From Football Legend to Racing Ace? Courtois Reveals Ambitious Post-Career Motorsport Plans
Real Madrid's star goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, is renowned for his incredible saves and commanding presence between the posts. But beyond the football pitch, the Belgian shot-stopper harbours a burning passion for motorsport – and he's revealed ambitious plans for a post-retirement career in racing.
Speaking recently, the 33-year-old Courtois outlined a dream scenario: building his own motorsport team and guiding it all the way to Formula 2. This isn't just a casual interest; Courtois has been deeply involved in the motorsport world, gaining experience and knowledge that fuels his aspirations.
“I’ve always been a huge motorsport fan,” Courtois explained. “I’ve been following Formula 1 and other racing series for years. The engineering, the strategy, the skill of the drivers – it’s all fascinating.”
But the ambition doesn’t stop at team ownership. Courtois also confessed a desire to get behind the wheel himself, specifically in GT3 racing. GT3 racing offers a blend of professional racing and accessibility, allowing experienced drivers to compete in high-performance GT cars. It's a challenging and exciting discipline, and Courtois seems eager to test his skills on the track.
A Growing Motorsport Presence:
Courtois’ involvement in motorsport isn’t new. He’s already established his own racing team, Vortex V8, which competes in the Belgian GT Cup. This provides him with invaluable hands-on experience in managing a racing operation, understanding the intricacies of vehicle preparation, and working with talented drivers and engineers.
“Running Vortex V8 has been a fantastic learning experience,” Courtois stated. “It’s given me a real appreciation for the effort and dedication required to succeed in motorsport. It’s a completely different challenge to being a footballer, but I love it.”
The Road Ahead: Formula 2 and Beyond
The leap to Formula 2 represents a significant step up in terms of competition and technical complexity. However, Courtois seems undeterred. His long-term vision is to build a competitive team capable of challenging for race wins and championships.
“Formula 2 is the feeder series for Formula 1, so it’s a very high level of racing,” he acknowledged. “But that’s what makes it so exciting. I want to create a team that can attract talented drivers and engineers and give them the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
While his football career remains his primary focus, Courtois’ motorsport dreams are clearly taking shape. The prospect of seeing a football legend transition into a racing team owner and even a driver is an intriguing one, and it’s a testament to his passion and ambition. Whether he can achieve his lofty goals remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Thibaut Courtois is a man with a plan, both on and off the pitch.
