Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche LMGTE Pro): “This win is a dream come true!”
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Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche LMGTE Pro): “This win is a dream come true!”

To Laurens Vanthoor the 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours was the pink of perfection, a class win in LMGTE Pro with the #92 Porsche 911 RSR and its commemorative “Pink Pig” livery.

Works driver Vanthoor and teammates Kévin Estre and Michael Christensen took the lead in LMGTE Pro early in the race and never looked back. “Our strategy was good and we held strong during the night. Nobody in the team - drivers or others - made a mistake. It paid off. We were in the lead all the way [from 18:39 onwards]. From then on, we just had to hold tight, but I wanted to go faster. I would have liked to clock more laps but we had to be sure of achieving our target. There was a huge amount of pressure. My teammates and I have contested many races as a crew. We worked well together and luck was on our side."

The 27-year-old Belgian’s trophy cabinet is already well-stocked. But the 24 Hours of Le Mans is special. “Today is one of the best, if not the best days of my life: I won Le Mans! Words can’t express how I feel. I still can’t believe it! This win means so much to me. I’ve already won the 24 Hours of Spa and Nürburgring, but Le Mans is Le Mans. We’ve been down on our luck in the major races lately but here in Le Mans, it was all rosy!"

He may be used to winning, Vanthoor still has stars in his eyes as he evokes Sunday’s feat, especially because the car was already a celebration in itself. The factory Porsche 911 RSRs both had special liveries in honour of the marque’s 70th anniversary, the #92 sporting the famous 1971 Pink Pig colours. “It’s a dream come true. For Porsche, it’s fabulous because the team won the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and now the the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 70th anniversary, the liveries, the car, the helmets... it’s unforgettable. I think the car will go straight to the Porsche museum in Stuttgart."

Judging by the tweet below, he was right! The car has indeed returned to Germany as has the Dempsey-Proton Racing #77 911 that won LMGTE Am. 

Laurens is the second in the Vanthoor family to leave Le Mans with a trophy. His younger brother Dries won LMGTE Am in 2017 with JMW Motorsport (Ferrari 488 GTE). Brothers being brothers, Dries sent a message to Laurens after the race: “One year too late but congrats anyway. You’re almost as good as me now.”

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