[WEC] The 2023 and beyond DRIVER ANNOUNCEMENTS MEGA THREAD

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by chunterer

So no more Yefei Ye?

Maybe his contract doesn't expire after this year so was no need to extend yet.

Originally Posted by FIRE

Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman and China Yifei Ye are AF Corse.

Ye and Russian have Ferrari contracts as well.

[tomcug]

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...iecki-departs/
Important and a bit unexpected even changes at Porsche. Never heard before Makowiecki's seat was at risk.

[PhilipR]

Maybe Makowiecki is going with a different manufacturer

As a Andre fan I hope he still stays in the championship next year even if with Proton. But I guess age and time catches up with everybody

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...iecki-departs/
Important and a bit unexpected even changes at Porsche. Never heard before Makowiecki's seat was at risk.

The big driver (pun intended) is Porsche's move to two-driver teams (which is in itself a large slap in the face for the ACO's proposed three-driver mandate...). Makowiecki's never quite fulfilled the promise he had in GTLM, but his vast experience should see him picked up elsewhere, GT more lilely than hypercar (maybe he does a reverse Bruni). I think everyone saw Lotterer's demotion coming; even though he has picked it up in the last few races he's always been that little bit behind Estre/Vanthoor, and that little bit counts in such a tightly-regulated class. To me, Cameron being dropped is the biggest surprise - I don't see what pace or consistency sets Christensen apart from him, they've both done a decent job in the #5, albeit usually behind the #6. Back to IMSA for Cameron then? Replacing Derani at AXR perhaps?

Along with the expected promotion of Andlauer (to the #5), Porsche's lineups are as follows:

WEC #5: Andlauer, Christensen (Jaminet)
WEC #6: Estre, Vanthoor (Campbell)

IMSA #6: Campbell, Jaminet (Estre)
IMSA #7: Nasr, Tandy (Vanthoor)

What Porsche arguably lose in driver availability they make for up in ability - that's the strongest lineup any hypercar manufacturer will have. It also brings even greater collaboration between IMSA/WEC teams.

[JoeW04]

Originally Posted by tomcug

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...iecki-departs/
Important and a bit unexpected even changes at Porsche. Never heard before Makowiecki's seat was at risk.

If you remember he was only added quite late to the race programme after doing quite a lot of the initial testing, almost like they’d had a look around etc and not found anyone else so just put him in. He won’t be out of work for long.

Christensen keeping his seat is the big surprise to me.

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by J Jay

Back to IMSA for Cameron then? Replacing Derani at AXR perhaps?

Rumor is he'll be driving for AO in ELMS next year. AXR probably no, I saw at S365 they had other names in mind. But who knows.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by tomcug

Rumor is he'll be driving for AO in ELMS next year. AXR probably no, I saw at S365 they had other names in mind. But who knows.

That's quite a big step-down, he arguably has more to offer than Lotterer to a customer hypercar team.

[TF110]

Sad for those guys, but Porsche sees an advantage to only having 2 drivers. Hopefully they end up somewhere else we get to see their talent put to use.

[PhilipR]

A chance for Proton to snatch drivers with (winning) experience with the 963. The transfer of knowledge on setup etc should be valuable.

So far Proton seems to not have gotten the hang of the car so Andre, Dane or Fred could be of great help

[flatlandsman]

I wonder if Lotterer might be tempted by Proton? Andlaeur was always likely to move up but was he that staggering anywhere other than Spa?

[airbusA346]

Is Celia Martin being prepared to replace Bovy in WEC next year...

Michelle Gatting and Celia Martin will drive the #92 Manthey Porsche at the Bahrain rookie test.