Thomas Laurent
{{short description|French racing driver (born 1998)}}
{{Infobox racing driver
| name = Thomas Laurent
| image = File:Thomas Laurent @ United ELMS Estoril-112 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Laurent in 2016
| nationality = {{flagicon|FRA}} French
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1998|04|05}}
| birth_place = La Roche-sur-Yon, France
| racing licence = 12px FIA Bronze (2015–2016){{cite web|url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/11/18/2017-fia-driver-rankings-released.html|title=2017 FIA Driver Rankings Released|website=Dailysportscar|last=Goodwin|first=Graham|date=18 November 2016|access-date=20 February 2025}}
12px FIA Silver (2017){{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/le-mans-24-hours-lmp2-star-laurent-loses-silver-status-for-2018-4991192/4991192/|title=Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 star Laurent loses 'silver' status for 2018|website=Autosport|last=Klein|first=Jamie|date=21 November 2017|access-date=20 February 2025}}
12px FIA Gold (2018–)
| current series = European Le Mans Series
| first year = 2016
| current team = DKR Engineering
| car number = 3
| former teams = M.Racing - YMR, Graff Racing, Mühlner Motorsport
| starts = 19 (19 entries)
| wins = 1
| poles = 0
| fastest laps = 0
| best finish = 6th
| prev series = Asian Le Mans Series
European Le Mans Series
Porsche Carrera Cup France
| prev series years = 2015–18
2016
2016
| titles = Asian Le Mans Series
| title years = 2017–18
|podiums=4}}
Thomas Laurent (born 5 April 1998){{Cite web|url=http://www.speedsport-magazine.com/race-driver-database/biography/thomas-laurent_-_9507.html|title=Thomas Laurent: Racedriver biography - career and success|website=www.speedsport-magazine.com|language=en|access-date=6 November 2017}} is a French racing driver who currently competes in the 2025 European Le Mans Series with DKR Engineering. He previously competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship for French team Signatech Alpine Matmut and in the European Le Mans Series with Graff Racing. He finished second in the 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans and third in the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Career
= Early life =
Born in La Roche-sur-Yon to go-kart racing mechanic Jean-Pascal Laurent and his wife Nathalie Laurent, he began karting at age three in a small custom-built go kart on an adapted circuit constructed by his father and began competing competitively from the age of seven.{{Cite news|date=16 June 2017|title=24 Heures du Mans: du karting à l'endurance, la brillante ascension de Thomas Laurent|language=fr|trans-title=24 Hours of Le Mans: from karting to endurance, the brilliant rise of Thomas Laurent|work=La Croix|url=https://www.la-croix.com/Sport/24-Heures-Mans-karting-endurance-brillante-ascension-Thomas-Laurent-2017-06-16-1300855651|access-date=1 February 2022}}{{Cite news|last=Ramelet|first=Quentin|date=16 June 2018|title=24h du Mans: Thomas Laurent, du pilote précoce au prodige de l'endurance|language=fr|trans-title=24 Hours of Le Mans: Thomas Laurent, from precocious driver to endurance prodigy|publisher=France Info|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sports/auto-moto/24h-du-mans-thomas-laurent-du-pilote-precoce-au-prodige-de-l-endurance_4459539.html|access-date=1 February 2022}} He aimed to be in endurance racing from the age of either 11 or 12 and was an enthusiast of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.{{Cite news|last=Doublet|first=Jean-Louis|date=15 June 2019|title=24 Heures du Mans: Thomas Laurent ou comment tomber dans l'endurance tout petit|language=fr|trans-title=24 Hours of Le Mans: Thomas Laurent or how to fall into endurance as a child|work=La Croix|url=https://www.la-croix.com/Sport/24-Heures-Mans-Thomas-Laurent-comment-tomber-endurance-tout-petit-2019-06-15-1301029031|access-date=1 February 2022}} Laurent finished ninth at the 2012 World Karting Championship held in Portimão, Portugal.{{Cite news|date=20 December 2012|title=Les malheurs portugais de Thomas Laurent|language=fr|trans-title=The Portuguese misfortunes of Thomas Laurent|work=Ouest France|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/les-malheurs-portugais-de-thomas-laurent-1520618|access-date=1 February 2022}} He won the French Karting Championship every year from 2012 to 2014 and the World Karting Championship in 2015.{{Cite news|last=Festor|first=Gilles|date=15 June 2017|title=24 Heures du Mans: Thomas Laurent, la pépite française de l'écurie Jackie Chan|language=fr|trans-title=24 Hours of Le Mans: Thomas Laurent, the French nugget of the Jackie Chan team|work=Le Figaro|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/auto-moto/endurance/24h-du-mans/actualites/24-h-du-mans-thomas-laurent-la-pepite-francaise-de-l-ecurie-jackie-chan-864150|access-date=1 February 2022}}
= 2015 =
