[WEC] The 2023 and beyond DRIVER ANNOUNCEMENTS MEGA THREAD

[Simmi]

One of the most intriguing aspects of the new sportscar landscape - I thought it would be cool to make one place for all the driver announcements.

We're starting to see the first of potentially 50+ manufacturer seats being filled across both WEC and IMSA for 2023. Plus you have other programmes like Lambo, Alpine, McLaren??, coming along a year later.

So what do we know so far?

Peugeot - Kevin Magnussen, Jean-Eric Vergne, Loic Duval, Gustavo Menezes, Paul Di Resta, Mikkel Jensen (assuming drivers are all on multi-year deals)

Audi - Rene Rast, Nico Muller (self confirmed)

Porsche - Yifel Ye, Felipe Nasr, Dane Cameron (TBC/heavily rumoured. Unsure of WEC/IMSA duties)

Cadillac - Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, Renger van der Zande, Sebastien Bourdais (assumption these will extend over into '23)


Are there any other announcements I've missed so far? Major rumours?

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Simmi

We're starting to see the first of potentially 50+ manufacturer seats being filled across both WEC and IMSA for 2013.

I know we're all looking forward to Hypercar/LMDh, but I think it's a bit much to expect them to reach time-travelling speeds!

I think you've got all the ones I've heard of. There were musing about Tandy going to Cadillac when Bamber was announced, but nothing more.

Edit - Toyota drivers? We know Ogier & Hirakawa have been testing, so one of the current roster may be on their way out.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by J Jay

I know we're all looking forward to Hypercar/LMDh, but I think it's a bit much to expect them to reach time-travelling speeds!

I think you've got all the ones I've heard of. There were musing about Tandy going to Cadillac when Bamber was announced, but nothing more.

Edit - Toyota drivers? We know Ogier & Hirakawa have been testing, so one of the current roster may be on their way out.

Haha ooops. Fixed!

Yeah I was thinking about Toyota. There's the assumption those guys will stay put, but as new manufacturers flood into the sport there could be temptation to jump ship. I also think a third car for Spa + LM could be a possibility in the future.

[Koenigsegg]

For BMW I would say Connor De Philippi, Augusto Farfus and Bruno Spengler are likely. Spengler has P1 experience, De Philippi is actively getting proto experience and I don't see BMW not including Farfus. But who else though? Krohn? Eng? Edwards?

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Koenigsegg

For BMW I would say Connor De Philippi, Augusto Farfus and Bruno Spengler are likely. Spengler has P1 experience, De Philippi is actively getting proto experience and I don't see BMW not including Farfus. But who else though? Krohn? Eng? Edwards?

It'll be good to see Tracy back......

[Koenigsegg]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

It'll be good to see Tracy back......

Definitely...


In all seriousness, did Tracy stop racing? Can't remember I've seen him running in (major) series since 2019/2020.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Koenigsegg

Definitely...





In all seriousness, did Tracy stop racing? Can't remember I've seen him running in (major) series since 2019/2020.

Haven't seen him since Krohn was on a Proton car in 19 I think it was. Wonder if 2020 caught him out and he hasn't found a good program yet.

[Racing Harz]

Originally Posted by Koenigsegg

Definitely...


In all seriousness, did Tracy stop racing? Can't remember I've seen him running in (major) series since 2019/2020.

He was driving on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife at the 24h with a Cup Porsche the last years,

[gert]

I think on Endurance-Info they mentioned Ogier is not being considered as a full-time driver but *may* be in the frame for a 3rd car (at Le Mans) if they field an additional car.

[Mike E]

James Rossiter was also named as Peugeot simulator and reserve driver. Not impossible he gets a race drive at some point.

Glickenhaus?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Mike E

James Rossiter was also named as Peugeot simulator and reserve driver. Not impossible he gets a race drive at some point.

Glickenhaus?

Good question. I got the feeling that not all of their drivers would be returning next season. Would like to see Derani there again but they have already lost Menezes to Pug.

[broadrun96]

But would Derani be retained/fully paid by Caddy for some WEC/LM time?

[Simmi]

'23 almost feels a bit far into the future to be chatting about Glickenhaus drivers right now. Hope they are still in the mix.

