André Lotterer is one of the most versatile and accomplished racing drivers of the modern era. A three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, his career spans endurance racing, single-seaters, GT competition, and Formula E. Yet away from the world’s biggest stages, Lotterer’s passion extends deeply into classic cars and historic motorsport. That passion is not a casual hobby. It is a genuine extension of a life shaped by racing — a deep appreciation for automotive history, mechanical craftsmanship, and the sensory experience of driving cars from motorsport’s golden era. We were fortunate to speak with André at the Goodwood Revival in September last year, where he shared his thoughts on the event, the cars he raced that weekend, his growing involvement in historic motorsport, and his role in the Genesis endurance racing project.

For Lotterer, the event stands apart from any other event in motorsport. “It’s like stepping into a time machine,” he tells GT REPORT.

Motorsport from the Beginning

Lotterer grew up in Belgium in a motorsport family. His father ran a racing team that, notably, was among the early outfits to give Audi an opportunity in competition. One car from that era left a lasting impression on André: a long-wheelbase Quattro. André loved the sound most of all.

Audi would go on to play a defining role in his career. Driving Audi prototypes, Lotterer won the most iconic endurance race in the world three times. His personal connection deepened further in December 2012, when he drove the 476-hp Group B rally car on an original San Remo Rally stage. In 2013, he purchased his own Sport Quattro, which he still drives regularly around the streets of Monaco.

Audi Sport Quattro on the rally stage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

A Driver Who Truly Lives with His Cars

André Lotterer is widely regarded as one of the few modern professional drivers whose passion extends beyond racing into classic ownership, restoration, and historic use. His collection reflects knowledge, taste, and — above all — a desire to drive cars rather than store them.

At the centre of that collection is Porsche. The most famous car he owns is a 1973 911 Carrera RS 2.7, finished in iconic blood orange with its signature ducktail. Lotterer owns an early example, which he spent years restoring to original specification. The focus was on authenticity rather than perfection, preserving the character of one of the most important road-going 911s ever built.

He drives the car regularly and describes it as raw, physical, and deeply engaging.

Example of 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 driven at Le Mans Classic 2025

Before Le Mans: Building a Complete Racer

Long before Le Mans victories defined his career, Lotterer had already built an unusually broad racing résumé. He began karting at a young age, winning a junior world title in the mid-1990s, before transitioning successfully into cars.

He dominated Formula BMW in 1999, followed by strong performances in both German and British Formula 3. In 2002, he became a test and reserve driver for Jaguar Racing, gaining valuable Formula One experience. Rather than remaining on a crowded European ladder, Lotterer made a decisive move to Japan — a turning point in his career.

There, he established himself as a top professional in Formula Nippon (now Super Formula), earning Rookie of the Year honours and later becoming champion in 2011. At the same time, he achieved multiple titles in Super GT’s highly competitive GT500 class. By the time endurance racing entered his career, Lotterer was already a complete driver.

24 Hours of Le Mans-winning Audi R18 TDI at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024

Defining an Era in World Endurance Racing

Lotterer is one of the defining drivers of the FIA World Endurance Championship era. All three of his Le Mans victories came with Audi during one of the most competitive periods in modern endurance racing.

Alongside Marcel Fässler and Benoît Tréluyer, he claimed the 2012 WEC Drivers’ World Championship, becoming a benchmark for consistency, speed, and technical intelligence. Even after Audi’s withdrawal, Lotterer remained competitive — racing with Porsche and later Rebellion Racing, extracting podiums and victories regardless of circumstance.

His adaptability carried him into the Hypercar era with Porsche, where he once again returned to the top of the standings to claim another WEC Drivers’ World Championship, more than a decade after his first.

André Lotterer driving the Porsche 963 prototype at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024

Electric Racing and Evolution

Lotterer brought the same intelligence and professionalism to Formula E. Joining the series in 2017, he adapted quickly to the demands of fully electric single-seaters, where efficiency, strategy, and precision matter as much as outright speed.

His time with TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team and later Andretti saw him play a key development role, helping shape cars and teams in one of motorsport’s most competitive environments. By 2023, he stepped away from Formula E to focus fully on endurance racing and historic competition — bringing him back to where passion and profession intersect most clearly.

Goodwood Revival: A Favourite Weekend

Lotterer’s Goodwood involvement reflects his wider passion for classic cars and historic racing. Rather than treating the Revival as a novelty, he approaches it with the same professionalism he brings to world championships, while embracing the spirit and atmosphere that make Goodwood unique.

At the 82nd Goodwood Members’ Meeting in April 2025, André Lotterer impressed in a Porsche 997 GT3 R Evo, driving blistering laps during the GT3 demonstration shootout. A whole grid of recently prepared GT3 cars that took part in the high-speed demonstration was undoubtedly the highlight of the 82nd Members’ Meeting.

The ease and professionalism with which he set an incredible lap time, with almost no practice or warm-up, was astounding to see.

Porsche 997 GT3 R Evo during the GT3 car demonstration driven by Lotterer

Few events in global motorsport capture the romance and authenticity of historic racing quite like the Goodwood Revival. For Lotterer, it has become the highlight of the season.

Lotterer has competed at the Revival in some of its most prestigious races, notably the RAC TT Celebration and the St Mary’s Trophy. These events place historic GT and touring cars back on the Goodwood Motor Circuit, demanding finesse, mechanical sympathy, and adaptability rather than modern aerodynamic grip.

We caught up with André between two practice sessions on Friday at last year’s Goodwood Revival. As he was walking through the paddock full of beautiful historic machinery, he was more than happy to answer a few questions about his involvement in classic car racing.

André Lotterer behind the wheel of an AC Cobra at Goodwood Revival 2024

Now a regular at the Goodwood Revival, what does he think about the event?

