Louis Gerardus Joseph Machiels (born 17 January 1971) is a Belgian businessman and former racing driver.

A long-term GT World Challenge Europe competitor for AF Corse, he was overall Pro-Am Cup champion in 2019 and won its Blancpain Endurance Series counterpart in 2011, 2012 and 2022. He often co-drove with Ferrari factory driver Andrea Bertolini.

Personal life and business ventures Machiels' grandfather Louis Machiels Sr. founded the Machiels Group in 1941, which was then taken over by his father Jef Machiels Sr. in 1973. In 2004, Machiels took over the company from his father. His son Jef Machiels Jr. and stepson Jules Castro are also racing drivers. In 2007, the Machiels family was ranked as the joint-12th richest family in Limburg.

Career Machiels began his racing career in 1997, partaking in select rounds of the FFSA GT Championship for GLPK Racing. Following that, Machiels primarily raced in Ferrari Challenge Europe until 2008, most notably finishing third in the 2004 Trofeo Pirelli standings. In 2009, Machiels won the 24 Hours of Zolder and raced in the 24 Hours of Spa for Porsche-fielding Prospeed Competition. The following year, Machiels returned to the team to race in the GT2 classes of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Spa and the 1000 km of Spa.

Returning to Ferrari machinery for 2011, Machiels joined Vita4One to race in the GT3 Pro-Am class of the Blancpain Endurance Series, which he won alongside Niek Hommerson after taking class wins at Magny-Cours and Silverstone. Switching to AF Corse for the 2012 season, Machiels and Hommerson began a long-standing partnership with Ferrari factory driver Andrea Bertolini, who helped them to a second Pro-Am title with class wins at Le Castellet and the 24 Hours of Spa. Remaining with the Italian team for the following season, Machiels scored a lone class win at Monza to take fifth in the Pro-Am standings. Following that, Machiels only raced at the 24 Hours of Spa across the following two years, winning it in Pro-Am for AF Corse in 2014 and racing for Bentley Team HTP the following year.

Following a season with Lamborghini-affiliated Attempto Racing, Machiels joined AF Corse-run Spirit of Race for 2017, taking a lone Pro-Am podium at Monza en route to a 13th-place points finish in class. Returning to the Italian team the following year, he took a class podium at Monza for the second consecutive season as he ended the year 14th in points. During 2018, Machiels also raced at the 24 Hours of Daytona for Lamborghini-linked GRT Grasser Racing Team in GTD. Continuing with AF Corse, Machiels raced with Bertolini in a dual programme in the Pro-Am classes of both the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe. In the former, Machiels scored a win at Silverstone to take seventh in the standings, whereas in the latter, he took wins at Misano and the Nürburgring en route to a fourth-place points finish. During 2019, Machiels also represented Belgium in the FIA Motorsport Games GT Cup, partnering Nico Verdonck in an Attempto-run Audi.

In 2020, Machiels remained with AF Corse to continue in the newly-renamed GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup. Finishing a lowly 10th in the former, Machiels found more success in the latter, in which he took a win at Misano and two at Barcelona to clinch runner-up honors. Continuing for an identical effort in 2021, Machiels finished on the Pro-Am podium at the 24 Hours of Spa in the former, and clinched two Sprint Cup class wins to take third in Pro-Am. Staying for a fourth consecutive dual programme in 2022, Machiels scored seven Sprint Cup podiums to clinch third in Pro-Am, but found more success in the Endurance Cup, winning at the Hockenheimring and the 24 Hours of Spa to secure his third class title.

In 2023, Machiels was joined by son Jef Machiels to contest another dual campaign in both the Endurance and Sprint Cups in the newly-created Bronze Cup, which only yielded a singular class podium in the former at Le Castellet. Downscaling to only the Endurance Cup for 2024, Machiels finished second at both Le Castellet and the 24 Hours of Spa en route to runner-up honors in Bronze. Machiels then stayed with the team for one last season in 2025, failing to secure a podium as he ended the year 21st in points. After teammate Andrea Bertolini opted to hang up his helmet mid-season, Machiels formally retired from motorsport at the end of the year.

Karting record Karting career summary SeasonSeriesTeamPosition 1987Karting World Championship — Formula K20th 1989Karting World Championship — Formula K7th 1990Karting World Championship — Formula Super AGKS Lemmens Power32ndSources:

