Brothers in Arms: Vanthoor siblings share ‘special’ moment in Japan
For the first time in more than a decade, two siblings shared the FIA World Endurance Championship podium earlier this month, as Laurens and Dries Vanthoor finished first and second respectively in the 6 Hours of Fuji.
There is a precedent for such an achievement in the WEC’s 12-year history. On three separate occasions back in 2014, Anton and Kirill Ladygin reached the rostrum together with SMP Racing in the LMP2 category – but never had it previously happened at the very highest level.
That changed in Japan, as Laurens Vanthoor, André Lotterer and Kévin Estre piloted their Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 to victory in the headlining Hypercar class, chased home by Dries Vanthoor, Raffaele Marciello and Marco Wittmann in the #15 BMW M Team WRT entry.
“We had a good car and a good strategy,” acknowledged the race-winner, with the result carrying the #6 Porsche crew to within touching-distance of the coveted Drivers’ crown. “We spoke beforehand about the fact that we had been a bit conservative at COTA and Interlagos because we’re leading the championship, so we knew we needed to capitalise upon our pace this time.
“I was a little bit emotional on the podium, because this is a world championship and I’m not sure [two siblings up there together] happens very often. It’s a career dream and at home, our father, mother, sister and so on were all happy – I saw some of them had a tear in their eye. It was a pretty special moment that I think both of us will remember for a long time, and I’m sure Dries will also be winning races soon.”
For the BMW trio, the result marked a maiden appearance on the Hypercar podium, having scored a total of just six points in 2024 prior to Fuji.
“First of all, it was a great result for BMW M Team WRT,” stated the younger of the Vanthoor brothers, a WEC rookie this year. “It was an incredible race. To finish on the podium I think was a well-deserved achievement for everybody who is working every day to improve our car. To see that hard work paying off is a very nice feeling.
“Considering where we started this season, and now seeing where we stand, it’s huge progress, but for sure we’re not quite where we want to be yet, so there’s still definitely room for improvement.
“Of course, to share the WEC podium for the first time with Laurens was very special. It certainly doesn’t happen every day that two brothers finish one-two in the top class of a world championship. We’re both very proud of that, as is our family. To have two drivers from such a small country as Belgium achieve that in the highest category in WEC, I think that was pretty cool...”