[tux]

Will we have a planet left in 2023? If we are still here will we be allowed motor racing? The climate change lot seem to think we are as good as dead?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

But would Derani be retained/fully paid by Caddy for some WEC/LM time?

Good point, he may end up being one of the factory Caddy drivers in the WEC.

Originally Posted by Simmi

'23 almost feels a bit far into the future to be chatting about Glickenhaus drivers right now. Hope they are still in the mix.

I feel that way about a lot of the program announcements for 23. We have a whole season to get through before that!

[chernaudi]

Anthony Davidson probably won't be in the reckoning for factory rides. He announced this morning that he'll retire from full time driving after next week's race in Bahrain.

[Simmi]

Looks like Ye is doing some Porsche GT racing next year. I'd have thought that remaining in P2 would be the ideal prep but he's obviously going to have close ties to the programme.

https://sportscar365.com/industry/ye...lected-driver/

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Anthony Davidson probably won't be in the reckoning for factory rides. He announced this morning that he'll retire from full time driving after next week's race in Bahrain.

That's a shame, he's been great for the sport. There's an outside chance he could end his career with an LMP2 driver/team title next week, but I hope his last race is a good one regardless.

Originally Posted by Simmi

Looks like Ye is doing some Porsche GT racing next year. I'd have thought that remaining in P2 would be the ideal prep but he's obviously going to have close ties to the programme.

https://sportscar365.com/industry/ye...lected-driver/

I can't find the post right now, but I'm sure I asked this when Ye to Porsche was revealed. I suspect Porsche would have preferred to keep him in LMP2, but with WRT almost certainly going the way of Audi - who are not exactly short of factory drivers - it doesn't make much sense to keep a rival driver sharp.

Besides, the last time Porsche "promoted" a GT driver or two to prototypes, it went rather well for them.

[Simmi]

Big Toyota news - Kaz Nakajima is leaving at the end of the season - https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/...wec-squad.html

I did think some of their guys might get poached. Wonder where he'll land next...

[Simmi]

Or maybe he's just retiring? Awesome career if so.

[kvenom]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Or maybe he's just retiring? Awesome career if so.

He was interviewed by Sportscar365 and it seems like he was forced to step down by Toyota and maybe pushed into a team management role. He was looking forward to racing against all the manufacturers entering.

[J Jay]

I need to keep better track of my own posts. I definitely said somewhere on here that Nakajima leaving was likely the reason for all the action at Toyota!

Originally Posted by kvenom

He was interviewed by Sportscar365 and it seems like he was forced to step down by Toyota and maybe pushed into a team management role. He was looking forward to racing against all the manufacturers entering.

Although I must mention the rule of cautious editing judgement, that interview was more revealing than I expected. Nicolas, Anthony, Kazuki - the Logan's Run of TMG continues...

[Pandamasque]

A new era is coming for endurance racing, with many Hypercar manufacturers joining in the next years, and it will be a new era for me. I will continue to support the team and I look forward to watching the start of a new, exciting time for endurance racing.
- K.N.

It does sound like a move to a managerial role.

Elsewhere, Brundle commits to serve at interpol. https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/...mpetition.html
Multi-year deal meaning he gave up on an LMDh drive that he looked for?

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Elsewhere, Brundle commits to serve at interpol. https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/...mpetition.html
Multi-year deal meaning he gave up on an LMDh drive that he looked for?

Don't see IE getting hold of a LMDh in '23 but it could be a case of positioning himself. He's a smart guy and aligning himself to a gentleman driver (young or old) is a savvy move.

In other news, Nico Hulkenberg has ruled himself out of an Indycar drive next year - https://twitter.com/HulkHulkenberg/s...05669770608648

Surely he's on a few lists.

[bella]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Elsewhere, Brundle commits to serve at interpol.

Multi-year deal meaning he gave up on an LMDh drive that he looked for?

i’m noticing a trend of lmp2 teams levelling up recently. you can just run the car like a ginetta junior and be pretty competitive but halfway into the season that’ll start to bite you versus the teams with a more formal engineering team. especially if you’re only running one car and don’t have options for parts rotation and stuff you end up spending a hell of a lot running just one car with no added value for money from parts rotation or cascading.

i don’t know who the lead brain is at inter europol now but alex has obviously seen and been a part of some progress he likes the smell of this season. you don’t have to be on a one year deal at the pointy end for people to take note.