Thierry Vermeulen

Thierry Egidius Gerardus Vermeulen (born 29 July 2002) is a Dutch racing driver currently competing for Emil Frey Racing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. He is supported by four-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion Max Verstappen. He previously competed in the ADAC GT Masters, scoring a podium alongside Mattia Drudi.

Early career Vermeulen began his racing career in 2020, competing for Team GP Elite in the GT4 CS class of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux. He would experience a dominant campaign, winning every race but one on his way towards the title. During the same year, he would also make an appearance in the GT4 European Series at Le Castellet alongside Max Koebolt.

In 2021, Vermeulen would continue in Porsches, switching to the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux. He won a race at Assen and placed sixth in the standings. Other appearances that season included three drives in the 24H GT Series and a one-off in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany.

During the winter, Vermeulen contested the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East, where he amassed five podiums.

GT3 career

2022 Having made his first GT3 outing at the Kyalami 9 Hours in February, Vermeulen made a switch to the category with a campaign in the ADAC GT Masters, driving an Audi R8 LMS Evo II for Car Collection Motorsport. He and teammate Mattia Drudi collected a lone podium at Vermeulen's home track in Zandvoort, however this would only be enough for 23rd in the standings. Nevertheless, Vermeulen had spent the year improving his speed thanks to his teammate's coaching according to team manager Denis Ferlemann.

2023 Vermeulen performed double-duties the following year, driving for Emil Frey Racing in both the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup, where he was paired up with Albert Costa, and the DTM. In the latter, the Dutchman struggled to keep pace with race-winning teammate Jack Aitken, though he would become a regular top-ten finisher during the second half of the season, leaving him 16th overall with a best result of fifth at the Sachsenring. The former series saw him and Costa take three podiums at the back end of the season, missing another when Vermeulen was penalised for colliding with Dries Vanthoor at the final corner in Hockenheim, which resulted in fourth place in the championship.

2024

For the 2024 season, Vermeulen returned to contest the DTM with Emil Frey and remained with the team in the GTWC Sprint Cup, this time partnering Giacomo Altoè. At the opening DTM round in Oschersleben, the Dutchman collided with René Rast, resulting in an incensed Vermeulen showing the German the middle finger — he later received a reprimand for causing the collision and a warning for the gesture. Vermeulen only scored one top five finish during the first half of the campaign, finishing fourth at his home race in Zandvoort after qualifying third. A few rounds later, Vermeulen managed to claim his first pole position in the DTM, qualifying first for the second race at the Sachsenring. He would control the race until after the mandatory pit stop, when a penalty lap was issued as one of the mechanics had left a tyre on the ground in the pit lane, which demoted Vermeulen to third. Vermeulen ended up 15th in the drivers' standings.

Personal life As of 2023, Vermeulen lives in Monaco. His father Raymond is the manager of four-time Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen. As of 2023, Vermeulen was being mentored by Jos Verstappen.

Racing record

Racing career summary † As Vermeulen was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points. Season still in progress.

Complete Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) Year Team Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Points 2020 Team GP Elite GT4 CS ZOL1 ZOL2 ZOL3 NÜR1 NÜR2 NÜR3 ZND1 ZND2 ZND3 ZOL1 ZOL2 ZOL3 1st ?

Complete Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Points 2021 Team GP Elite SPA1 SPA2 RBR1 RBR2 ZND1 ZND2 ZOL1 ZOL2 ASS1 ASS2 HOC1 HOC2 6th 114

Complete ADAC GT Masters results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete GT World Challenge Europe results GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos. Points 2023 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Pro BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 HOC1 HOC2 VAL1 VAL2 ZAN1 ZAN2 4th 62.5 2024 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Pro BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 HOC1 HOC2 MAG1 MAG2 CAT1 CAT2 4th 43.5 2025 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Gold BRH1 BRH2 ZAN1 ZAN2 MIS1 MIS2 MAG1 MAG2 VAL1 VAL2 1st 118.5 2026 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo Pro BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 MAG1 MAG2 ZAN1 ZAN2 CAT1 CAT2 10th* 14* Season still in progress.

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Season still in progress.

Complete GT World Challenge Asia results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank Points 2026 Conquest Racing GTD Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo Ferrari F163CE 3.0 L Turbo V6 DAY SEB LBH LGA WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS PET 14th* 188*