He stepped out of karting aged 17 in late 2015 and had twice tested a Formula 4 car but he was unhappy with the amount of money he required to progress to the category.{{Cite web|last=Mercier|first=Laurent|date=26 February 2018|title=Nathalie et Jean-Pascal Laurent, des parents comblés...|trans-title=Nathalie and Jean-Pascal Laurent, happy parents...|url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/89826-nathalie-et-jean-pascal-laurent-des-parents-combles|access-date=1 February 2022|publisher=Endurance-Info|language=fr}} He competed in 3 of the 4 rounds 2015–16 Asian Le Mans Series with Jackie Chan DC Racing alongside Ho-Pin Tung and David Cheng. They won all three races, but Laurent was only ranked second in the championship as Tung and Cheng won the opening round without him, leaving Laurent with a 25-point deficit.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
= 2016 =
Laurent raced in the 2016 European Le Mans Championship in LMP3 for YMR in a Ligier JS P3 alongside Alexandre Cougnaud and Yann Ehrlacher. He finished 8th in the championship despite three retirements, and took a dominant win in the final round at Estoril.{{Cite news|url=http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/g-drive-wins-estoril-steals-lmp2-title-from-tds/|title=G-Drive Wins Estoril; Steals LMP2 Title from TDS – Sportscar365|access-date=2017-11-06|language=en-US}} He also entered the Road To Le Mans race that year for DC Racing, alongside Cougnaud. Laurent took over the car in the lead and pulled away to win the race.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/06/18/dc-racing-duo-win-road-to-le-mans-race.html|title=DC Racing Duo Win Road To Le Mans Race – dailysportscar.com|website=www.dailysportscar.com|date=18 June 2016 |language=en-GB|access-date=20 May 2018}}
Laurent returned to the Asian Le Mans Series for the 2016–17 season. He raced in LMP2, again for DC Racing alongside Tung and Gustavo Menezes. He missed the first round (which Tung and Menezes won in his absence) before they came second and first at Fuji and Buriram respectively. This left the No. 35 car with an 18-point lead coming into the final round. However they retired after a first corner accident, and lost the title. Laurent placed seventh in the drivers title.{{Cite news|url=http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/algarve-pro-wins-4h-sepang-asian-lms-title-as-dc-racing-retires/|title=Algarve Pro Wins 4H Sepang, Asian LMS Title as DC Racing Retires – Sportscar365|access-date=20 May 2018|language=en-US}}
= 2017 =
File:2019 4 Hours of Silverstone 36 (48664324118).jpg LMP2 car at the 2019 4 Hours of Silverstone]]
In 2017 it was announced that Laurent would race in the World Endurance Championship in the LMP2 class. He drove for Jackie Chan DC Racing in a Jota Sport run Oreca 07 alongside Tung and Oliver Jarvis.{{Cite web|url=http://www.endurance-info.com/en/jackie-chan-dc-racing-driver-line-up-announced/|title=Jackie Chan DC Racing Driver Line-Up Announced {{!}} Endurance info English spoken|last=|website=www.endurance-info.com|language=en-US|access-date=20 May 2018|archive-date=21 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521021121/http://www.endurance-info.com/en/jackie-chan-dc-racing-driver-line-up-announced/|url-status=dead}}
After winning on his debut at Silverstone and finishing third at Spa, Laurent had an impressive run at Le Mans. After helping his team get into the LMP2 lead, Laurent inherited the overall lead due to problems with LMP1 cars. In the end he won Le Mans in the LMP2 class, finishing second on the overall podium. He added to his win count with a dominant victory at the Nurburgring, but then finished ninth in class in Mexico due to a clutch issue. More successful races followed at the Circuit Of The Americas and Fuji with fourth and third-placed finishes respectively.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
It was announced that Laurent was awarded an opportunity to drive a Toyota LMP1 car in the Bahrain post-season test.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/10/25/laurent-to-test-with-toyota-at-bahrain.html|title=Laurent To Test With Toyota At Bahrain – dailysportscar.com|website=www.dailysportscar.com|date=25 October 2017 |language=en-GB|access-date=20 May 2018}}
=2018=
Laurent has a contract dispute with DC Racing, because he signed with Rebellion Racing.{{cite news|last1=Dagys|first1=John|title=DC Racing Disputing Laurent's Rebellion Contract|url=http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dc-racing-disputing-laurents-rebellion-contract/|accessdate=20 May 2018|work=sportscar365.com|publisher=John Dagys Media}} Despite this he with Harrison Newey and Stéphane Richelmi took the 2017–18 Asian Le Mans Series title in the LMP2 category.{{cite news|last1=Kilshaw|first1=Jake|title=DC Racing Sweeps Asian LMS Season; Wins Title at Sepang|url=http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/dc-racing-sweeps-asian-lms-season-wins-title-at-sepang/|accessdate=20 May 2018|work=sportscar365.com|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=4 February 2018}} He got a green light to race for Rebellion in 2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship, competing behind the wheel of Rebellion R13 car with Mathias Beche and Gustavo Menezes.