Laura Van Den Hengel
Sports Car racing // Netherlands
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Laura Van Den Hengel: A determined and ambitious motorsports racer transitioning from karting to GT3, impressively debuting in GT Cup Open Europe and achieving her maiden podium in Italian GT.
Laura's Sponsors:
I need to gain the control of the car before I can really show what I got, so I just didn’t want to take high risks.
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FULL BIO: Laura Van Den Hengel
Laura Van Den Hengel is a talented Dutch motorsports racer who transitioned from karting to GT racing and has quickly made a name for herself with impressive performances in the GT Cup Open Europe series.
EARLY YEARS
Before entering GT racing, Laura competed at the top level in karting’s KZ Shifter class but transitioned to GT racing due to funding challenges and better sponsorship potential. Limited information is available about her early life and family background.
EARLY SUCCESS
In 2023, Laura made her race car debut in GT Cup Open Europe at Circuit Paul Ricard, teaming up with Maurizio Fondi. Despite the significant step from karting to GT3 machinery and limited testing time, she delivered a promising performance with a top-10 finish in class. Her natural speed at the wheel of a Porsche 992 GT3 Cup immediately caught attention in the motorsports world.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2023: Completed two appearances in the GT Cup Open Europe, impressing with her natural speed at the wheel of a Porsche 992 GT3 Cup[1].
- 2024: Secured two top-ten finishes in Portugal at the GT Cup Open Europe, Portimão round[1].
- 2024: Showcased strong recovery drives at Hockenheimring despite setbacks, including an unfortunate spin in Race 1 and a spectacular drive in Race 2[1].
- 2024: Achieved her first top five in the GT Cup Open Europe series at Spa Francorchamps, finishing fifth in class[1].
- 2024: Delivered a spectacular qualifying effort at Circuit Paul Ricard, securing second on the grid[1].
- 2024: Led the class in practice and placed third overall in Barcelona, eventually finishing fourth in class[1].
- 2024: Made her Italian GT debut at Mugello, achieving her maiden podium in sports car racing by finishing second in the GT Cup Second Division ProAm class in Race 1[4].
REPUTATION
Laura has established herself as a driver known for transparency, self-criticism, and dedication to improvement. Despite facing challenges such as limited budget and minimal testing opportunities, her resilience and perseverance have set her on a trajectory for success. Her rapid adaptation to GT racing and ability to learn from experienced teammates have been key factors in her early achievements, making her one of the most interesting bronze female prospects in the GT racing scene.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Van Den Hengel aims to continue advancing her racing career beyond 2024, with a focus on finding pace earlier in races and improving her foundational racing skills. As the founder of Women Who Race, she remains committed to promoting women in motorsport while developing her own career as a racer and content creator. Laura plans to build on her experiences in GT Cup Open Europe and forge strategic partnerships to reach higher levels of competition in the coming years.
References:
Laura Van Den Hengel Makes Remarkable Race Car Debut with Top-10 in Class
Women Who Race – Seth Clemens
Laura Van Den Hengel Makes Italian GT Debut with Class Podium in Mugello
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