Fresh from winning the Dubai 24 Hours for Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, the 24-year-old spoke to Motorsport.com about his intention to move up to sportscar racing's top tier with the German marque.

"This [WEC & Le Mans] for me is my future dream, to be in the Audi LMP1 one day," he said.

"I had the opportunity to do a test two months ago, but I was not able to do it because I had a big crash a couple of weeks before [in Blancpain Sprint Series at Misano] and I broke my hip so I couldn’t go, which was really really frustrating."

"I hope I get this chance again another day and maybe make my dream come true," he added.

Elaborating on when he intends to do it, he said: "A couple of years ago, I said to myself 2017, so that’s next year."

"I don’t know, it doesn’t depend on me. I'm doing my best, trying to win as much as possible.

"What I have now, driving GT for Audi Sport Customer Racing, I'm really happy and blessed with that, because my job is the thing which I love most in the world.

"But obviously, you always have bigger dreams for one day."

Endurance experience

Along with racing in the Blancpain Sprint Series with Team WRT, where he finished third in the standings last year, he also competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours in the LMP2 category with OAK Racing in 2015.

Having had wins in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in 2015, 12 Hours of Sepang in 2015 and 24 Hours of Spa in 2014, Vanthoor feels he is experienced enough for the factory team drive.

"I think [winning endurance races] shows that I have 24-hour experience," he said.

"So, I think three years now, I have gathered the experience and the know-how to work in a 24-hour race. I think being able to show that towards Audi is definitely important."

Interview by Khodr Rawi