Racing record Racing career summary Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position 1997 French GT Championship GLPK Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC 1999 Ferrari Porsche Challenge – Class A 18 14th 2004 Ferrari Challenge Europe – Trofeo Pirelli 1013rd 2005 Ferrari Challenge Europe – Trofeo Pirelli Ferrari Antwerpen 58 7th 2006 Ferrari Challenge Europe – Trofeo Pirelli 49 10th 2007 Ferrari Challenge Europe – Trofeo Pirelli Ferrari Antwerpen 10 0 0 0 0 78 12th 2008 Ferrari Challenge Europe – Trofeo Pirelli Ferrari Antwerpen 120 8th2009 24 Hours of Zolder Prospeed Competition 1 1 0 0 1 1st FIA GT Championship – GT2 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC2010 Le Mans Series – GT2 Prospeed Competition 1 0 0 0 0 3 24th 24 Hours of Le Mans – LMGT2 1 0 0 0 0 7th 24 Hours of Spa – GT2 1 0 0 0 0 4th Trofeo Maserati Europe 1 0 0 0 0 2 26th2011 Blancpain Endurance Series – GT3 Pro-Am Vita4One 5 2 0 0 3 1011st Belcar – GT3 1 0 0 0 0 2 23rd2012 Blancpain Endurance Series – Pro-Am AF Corse 5 2 0 0 2 761st City Challenge Baku – GT V40 Italy 1 0 0 0 0 DSQ 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series – Pro-Am AF Corse 5 1 0 0 1 50 5th 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series – Pro-Am AF Corse 1 1 0 0 1 31 9th2015 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Benelux – Am GT3.nl by Land Motorsport 2 0 0 0 2 17 7th 24 Hours of Zolder – Class 1 CN 2000 Bas Koeten Racing 1 0 0 0 0 DNF Blancpain Endurance Series – Pro-Am Bentley Team HTP 1 0 0 0 0 4 27th2016Blancpain GT Series Endurance CupAttempto Racing4 0 0 0 0 0 NC Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup – Pro-Am 0 0 0 0 17 27th Intercontinental GT Challenge – Am 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC2017Blancpain GT Series Endurance CupSpirit of Race5 0 0 0 0 0 NC Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup – Pro-Am 0 0 0 1 35 13th Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC2018 IMSA SportsCar Championship – GTD GRT Grasser Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 18 57thBlancpain GT Series Endurance CupAF Corse5 0 0 0 0 0 NC Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup – Pro-Am 0 0 0 1 33 14th2019Blancpain GT Series Endurance CupAF Corse5 0 0 0 0 0 NC Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup – Pro-Am 1 0 0 1 51 7thBlancpain GT World Challenge Europe10 0 0 0 0 0 NC Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe – Pro-Am 2 0 0 8 96 4th Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC FIA Motorsport Games GT Cup Team Belgium 1 0 0 0 0 9th2020GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupAF Corse4 0 0 0 0 0 NC GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Pro-Am 0 0 0 0 38 10thGT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup10 0 0 0 0 0 NC GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup – Pro-Am 3 0 0 8 117.52nd Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC2021 24H GT Series – GT3 Pro Team WRT 1 0 0 0 1 26 NC GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Pro-Am AF Corse 5 0 0 0 1 54 8thGT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup10 0 0 0 0 0 NC GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup – Pro-Am 2 0 0 6 1073rd Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC2022GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupAF Corse5 0 0 0 0 0 NC GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Pro-Am 2 0 0 5 1181stGT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup10 0 0 0 0 0 NC GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup – Pro-Am 0 0 0 7 953rd2023GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupAF Corse5 0 0 0 0 0 NC GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Bronze 0 0 0 1 34 11thGT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup6 0 0 0 0 0 NC GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup – Bronze 0 0 0 0 12 11th2024GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupAF Corse5 0 0 0 0 10 21st GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Bronze 0 0 0 2 722nd2025GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupAF Corse - Francorchamps Motors5 0 0 0 0 0 NC GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Bronze 0 0 0 0 19 21st Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NCSources:

Complete FIA GT Championship results (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 10Pts 2009 Prospeed Competition Porsche 997 GT3-RSR GT2SILADROSCSPA6HSPA12HSPA24HBUDALGPAUZOL NC 0

Complete European Le Mans Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap) YearEntrantClassChassisEngine12345RankPoints 2010 Prospeed Competition GT2 Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 LEC SPA ALG HUN SIL 24th 3

24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 2010 Prospeed Competition Paul van Splunteren Niek Hommerson Porsche 997 GT3-RSR GT2 311 21st 7th

Complete GT World Challenge results GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pos. Points 2011 Vita4One Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GT3 Pro-Am MNZ NAV SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H MAG SIL1st101 2012 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Pro-Am MNZ SIL LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR NAV1st76 2013 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Pro-Am MNZ SIL LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR 5th 50 2014 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Pro-Am MNZ SIL LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR 9th 31 2015 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3 Pro-Am MNZ SIL LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR 27th 4 2016 Attempto Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Pro-Am MNZ SIL LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR 27th 17 2017 Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GT3 Pro-Am MNZ SIL LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H CAT 13th 35 2018 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Pro-Am MNZ SIL LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H CAT 14th 33 2019 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Pro-Am MNZ SIL LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H CAT 7th 51 2020 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Pro-Am IMO NÜR SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H LEC 10th 38 2021 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 Pro-Am MNZ LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR CAT 9th 54 2022 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 Pro-Am IMO LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H HOC CAT1st1182023AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020Bronze MNZ LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H11th34 Ferrari 296 GT3 NÜR CAT 2024 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Bronze LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR MNZ JED2nd72 2025 AF Corse - Francorchamps Motors Ferrari 296 GT3 Bronze LEC MNZ SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR CAT 21st 19

Did not finish, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos. Points 2019 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Pro-Am BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 ZAN1 ZAN2 NÜR1 NÜR2 HUN1 HUN2 4th 96 2020 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Pro-Am MIS1 MIS2 MIS3 MAG1 MAG2 ZAN1 ZAN2 CAT1 CAT2 CAT3 2nd 117.5 2021 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 Pro-Am MAG1 MAG2 ZAN1 ZAN2 MIS1 MIS2 BRH1 BRH2 VAL1 VAL23rd107 2022 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 Pro-Am BRH1 BRH2 MAG1 MAG2 ZAN1 ZAN2 MIS1 MIS2 VAL1 VAL23rd95 2023 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Bronze MIS1 MIS2 HOC1 HOC2 VAL1 VAL2 11th 12

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 11 Rank Points 2018 GRT Grasser Racing Team GTD Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Lamborghini DGF 5.2 L V10 DAY SEB MDO BEL WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR LGA PET 57th 18

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