Earl Bamber and Laurens Vanthoor will reunite to join Cooper MacNeil aboard WeatherTech Racing’s GTE Pro Porsche for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Bamber and Vanthoor, often nicknamed Bamthor as a duo, will complete the line-up for the Proton Competition-operated #79 Porsche 911 RSR-19 in the French endurance classic.
The duo was a longtime pairing in various sportscar series from 2018 through to 2020. In the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, the duo won the GTLM title in 2019, and they added an overall victory in the Spa 24 Hours to their list of accomplishments alongside Nick Tandy last year.
Individually, both drivers have had plenty of success at Le Mans. Bamber has won the race overall twice, in 2015 and 2017. Vanthoor, meanwhile, scored a GTE Pro win in 2018 alongside Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor.
“I really like our lineup for Le Mans,” MacNeil said. “We have, what I would call, a mature Le Mans lineup. Between the three of us, we have 17 starts at Le Mans. That is a lot of miles and experience around that place.
“The WeatherTech Racing Porsche 911 RSR has been strong in IMSA with our win at Sebring as well as two good performances in the European Le Mans Series highlighted by a fourth place two weeks ago at Paul Ricard.
“The Proton Competition guys know the track and race really well in France. I am looking forward to running my eighth Le Mans.”
Bamber will be returning to the French circuit for the first time since 2019, as he did not take part in the event last year.
“I am really excited to head back to Le Mans this year,” he said. “After missing the event in 2020, I can’t wait to get back to one of my favorite tracks in the world.
“I am also looking forward to joining Cooper and Laurens for the event. I have followed Cooper for years in the IMSA Championship and to see him get his first overall GTLM victory at the Sebring 12 hours this year was awesome.
“I hope we can achieve similar things this year at Le Mans. Porsche has always been strong at Le Mans and with the support that Porsche AG brings I am sure we will have a strong package for the race.”
