IMSA: MOBIL 1 TWELVE HOURS OF SEBRING

March 14, 2025

Dries Vanthoor

Press Conference

NATE SIEBENS: We are now joined by our overall pole award winner here for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Dries Vanthoor.

Dries, congratulations on another pole position. Kind of an abbreviated qualifying session there with the red flag. When that happens, what does it take to stick a lap in to get you on the pole?

DRIES VANTHOOR: Yeah, first of all, a big thanks to the team and BMW for giving me a car to fight for pole.

Yeah, it changes a lot. You only get two laps at the end. Anyway, it was planned maybe to get three or maybe four, depending how fast we can do the out laps. Then you have to change a bit your procedure, have to go as fast as you can on the out lap and push. That's what I did. It worked.

NATE SIEBENS: Question for Dries.

Q. I notice that you did take tires while you were waiting to come back out for the last part. Do you feel that was beneficial to you being able to get that lap time? How were the tires doing?

DRIES VANTHOOR: Fine. It was anyway our goal to go for two sets, no matter if it was going to go red flag or not. It made it a bit more difficult because we had the shorter time to get the tires in.

It worked out fine. It's hot enough today, so the tires came in quite well on the second lap. The first lap was a bit too early, but it worked out.

Q. In a situation like that with a red flag, a lot of pressure due to the lack of time, how does it make you feel? Does it amp you up?

DRIES VANTHOOR: Yeah, a bit because it's the only shot. Normally on a normal qualifying session you maybe get two chances. Now you only had one. It makes a bit more pressure to get that lap together. It makes it a bit more difficult.

But yeah, it makes me a bit, how I would say, fired up or nervous, fired up at the same time. Looks like it's working (smiling).

Q. Safe to say you're enjoying the move into IMSA full-time so far?

DRIES VANTHOOR: So far is going very well. But yeah, I'm really enjoying. Sebring is the first time for me here, so I'm really enjoying the track. It's something different to what I've been used to, especially with all the bumps. It's nice. I'm enjoying it a lot so far.

Q. Can you touch base on picking up the pole on a special weekend for BMW with it being the 50th anniversary celebration.

DRIES VANTHOOR: Yeah, I mean, all the things especially for the 50th anniversary. I was speaking to Andreas two minutes before qualifying, we were having a laugh that it was the race they did here 50 years ago.

It's a good thing now, especially with our livery, we got here, it's a nice thing to be on pole and to have that car. Having some nice screen time in the beginning of the race, hopefully.

Q. Have you ever had the opportunity as a BMW driver to drive one of the CSL Batmobiles?

DRIES VANTHOOR: No, this is something I would start to have a chat about to try those cars, or at least have a run on them. They look amazing. They are nice, historical cars. I would love to have a drive on them. When I walk back, I'm going to have a chat about that (smiling).

NATE SIEBENS: Congratulations and good luck tomorrow.

DRIES VANTHOOR: Thank you.