Zonhoven, August 14, 2024 – The 46th edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder is set to play a crucial role in the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux 2024, which is an integral part of the national endurance championship, Belcar. Following Porsche's 2023 triumph with August by NGT - comprising Glenn Van Parijs, Nicolas Saelens, Nico Verdonck, Rodrigue Gillion, and Thomas Laurent - crossing the finish line as the overall winners, Porsche is determined to replicate this success in 2024. The brand is also well-positioned in the GTB class. The upcoming race is attracting significant interest, particularly due to the involvement of two major Belgian motorsport figures who will be driving a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992.
This year's 24 Hours of Zolder promises to be a standout event, thanks to the Belgian Porsche teams, who have not only enlisted the strongest national endurance specialists but have also brought in big international names.
One of these high-profile drivers is Laurens Vanthoor, currently leading the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Vanthoor, who is a local favorite, is representing Porsche Penske Motorsport in the FIA WEC and, alongside Kevin Estre and André Lotterer, won the season opener of the 2024 World Championship in March at the wheel of the Porsche 963 with car number 6. The trio has since secured second-place finishes at Imola, Spa, and in Brazil, and a fourth-place finish at Le Mans. With three races remaining, they hold a nineteen-point lead in the World Championship standings.
For the 24 Hours of Zolder, Vanthoor will swap his Porsche 963 for a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 with RedAnt Racing. He will be sharing the car with Ayhancan Güven and the father-son duo, Dirk and Tom Van Rompuy. Güven, a former champion in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, recently claimed victory alongside Vanthoor in the 12 Hours of Bathurst, the opening race of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Dirk Van Rompuy is a former winner of the 24 Hours of Zolder, having triumphed in 1982, while his son Tom is also competing in the FIA WEC this season.
"The invitation came from Tom Van Rompuy, whom I often meet in the FIA WEC paddock," said Vanthoor, a Porsche Penske Motorsport works driver. "I found it a great opportunity for several reasons. The context was appealing - a Porsche from a strong Belgian team - and I don't often get the chance to race in my home country, especially at Circuit Zolder, which is literally my home track since my family lives within walking distance of the paddock. Plus, I have a solid working relationship with Ayhancan, and we're aiming for the top in the 24 Hours of Zolder!"
Bertrand Baguette: WEC LMP2 World Champion, Super GT Champion, and Indy 500 Contender
Competing against Vanthoor within the Porsche camp is D’Ieteren Luxury Performance, a team already performing well in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux with drivers Benjamin Paque and Kobe Pauwels. They will be joined by a fast trio, including Glenn Van Parijs, a multiple vice-champion in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, and Robin Knutsson, the Swede. However, the standout name is Bertrand Baguette.
Baguette, hailing from Verviers, is a former World Series by Renault champion, has raced in IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500, and won the Super GT title in 2022—Japan's premier circuit racing competition. He also won the LMP2 class at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans and became LMP2 World Champion in the 2013 FIA WEC. Notably, Baguette also secured a victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux in 2023 at Circuit Zolder.
In addition to RedAnt Racing and D’Ieteren Luxury Performance, other teams competing with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 include the four-time winner Belgium Racing, featuring Porsche driver Lars Kern, Q1 Trackracing with Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux 2024 leader Dirk Schouten, and Speedlover. The GTB class will also see various Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport and Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport entries vying for victory.
The 46th edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder is scheduled for August 24 and 25, 2024. More details on the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux at this event will follow in the second part of this preview.
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