Laurens Vanthoor Bio
Laurens Vanthoor (born 8 May 1991) is a Belgian professional racing driver who competes as a factory driver for Porsche Motorsport in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Born in Hasselt, Belgium, he has built a versatile career across karting, single-seaters, GT racing, and prototype endurance events. He currently drives the No. 6 Porsche 963 for Porsche Penske Motorsport in the Hypercar class and resides in Waiblingen, Germany, near Porsche’s Stuttgart headquarters.
Early Life and Background
Laurens Vanthoor was born on 8 May 1991 in Hasselt, Belgium. He began his motorsport career at a young age in karting, where his talent quickly became apparent. In 2005, he earned the French and Belgian karting championship titles in the ICA-J class, while also finishing fourth in the European Championship.
In 2007, Vanthoor became an official factory driver for the CRG racing team in the KF2 category. His season was interrupted by a significant accident that left him with six fractures and kept him out of action for five months. Despite the setback, he recovered strongly and secured a runner-up finish in the North European Championship.
Path to NASCAR
Vanthoor’s career has been built primarily in European and international endurance racing rather than the NASCAR ladder system. After success in karting, he moved into single-seater competition, joining the German Formula Three series in 2008. He finished fourth overall as a rookie with two wins and three poles, earning a place on the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium’s National Team and a factory role with Volkswagen Motorsport.
He won the 2009 German Formula Three championship with authority, clinching the title at the Nürburgring. Vanthoor then moved to the Formula Three Euroseries with Signature for 2010 and 2011, scoring several podiums without a win. By 2012, he transitioned fully into sportscar racing, opening a new chapter that led him toward GT competition and eventually his long-term partnership with Porsche.
Laurens Vanthoor Career
Early Career (2008-2012)
Vanthoor’s early professional years were defined by rapid progress in single-seaters. After placing fourth in his debut German Formula Three season in 2008, he dominated the 2009 championship and was named a Volkswagen Motorsport factory driver. His performances at the Macau Grand Prix, where he became the youngest driver in the event’s history, drew international attention.
Following two seasons in the Formula Three Euroseries, Vanthoor switched to the FIA GT1 World Championship in 2012 with WRT. Partnering with Stéphane Ortelli, he immediately won both the qualifying and championship races at the opening round in Nogaro, signaling his smooth transition into GT racing.
Blancpain GT and Audi Factory Era (2013-2016)
In 2013, Vanthoor was named an Audi Sport factory driver. He won the FIA GT Series alongside Ortelli for Audi and WRT that same year. The following season, he added the Blancpain Endurance Series title, the overall Blancpain GT Series crown, and the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa with René Rast and Markus Winkelhock.
His 2015 season was disrupted by a major crash at Misano that caused a serious injury, yet he recovered in time to win the Sepang 12 Hours with Stéphane Ortelli and Stuart Leonard. In 2016, he captured the FIA GT World Cup on the streets of Macau, won the Dubai 24 Hour, took the Sepang 12 Hours again, and became the inaugural Intercontinental GT Challenge champion. That December, Porsche confirmed Vanthoor would switch manufacturers to lead its GT effort in North America.
Porsche Factory Era in IMSA (2017-2021)
Vanthoor began his Porsche factory career at the 2017 Daytona 24 Hours, driving the new Porsche 911 RSR in the GTLM class. After a learning season, he captured his first IMSA victory at Mid-Ohio in 2018. That year he also shared the GTE Pro-winning Porsche 911 RSR in the famous pink pig livery at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Kévin Estre and Michael Christensen.
In 2019, Vanthoor and Earl Bamber won the IMSA SportsCar Championship GTLM title with three wins and seven podiums. When Porsche ended its factory GTLM program after 2020, Vanthoor was loaned to Pfaff Motorsports and won the 2021 IMSA GTD championship with Zacharie Robichon. He also won a second 24 Hours of Spa in 2020 with Rowe Racing.
Hypercar Era with Porsche Penske Motorsport (2023-Present)
For 2023, Vanthoor moved into the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, joining the Porsche Penske Motorsport works team alongside Kévin Estre and André Lotterer. The No. 6 Porsche 963 earned early podiums at Portimão and Fuji, with Vanthoor notably leading the opening stint at Fuji against the Toyota entries. The trio finished sixth in the championship standings.
In 2024, the same lineup dominated select rounds of the WEC season. The team opened with a victory at the Qatar 1812 km race, the first win for the Porsche 963, and added another win at the 6 Hours of Fuji. Their consistency delivered 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, underlining his strength in long-distance endurance events.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vanthoor is recognized for his smooth, consistent pace across stints, a quality that pays dividends in endurance racing where tire and fuel management matter as much as outright speed. He excels at long stints, traffic management, and adapting to changing track conditions. His ability to lead opening stints, as seen at Fuji in 2023, has made him a trusted lead-off driver for the Porsche 963 program.
Notable Races and Milestones
Signature results include his GTE Pro victory at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2019 IMSA GTLM championship, the 2021 IMSA GTD title, the 2024 WEC Hypercar Drivers’ Championship, and the 2025 24 Hours of Daytona. He is also a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Spa, a two-time Intercontinental GT Challenge champion, and the inaugural FIA GT World Cup winner in Macau in 2016.
Laurens Vanthoor Career Wins
Laurens Vanthoor has built a deep resume of major sportscar victories across the past decade. His wins span GT3 and GTLM categories in IMSA, the Blancpain GT Series, the Intercontinental GT Challenge, and the top Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
FIA World Endurance Championship Highlights
Vanthoor’s Hypercar program with Porsche Penske Motorsport produced the Qatar 1812 km victory in 2024 and the 6 Hours of Fuji win the same year. Together with Estre and Lotterer, he clinched the 2024 FIA WEC Hypercar World Endurance Drivers’ Championship. In 2025, he added the 24 Hours of Daytona overall win with Nasr and Tandy.
IMSA and Other Major Wins
In North America, Vanthoor won the 2018 Mid-Ohio IMSA round, the 2019 IMSA GTLM championship with Bamber, and the 2021 IMSA GTD championship with Robichon. He has also won the 24 Hours of Spa twice, in 2014 and 2020, the Sepang 12 Hours multiple times, and the Dubai 24 Hour, the FIA GT World Cup in Macau, and the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup. He was crowned the inaugural Intercontinental GT Challenge champion in 2016 and repeated the title the following year.
Laurens Vanthoor Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Laurens Vanthoor comes from a Belgian racing family with direct ties to professional motorsport. He is the older brother of Dries Vanthoor, a BMW factory driver who competes in GT racing, including the 24 Hours of Spa and IMSA programs. The brothers represent one of Belgium’s most recognized modern racing families.
Personal Life
Vanthoor resides in Waiblingen, Germany, near Porsche’s headquarters in Stuttgart, reflecting his long-term commitment to the manufacturer’s factory program. Public details about his marital status and children are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with a major triumph for Laurens Vanthoor at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Driving the No. 7 Porsche 963 with Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy, the team started third and went on to take the overall victory, reinforcing Porsche Penske Motorsport’s strength in the GTP class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Across the remainder of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, Vanthoor continues to co-drive the No. 6 Porsche 963 with Estre and Lotterer, defending the Hypercar Drivers’ Championship won in 2024. The program benefits from continuity in personnel and strategy, with the trio positioned among the leading works entries against Ferrari, Toyota, and BMW. His proven record in long stints and wheel-to-wheel traffic makes him a key part of Porsche’s title defense.