FIA GT Series championship with Ortelli, racing for Audi and WRT. The following year proved even more successful, as he claimed the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup title and the overall Blancpain GT Series crown. He also won the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa alongside fellow Audi drivers René Rast and Markus Winkelhock. In 2015, he added a 24 Hours of Nürburgring victory and the Sepang 12 Hours, despite missing time after a major crash at Misano. His final Audi campaign in 2016 included wins at the Dubai 24 Hour, the FIA GT World Cup in Macau, and the Sepang 12 Hours, where he became the inaugural Intercontinental GT Challenge champion.
Porsche Factory Driver in IMSA (2017–2021)
In December 2016, Vanthoor announced his switch from Audi to Porsche, joining the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to drive the new Porsche 911 RSR with Kévin Estre. After a learning year in 2017, he took his first IMSA victory at Mid-Ohio in 2018. That same year, he joined Estre and Michael Christensen in the iconic pink pig Porsche 911 RSR at Le Mans, winning the GTE Pro class. In 2019, Vanthoor and Earl Bamber won the IMSA GTLM championship with three victories and seven podiums in eleven races.
When Porsche ended its factory GTLM program after 2020, Vanthoor was loaned to Pfaff Motorsports for the 2021 IMSA season. Partnering Zacharie Robichon, he won the GTD class championship. He also added a second 24 Hours of Spa victory in 2020 with Rowe Racing. In 2022, he briefly raced in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters with SSR Performance in a Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Hypercar Era with Porsche Penske Motorsport (2023–Present)
For the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship season, Vanthoor moved into the Hypercar class, partnering Estre and André Lotterer at Porsche Penske Motorsport in the No. 6 Porsche 963. The trio earned their first podium at Portimão and finished third at Fuji, where Vanthoor led from the start for two hours against the Toyota entries. The team finished sixth in the 2023 Hypercar standings.
In 2024, Vanthoor, Estre, and Lotterer returned to the No. 6 and won the season-opening Qatar 1812 km race, Porsche 963’s first WEC victory. They added four more podiums, including another win at the 6 Hours of Fuji, to capture the 2024 FIA WEC Hypercar World Endurance Drivers’ Championship. In January 2025, Vanthoor won the 24 Hours of Daytona with Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy, continuing his strong form with Porsche Penske Motorsport.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vanthoor is known for his smooth, consistent pace and his ability to manage long stints, traits that have made him especially effective in endurance racing. His race craft in traffic and ability to handle changing track and weather conditions have been key assets for his co-drivers and engineers. His long-term partnership with Kévin Estre has produced major titles at Le Mans, in IMSA, and in the WEC.
Notable Races and Milestones
Vanthoor’s résumé includes victories at the 24 Hours of Spa, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 24 Hours of Le Mans (GTE Pro class), the Sepang 12 Hours, and the Bathurst 12 Hour. He has also won the Macau FIA GT World Cup and the Intercontinental GT Challenge, marking him as a true global sportscar competitor.
Laurens Vanthoor Career Wins
Laurens Vanthoor has built a multi-tiered collection of championship titles and major endurance race victories across more than a decade of professional sportscar racing. From early GT3 success with Audi to his current Hypercar championship with Porsche, he has consistently delivered results at the highest levels of the sport.
Major Championship and Race Wins
His verified titles include the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar class, the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD class, the 2019 IMSA SportsCar Championship GTLM class, the 2016 Intercontinental GT Challenge, the 2014 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, the 2014 Blancpain GT Series overall, the 2013 FIA GT Series, and the 2009 German Formula Three championship. He has also won iconic endurance races including the 24 Hours of Spa, 24 Hours of Nürburgring, 24 Hours of Daytona, and 24 Hours of Le Mans (GTE Pro).
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his headline championships, Vanthoor has taken wins at the Bathurst 12 Hour, the Sepang 12 Hours, the Dubai 24 Hour, and the Macau FIA GT World Cup. He has also claimed victories in the Stock Car Brasil series as a guest driver and the European Le Mans Series during his development as a works Porsche pilot.
Laurens Vanthoor Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Vanthoor comes from a Belgian family with a strong presence in modern motorsport. His younger brother, Dries Vanthoor, is also a professional racing driver and currently serves as a BMW factory driver, competing in GT and endurance events across Europe and the United States. The brothers are among the most well-known siblings in contemporary international racing.
Personal Life
Vanthoor currently resides in Waiblingen, Germany, just outside of Stuttgart, where Porsche’s headquarters are located. Living near the factory allows him to remain closely connected to his Porsche Penske Motorsport team and engineering staff throughout the racing season.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began in strong fashion for Vanthoor, who partnered with Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy to win the 24 Hours of Daytona in January. The victory added another major endurance crown jewel to his résumé and provided early momentum for the Porsche Penske Motorsport Hypercar program heading into the WEC campaign.
Throughout the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, Vanthoor continues to share the No. 6 Porsche 963 with Kévin Estre and André Lotterer, building on their 2024 Hypercar title. The team’s combination of consistent race pace, strategic pit work, and reliable execution has kept them among the championship contenders. With Daytona already in hand, Vanthoor and his co-drivers are well positioned to defend their Hypercar crown.