{{cite web|url=http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/oreca-built-rebellion-r-13-gibson-confirmed/| title=ORECA-Built Rebellion R13 Gibson Confirmed|publisher=Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|date =5 February 2018|accessdate=5 February 2018}} He finished his first LMP1 race on podium behind two hybrid Toyotas.{{cite news|last1=Dagys|first1=John|title=Alonso Holds Off Conway for Toyota 1-2 at Spa|url=http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/alonso-holds-off-conway-for-toyota-1-2-at-spa/|accessdate=20 May 2018|work=sportscar365.com|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=5 May 2018}} He joined the Signatech Alpine team the following season, finishing 8th in the standings with two podiums. In November 2018, Laurent tested a Dallara F2 2018 car for Arden International at the FIA Formula 2 Championship post-season rookie test session at the Yas Marina Circuit.{{Cite news|last=Businaro|first=Martin|date=13 November 2018|title=Laurent en essais avec Arden à Abou Dhabi|language=fr|trans-title=Laurent testing with Arden in Abu Dhabi|work=Auto Journal|url=https://f1i.autojournal.fr/infos/f2/laurent-essais-arden-a-abou-dhabi/|access-date=1 February 2022}}
Racing record
=Career summary=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"
!Season !Series !Team !Races !Wins !Poles !F/Laps !Podiums !Points !Position |
| 2015–16
|align=left| Asian Le Mans Series - LMP3 |align=left| DC Racing |3 |3 |2 |1 |3 |77 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|2nd |
|---|
| rowspan="4" | 2016
|align=left| Porsche Carrera Cup France | rowspan="2" align=left| Martinet by Alméras |12 |0 |0 |0 |1 |93 |6th |
| align=left| Porsche Supercup
|1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |7 |19th |
| align=left| European Le Mans Series - LMP3
|align=left| M.Racing - YMR |6 |1 |0 |0 |1 |36 |8th |
| align=left| Road to Le Mans - LMP3
|align=left| DC Racing |1 |1 |0 |0 |1 |N/A |style="background:#FFFFBF;"|1st |
| 2016–17
|align=left| Asian Le Mans Series - LMP2 |align=left| Jackie Chan DC Racing |3 |1 |1 |0 |2 |44 |7th |
| rowspan="2" | 2017
|align=left| FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 | rowspan="2" align=left| Jackie Chan DC Racing |9 |3 |1 |0 |6 |175 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|2nd |
| align=left| 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2
|1 |1 |0 |0 |1 |N/A |style="background:#FFFFBF;"|1st |
| 2017–18
|align=left| Asian Le Mans Series - LMP2 |align=left| Jackie Chan DC Racing X Jota |4 |3 |2 |1 |4 |95 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"|1st |
| rowspan="2" | 2018
|align=left| French GT4 Cup - Pro-Am |align=left| M.Racing - YMR |4 |0 |0 |0 |1 |25 |17th |
| align=left| 24 Hours of Le Mans
|align=left| Rebellion Racing |1 |0 |0 |0 |1 |N/A |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd |
| 2018–19
|align=left| FIA World Endurance Championship |align=left| Rebellion Racing |8 |1 |0 |0 |4 |114 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd |
| 2019
|align=left| 24 Hours of Le Mans |align=left| Rebellion Racing |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |N/A |5th |
| rowspan=2| 2019–20
|align=left| FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 |align=left| Signatech Alpine Elf |8 |0 |0 |0 |2 |109 |8th |
| align=left| FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP1
|align=left| Toyota Gazoo Racing | colspan="7" |Reserve driver |
| rowspan="3" | 2020
|align=left| European Le Mans Series - LMP2 |align=left| Graff |5 |0 |0 |0 |2 |43 |6th |
| align=left| Alpine Elf Europa Cup
|align=left| Racing Technology |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |NC† |
| align=left| 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2
|align=left| Signatech Alpine Elf |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |N/A |4th |
| 2021
|align=left| 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 |align=left| IDEC Sport |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |N/A |WD |
| 2022
|align=left| European Le Mans Series - LMP2 |align=left| Mühlner Motorsport | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 15th |
| rowspan="3" | 2023
|align=left| GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup | rowspan="2" align="left" | Boutsen VDS |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |NC |
| align=left| Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe - Pro
|4 |0 |0 |0 |0 |10.5 |11th |
| align=left| 24 Hours of Le Mans - Hypercar
|align=left| Glickenhaus Racing | colspan="7" |Reserve driver |
| rowspan="2" |2024
|align=left| French GT4 Cup - Pro-Am |align=left| AV Racing | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 120* |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd* |
| align=left| Ultimate Cup Series - Proto NP02
|align=left| Cogemo Racing Team |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |8 |33rd |
| rowspan="2" | 2025
|align=left| European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Pro-Am | rowspan="2" align="left" | DKR Engineering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 9th* |
| align="left" |Le Mans Cup - LMP3
| | | | | | | |
† As Laurent was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
* Season still in progress.
