24 Hours of Daytona – Laurens Vanthoor begins a new chapter with Porsche

Laurens Vanthoor aura un programme chargé en ce début d’année 2017. Aligné sur l’une des deux Porsche 911 RSR officielles aux 24 Heures de Daytona (Floride) ce week-end, l’ancien pensionnaire du Team WRT retrouvera la catégorie GT3 la semaine suivante en étant engagé aux 12 Heures de Bathurst sur une Porsche 911 GT3 R aux côtés d’Earl Bamber et Kévin Estre.

The Belgian driver says he is impatient to start with the German brand which has trusted him with its GTLM program in IMSA in 2017. “Competing in my first race as a Porsche factory driver at Daytona is something very special for me, confesses the native of Hasselt.

It's a dream come true. I really wanted to race in the United States and have Kévin (Estre) by my side as a teammate. In fact all my wishes were fulfilled. Now it's up to me to justify that confidence in my first race at Daytona by performing well. »

Highly anticipated with a new engine architecture, the latter now being placed in the central rear position, the 911 RSR will take part this weekend in revealing the competition after taking to the track during the Roar Before the Rolex 24, a traditional test session before the Florida double clock tower.

“We have conducted intensive testing over the past few months and gained vital knowledge, explains Marco Ujhasi, Motorsport GT project manager. The new driver combinations have already found their feet. So in that regard, we come into Daytona with a feeling of confidence. »

After two years of domination by Corvette Racing, Porsche North America hopes to return to the top step of the podium in the GTLM category, the last success of a 911 dating back to 2014 with the Tandy – Lietz – Pilet trio.

“The last time we came to Daytona with a new 911 RSR was in 2014, and we won. I hope this is a good omen. » underlines Patrick Pilet, who will aim for a second title in the category, after his coronation in 2015.