“Know everything this year to aim for victory next season”

The youngest of the Vanthoor brothers has been driving for BMW M Team WRT in Hypercar since the start of the WEC season while his brother, Laurens, is playing for Porsche Penske Motorsport.

The last time he won 1812 kilometers of Qatar, Dries finished far; 14th in his category, eight jumps behind the winners after a string of mixed fortunes. The Belgian driver, who joins Marco Wittmann and Raffaele Marciello, spoke to Endurance24.

Do you think you will arrive in better condition here, Imola, compared to Qatar?

“I think Qatar was not a good first race for us. Afterwards, we did three or four days of testing, we had a lot of work, WRT and BMW in Munich. With some improvements made here, I think it will be better but it is still too early to judge after free first practice. But we know it won’t be easy on cold tires for the first two laps.

In Qatar, it was not the same story because it was 30 degrees. After four, five corners the tires were hot, but here in Imola it is not the same story. Plus, this weekend there might be some rain, so it will be a different story.

What did you notice? What were you able to correct?

“The problem for us is the on-board systems, like those connected to the power train. We have been working on this from Qatar. Some problems are more around the setup, but that is normal. This is our first year in the WEC. This is the first BMW model in more than 20 years. It’s not easy but that’s life and it’s going to be a long story, I hope we’ll be able to fight for 3 or top 5. We have good engineers, good drivers, so I have faith. . It will not pay off immediately , but perhaps, I hope, in the latter societies ».

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And Le Mans?

“It’s a big race for us, for BMW, but it’s also a real test. This will be our first 24 Hours of Le Mans. Everything will be new, it won’t be easy and we already hope to finish. »

When the car ran in IMSA last year, albeit with a different team, one could tell that it would do well in the WEC. But it seems it’s not that simple…

“Yes, it’s more difficult. The car is the same but the championship, the atmosphere, the rules, the circuits are very different. It’s not copy and paste, but we exchange, we work a lot between the IMSA team and us in WRT. In RLL (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing ), they are also working hard because it is not easy for them either, but the work between the two teams is good. Our goal this year is to finish this race at Imola, to finish all the races. We will take it step by step, we will aim for the top 8, then top 5, top 3, maybe win the race, that remains our goal »

2024 is a year that you know is difficult. Is the goal ready to work for 2025?

“Yes. Porsche last year was not bad, but it did not win. On the other hand, from the first race of WEC 2024, they were very strong. This corresponds to a year of work on the car, on all the systems, to understand everything to be able to fight for victory in the season the next one. I think it will be the same story for us, in any case, it is a good example for us.”

© Nico Deumille

You will arrive home for the next event at the Spa; your first in Hypercar. How do you see your work so far?

“Yes, I am very happy, I am very proud to participate in this championship. It is very difficult, with many good drivers, good cars. For a while, there were only five LMP1s, now at Le Mans, we will have more than 20 Hypercars at the beginning of June, that is good for the championship. As far as my career is concerned, I’m very happy to be GT racing, but it’s another story to race in a Hypercar or supercars. »

You share a common path with your brother, Laurens, who arrives here in Hypercar. How do you get this experience?

“Yes, it’s the same story with my brother. Without him, I think it might not be the same story. It’s great, great to ride together, in the same championship, even with different brands. Laurens and I, it’s a dream to ride in the WEC. For two brothers, this is not a common, banal story, in any case, not for all pilots. Our parents, everyone follows us, is happy and proud of us.