All about Stoffel Vandoorne - the Tokyo E-Prix Round 8 winner
Image credit: Stoffel Vandoorne/Instagram
Down but not out! That's exactly how Maserati MSG Racing driver Stoffel Vandoorne approached the Tokyo E-Prix Round 8, starting from 14th on the grid and going on to clinch a remarkable victory.
It was nothing short of a come-from-behind win for the 33-year-old, who in fact left Nissan's Oliver Rowland—who had started from pole—behind to claim the top spot. Soon after the win, Vandoorne's name was all over social media, with fans eager to know more about the man from Belgium.
Stoffel Vandoorne's much-awaited triumph came three years after his last victory, which was at Monaco in 2022. He'll now aim to carry this winning momentum into the Shanghai double-header at the end of this month.
Who is Stoffel Vandoorne?
Born and raised in Kortrijk, West Flanders, Vandoorne competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Peugeot and in Formula E for Maserati. His passion for racing began early—he started karting at the age of 6. His father took him to the World Karts track in Kortrijk, Belgium, where he took his first steps toward the thrilling world of motorsport.
Vandoorne had to battle financial hurdles in the early stages of his career.
Funding was a constant struggle, but his talent saw him rise through national and international competitions, earning success along the way. He progressed to junior formulae in 2010.
His first major success came that same year when he won the F4 Eurocup championship with the FFSA Academy. That win helped him advance to Formula Renault, where he won the Eurocup in 2012. A year later, he finished runner-up in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2013.
Also Read:
Stoffel Vandoorne on clinching long-awaited Tokyo E-Prix Round 8 victory: 'I'm just super happy our plan paid off'
Vandoorne's journey also included a stint in Formula One. He joined the McLaren Young Driver Programme in 2013 and remained part of the setup for several years. His big day came in 2016 when he made his Formula One debut for McLaren at the Bahrain Grand Prix, replacing the injured Fernando Alonso. Impressed by his performance, McLaren signed him as a full-time driver alongside Alonso for the 2017 season. He raced, scored points, earned applause—but was released at the end of 2018.
Since then, he has served as a reserve driver for several teams, including McLaren, Mercedes, Racing Point, and Aston Martin.
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