It’s been a good 2018 season for Laurens Vanthoor. The Belgian is in his second year as a Porsche works driver, and in his second year racing in North America with the Porsche GT Team,

Vanthoor’s spoken openly this year about his love and preference for the American style of racing. Along with Earl Bamber, they share the No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

What he hasn’t yet seen in America is Rennsport, Porsche’s festival of hundreds of classic cars with its legendary drivers, held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Vanthoor couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm as he prepares for this week’s Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI.

“I’ve seen pictures on Instagram, and I’ve heard a lot from the other drivers,” Vanthoor said. “I love all the old cars, especially ones from Goodwood. It should be really exciting. Hopefully I can drive some and it’ll be a cool experience.”

The undoubted highlight of Vanthoor’s season came at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Driving a 1971 “Pink Pig” Porsche 917/20 retro themed livery, Vanthoor co-drove to the GTE-Pro class victory with Michael Christensen and Kevin Estre. It marked a breakthrough win for three of Porsche’s younger but talented works drivers.

“That’s one of the reasons why I joined Porsche,” he explained. “The DNA that Porsche has in motorsport is one of the biggest in history.

“When I was young, Porsche works drivers were for the me kind of heroes. To be one of them now is something I’m very proud of. The DNA is big and it’ll continue.”

Vanthoor follows his countryman, Le Mans legend Jacky Ickx, as a Belgian factory driver for Porsche. Vanthoor expressed that he has a lot of work to do in his career to be compared to Ickx.

As for the advice he’s received from his teammates, Vanthoor said to simply relax and enjoy the experience.

“It’s a cool, relaxed event,” he said.

“During the year, we’re always under pressure in racing. This is more a place to enjoy, look at the old cars and driving them.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun.

“I’ve never experienced it before, but I’m so excited to see how it goes.”

This year’s Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI takes place September 27-30 in Monterey, at WeatherTech Raceway.