Two Generations, One Passion: Laurin Heinrich Shares Lunch with Henri Pescarolo
The wheels crunch on sun-baked Legendary gravel as a Slate Grey Neo Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet glides down a long driveway toward a rustic French farmhouse. Behind the wheel sits Laurin Heinrich, one of Porsche’s rising stars, his face marked with anticipation. The young German racer has come not merely for a social visit, but to share a table, a story, and a bond with one of the greats of motorsport: Henri Pescarolo.
For Heinrich, the meeting represents more than just a conversation across generations. It is a symbolic bridge between Porsche’s heritage and its future—a living exchange of knowledge, passion, and respect. And at the heart of their encounter lies one race that has captivated them both: the Suzuka 1000km.
A Career Written in Endurance
Henri Pescarolo’s name carries weight in racing circles, synonymous with grit, endurance, and resilience. His record speaks for itself: 33 starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans—still a record today—four overall victories at the legendary French event, and countless triumphs on circuits across the globe. Spa, Daytona, Buenos Aires, Kyalami, Watkins Glen—Pescarolo conquered them all.
But the victory that sparks today’s meeting is his 1981 win at Suzuka, where he steered a Porsche 935 to glory in what was then Japan’s most grueling endurance race. At the time, Suzuka was a relative newcomer on the global stage, yet its figure-of-eight layout and mix of corners quickly won over Pescarolo.
“I didn’t know anything about the track,” he recalls with a smile. “But I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was to drive. It felt like a European circuit in Japan, with every type of corner imaginable. It became one of the most interesting laps I had in my career.
A Rising Star at the Table
Across from him, Heinrich listens intently. At just 23 years of age, he is carving his own path in endurance racing, backed by Porsche’s storied driver development program. Hailing from Würzburg, Germany, Heinrich’s career trajectory has been steep and impressive: IMSA GTD Pro champion, Porsche Supercup race winner, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany victor, and a rising name in the GT World Challenge Asia.
Like Pescarolo, Heinrich knows Suzuka’s challenges first-hand. He raced there in 2024, clinching a win in the GT World Challenge Asia, and he will return this year for the Suzuka 1000km—revived after a long hiatus. He will drive for Origine Motorsport alongside fellow Porsche talents Bastian Buus and Alessio Picariello.
“It means a lot to me,” Heinrich says. “Suzuka is one of those tracks where the driver makes the difference. Last year was one of the best weekends of my career, and now to come back for the 1000km, in a Porsche, with a team I trust—it feels special.
A Tribute Through Design
The connection between the two men deepens with the presentation of a framed image. Heinrich hands over a print featuring Pescarolo’s 1981 Suzuka-winning Porsche 935 at the top, and his own 911 GT3 R below, dressed in a livery that pays tribute to Pescarolo’s triumph. On the back is a handwritten note of gratitude.
This season, Heinrich’s Origine Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R will wear that livery at Suzuka, one of three official Porsche Pro entries set to compete with iconic throwback designs. For Heinrich, carrying history on his car is both a privilege and a responsibility.
“It’s always a good sign when you carry a livery with a winning history,” he says. “We want to make everyone proud, and to put in a performance worthy of the design. It shows how important heritage is to Porsche.”
Pescarolo nods approvingly. “It’s a brilliant idea,” he replies. “I’ve always been proud to see Porsche respect its history. To see Laurin driving with our 1981 colours—at Suzuka of all places—it makes me very happy. Porsche has always been one of the great competitors in global sportscar racing, and they continue to carry that spirit.”
Lunch with a Legend
The conversation unfolds over lunch prepared by Pescarolo himself. Now 83, he has traded racing suits for aprons, though his dining room still breathes motorsport. Paintings, photographs, and scale models remind visitors of a life at speed: pictures from his Formula One days, a model of his first Le Mans-winning car shared with Graham Hill in 1972, and replicas of the Pescarolo Sport prototypes that carried his name at Le Mans in the 2000s.
Cooking and wine collecting are now among his passions, but the racer’s competitive edge hasn’t dulled. As he serves food and uncorks wine, the talk returns to Porsche, Suzuka, and endurance racing’s timeless magic.
Two Paths, One Destination
Though united by Porsche, Heinrich’s and Pescarolo’s career paths could not be more different.
Pescarolo came from an era before karting academies and structured junior programs. At 16, he was taking flying lessons—piloting aircraft before he could legally drive a car. He didn’t begin his racing career until he was 22, just a year younger than Heinrich is today. From French Formula 3 and Formula 2, he ascended to Formula One before cementing his reputation in endurance racing.
“In Formula One, I was never in a car that could win,” he admits. “But in sportscars, especially with Porsche, I was lucky to be in very competitive teams. I should have won Le Mans with Porsche more than once, but mechanical failures stopped us in 1977 and 1978. Finally, in 1984, I won with the Joest Racing Porsche 956B. That was a very proud moment.”
Heinrich’s journey reflects the modern era. With limited funding, his dream nearly ended before it began, until Porsche’s junior program gave him a lifeline.
“Joining Porsche as a Junior in 2022 saved my career,” he tells Pescarolo. “I couldn’t have continued otherwise. Porsche has a clear ladder: Sprint Challenge, Carrera Cup, Supercup, then the Junior shootout. They pick one driver each year, and I was lucky to be chosen. It’s given me the chance to chase my dream and build a future in motorsport.
Beyond Racing
What shines through the meeting is not just a shared love of racing, but mutual admiration across eras. Heinrich embodies Porsche’s future: young, ambitious, and shaped by structured development. Pescarolo embodies its past: resilient, resourceful, and a living reminder of motorsport’s golden decades.
As they share stories, laughter, and a meal, there is a palpable sense of continuity. Racing evolves—cars get faster, technology gets smarter, and driver development becomes more sophisticated—but the essence remains. It is the pursuit of endurance, the will to push limits, and the joy of representing Porsche on the world stage