=Complete European Le Mans Series results=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year ! Team ! Class ! Car ! Engine ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! Rank ! Points |
| 2016
! M.Racing - YMR ! LMP3 ! Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IMO |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RBR |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LEC |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SPA |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| EST ! 8th ! 36 |
| 2020
! Graff ! LMP2 ! Oreca 07 ! Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SPA |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LEC |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MNZ |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ALG | ! 6th ! 43 |
| 2022
! LMP2 ! Oreca 07 ! Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMO |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MNZ |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAT |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SPA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ALG ! 15th ! 19 |
| 2025
! LMP2 Pro-Am ! Oreca 07 ! Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAT |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC |style="background:#;"| IMO |
|style="background:#;"| SPA
{{small|}}
|style="background:#;"| SIL
{{small|}}
|style="background:#;"| ALG
{{small|}}
! 9th*
! 14*
|-
!colspan="13"|{{center|{{small|Sources:{{cite web|title=Thomas Laurent Results|url=https://motorsportstats.com/driver/thomas-laurent/results|publisher=Motorsport Stats|access-date=1 February 2022}}{{cite web|title=Complete Archive of Thomas Laurent|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/archive/Thomas-Laurent-F.html|pages=[https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/archive/Thomas-Laurent-F.html?page=2 2]|publisher=Racing Sports Cars|access-date=1 February 2022}}}}}}
|}
* Season still in progress.
=Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year ! Entrant ! Class ! Chassis ! Engine ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! Rank ! Points |
| 2017
! LMP2 ! Oreca 07 ! Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SPA |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| LMS |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NÜR |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MEX |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| COA |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| FUJ |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SHA |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BHR !style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd !style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 175 |
| 2018–19
! LMP1 ! Gibson GL458 4.5 L V8 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SPA |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LMS |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SIL |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SHA |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SEB |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SPA |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LMS | !style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd !style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 114 |
| 2019–20
! LMP2 ! Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SIL |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| FUJ |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SHA |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BHR |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| COA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SPA |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LMS |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BHR | ! 8th ! 109 |
| colspan="16"|{{center|{{small|Sources:}}}} |
|---|
=Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" |
| Year
! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class |
|---|
| 2017
|align="left"| {{flagicon|CHN}} Jackie Chan DC Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|CHN}} Ho-Pin Tung |align="left"| Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 366 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st |
| 2018
|align="left"| {{flagicon|CHE}} Rebellion Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|CHE}} Mathias Beche |align="left"| Rebellion R13-Gibson | LMP1 | 376 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd |
| 2019
|align="left"| {{flagicon|CHE}} Rebellion Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Nathanaël Berthon |align="left"| Rebellion R13-Gibson | LMP1 | 370 | 5th | 5th |
| 2020
|align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Signatech Alpine Elf |align="left"| {{flagicon|BRA}} André Negrão |align="left"| Alpine A470-Gibson | LMP2 | 367 | 8th | 4th |
| 2021
|align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} IDEC Sport |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ryan Dalziel |align="left"| Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 0 | {{Abbr|WD|Withdrawn}} | WD |
| colspan="8"|{{center|{{small|Source:{{cite web|title=Thomas Laurent|url=https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/palmares/driver/thomas-laurent-1824|publisher=Automobile Club de l'Ouest|access-date=1 February 2022}}}}}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{DriverDB|thomas-laurent}}
- {{official|http://thomas-laurent.com/ Official Website (In French)}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-sport}}
{{succession box|title=Asian Le Mans Series
LMP2 Champion|before=Andrea Roda|after=Paul di Resta
Phil Hanson|years=2017–18|with=Harrison Newey & Stéphane Richelmi}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laurent, Thomas}}
Category:Sportspeople from La Roche-sur-Yon
Category:French racing drivers
Category:Porsche Supercup drivers
Category:European Le Mans Series drivers
Category:Asian Le Mans Series drivers
Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers
Category:FIA World Endurance Championship drivers
Category:Karting World Championship drivers
Category:Rebellion Racing drivers
Category:Signature Team drivers
Category:Porsche Carrera Cup France drivers
Category:Boutsen Ginion Racing drivers
Category:Lamborghini Super Trofeo drivers
Category:24 Hours of Spa drivers