Vanthoor Named United Autosports’ Reserve Driver

Laurens Vanthoor has been named as United Autosports’ reserve driver for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans and is due to take part in Sunday’s test day with the LMP2 squad.

The Porsche factory driver was announced last month as joining McLaren’s Hypercar lineup for the manufacturer’s entry into next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship, when he will race the United Autosports-run MCL-HY.

Vanthoor, who recently tested the MCL-HY at Imola, will now link up with the British LMP2 squad for the Le Mans event and is set to complete the required ten laps of Circuit de la Sarthe during the test day in order to be ready to step in to either of the team’s Oreca 07 Gibson machines for the race should the need arise.

He is set to drive the No. 22 entry in the test that is scheduled to be piloted by fellow McLaren Hypercar signing Mikkel Jensen, Gregoire Saucy and Rasmus Lindh.

Vanthoor is far from the only IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP regular to have joined the LMP2 division for this year with his fellow factory Porsche drivers Kevin Estre, Julien Andlauer and Laurin Heinrich all securing race seats.

The Belgian driver made his Le Mans debut in the LMP2 ranks when he tackled the 2015 event with OAK Racing.