“It is hard to put into words how amazing this event is,” Lotterer tells GT REPORT. “The attention to detail, how all the spectators are passionate about all the cars and the organisation of the Duke and his team here. They are putting really something amazing together and basically giving everyone the chance to be into a time travel machine and go back to the 60s and 50s in such an amazing place. It’s very unique, one of a kind, nowhere else in the world. It’s for sure my favourite weekend of the year because everything is so beautiful.”

Unlike drivers who treat historic events as a novelty, Lotterer approaches the Revival with the same professionalism he brings to world championships — often racing multiple cars across the weekend.

Little Austin A35 pushed to the limit by a three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner at Goodwood

Two Cars, Two Worlds

At last year’s Revival, Lotterer competed in two very different machines.

“This weekend I am driving a Jaguar E-Type lightweight low-drag in the RAC TT Celebration and an Austin A35 in the St. Mary Trophy. I just literally jumped out of Austin. It was fun, but not much power. I qualified 11th which is not bad. And the Jaguar is a beautiful car. It’s only one of two ever made and finished 6th at Le Mans, so the history is incredible. And I’m very privileged to drive it here.”

The Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Low Drag carries remarkable history, while the Austin A35 offered a very different challenge — proof of Lotterer’s ability to extract performance from anything he drives.

André Lotterer driving a rare Jaguar E-type Lightweight ‘Low Drag’ coupe at Goodwood Revival 2025

Over the years, he has raced AC Cobras, Alfa Romeo GTAs, Minis, Ford Galaxies, and Lister Jaguars. Asked to choose a favourite, his answer is deeply personal:

“During the last two years I drove a Jaguar E-Type that I actually co-owned myself. And that was a beautiful car with an amazing history. I shared it with one of my best friends, so obviously that was my favourite. But I also loved driving the Lister Jaguar, which I won with in 2020, so that was cool.”

The Jaguar E-type Lightweight ‘Low Drag’ coupe (specifically chassis 49 FXN) achieved an impressive 6th place in the general classification (and 2nd in class) at the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours Test Days, not the main 24-hour race. The car’s history adds to its appeal.

Lister Jaguar at Goodwood Revival 2024 in the hands of André Lotterer

Historic Racing Beyond Goodwood

Lotterer’s involvement in historic motorsport continues to grow beyond Goodwood.

“Definitely the Goodwood Revival is my favorite number one because it’s simply amazing. Goodwood Members Meeting is fun. Last time I drove a Porsche 997 GT3 R Evo. Dubai Historic was nice, I really enjoyed that as well. In the future I would love to go to the Car Week in Montreal and explore that event a little bit. I have tried a lot of classics already, like Ferrari sports cars, and I love racing the Ford GT40. Last year I had an opportunity to drive the GT40 at Spa Six Hours Classic, which was quite special. There are still so many cars I would like to try… like Can-Am, Group C cars or GT1 cars I’d like to drive in the future.”

André Lotterer won the 31st Spa Six Hours Classic race in October 2024, driving a Ford GT40 alongside Dario and Marino Franchitti, secured in a dramatic finale after the leading car spun into the gravel with 15 minutes remaining.

The team managed the race from ninth on the grid to victory in challenging, changing weather conditions.

Lotterer’s extensive experience from years in the World Endurance Championship was very apparent. His cool head, consistently fast laps, and the fastest lap of the race in the closing stages in the dark were crucial to the teamwork behind the win.

Ford GT40 driven to victory by André Lotterer, Dario and Marino Franchitti during Spa Six Hours Classic

More than a decade after his first title in WEC, Lotterer was still racing at the front, helping Porsche refine its programme in a category defined by tight performance windows and complex balance-of-performance rules. Lotterer became increasingly valued for his technical insight. This made him a natural fit for involvement in new manufacturer projects, particularly those entering endurance racing for the first time at the top level.

That role came to the fore with Genesis Magma Racing, Genesis’ factory-backed entry into the Hypercar class. Since the project’s early phase, Lotterer has been closely involved in car development, testing, and programme structure — helping shape the team before it reaches full competitive maturity. We asked André what his impression of the team was, what he thought of the car, and how much he had been involved in shaping the project behind the scenes.

“It’s going well. The car was well-born and feels really nice to drive. We still obviously have a lot of work to develop the team and the software, the engine. But it’s going well and I’m very happy to have joined the team. I have been involved in many aspects, it’s like 360 degrees of everything. I try to give everything I can in terms of experience and input. There’s no specific hierarchy, so whatever I think we need to do, we do.”

André Lotterer filming the cars leaving the assembly area at Goodwood

Where Past and Future Meet

From piloting rare Jaguars at the Goodwood Revival to helping shape a brand-new Hypercar project, André Lotterer’s career uniquely bridges motorsport’s past and future.

At Goodwood, he is not just a modern champion making a guest appearance — he is a committed historic racer. When he’s out of the car, he can be found wandering the paddock, admiring machinery, taking photographs, and soaking in the atmosphere.

For Lotterer, the Goodwood Revival remains the pinnacle — a place where history comes alive, and the spirit of racing’s golden era is not merely remembered but lived.

Le Mans 2009: The race that launched André Lotterer’s Audi career

André Lotterer’s path to Audi’s factory team began at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he shared a Kolles Racing Audi R10 TDI with Dutch driver Charles Zwolsman. The pair completed the race as a two-driver line-up after Narain Karthikeyan was injured before the start. Lotterer’s performance that weekend earned him a promotion to Audi Sport Team Joest, launching the factory career that would lead to three Le Mans victories.

Read the full interview with Charles Zwolsman about racing the Audi R10 TDI and the duo’s remarkable Le Mans debut.