[WEC] The 2023 and beyond DRIVER ANNOUNCEMENTS MEGA THREAD

[Mike E]

Fred Mako heading to Alpine?

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/...k-notes-2.html

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Fred Mako heading to Alpine?

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/...k-notes-2.html

With IMSA program to follow in '26?

[Gerard C]

It was suggested by french TV commentators. Not official yet but no more secret. The rookie test could be interesting for the other baguette team.

[J Jay]

In Iron Dames news: Celia Martin will be the bronze driver next season.


- Martin will be the bronze driver full-time
- Bovy will remain a full-time driver as silver
- No change for Gatting (full-time, gold)

- Frey (silver) will join in "select events" alongside her project manager role

[airbusA346]

Originally Posted by J Jay

In Iron Dames news: Celia Martin will be the bronze driver next season.


- Martin will be the bronze driver full-time
- Bovy will remain a full-time driver as silver
- No change for Gatting (full-time, gold)

- Frey (silver) will join in "select events" alongside her project manager role

Not driver related, but team. "a continued IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup effort but in a Proton Competition-operated Porsche"

[TF110]

What is Rossi's plans? He seems to favor the hypercar, saying it suits his driving style. Is a step up a possibility?

[chernaudi]

As long as he's not a bronze (and even then the ACO/FIA can make exceptions when it suits them), it's theoretically possible depending on what BMW wants to do.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by TF110

What is Rossi's plans? He seems to favor the hypercar, saying it suits his driving style. Is a step up a possibility?

He did okay in the rookie test, but it's difficult to see Rossi getting a hypercar seat on merit alone. Will he/sponsors bankroll an M Hybrid 8, AF Corse-style?



It's increasingly clear that if it's a pick between GT3 series, Rossi will only do GTWC (another SRO win) so there may have already been whispers into Vosse's ear.

[airbusA346]

Looks like Matteo Cressoni (Iron Lynx) has been doing a seat fitting with Manthey in Bahrain.

[TF110]

This might be for another thread, but the signs like the driver moves are pointing to a Lamborghini exit

[airbusA346]

Originally Posted by TF110

This might be for another thread, but the signs like the driver moves are pointing to a Lamborghini exit

Which driver moves?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by TF110

What is Rossi's plans? He seems to favor the hypercar, saying it suits his driving style. Is a step up a possibility?

Originally Posted by J Jay

He did okay in the rookie test, but it's difficult to see Rossi getting a hypercar seat on merit alone. Will he/sponsors bankroll an M Hybrid 8, AF Corse-style?



It's increasingly clear that if it's a pick between GT3 series, Rossi will only do GTWC (another SRO win) so there may have already been whispers into Vosse's ear.

During the Bahrain race he was interviewed and said he is staying in GT3 and will only do one series. I missed the exact point where he said if it was SRO or WEC

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by joeb

During the Bahrain race he was interviewed and said he is staying in GT3 and will only do one series. I missed the exact point where he said if it was SRO or WEC

He hasn't said yet, to my knowledge, hence the speculation on which one he will choose.


He has said that GTWC's Euro-centric calendar would allow him to spend more time with his young family, so WEC has to offer something more than "just" GT3.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by airbusA346

Which driver moves?

The Iron Lynx drivers testing other cars and some signings away from them.

[flatlandsman]

I think Rossi selfishly wants to be able to win races too, rather than just podium, I think he is also very aware he is not good enough to be Hypercar, or maybe the test has shown something, but he clearly is not Platinum or Gold maybe in GT so moving up would be a stretch. And you have to factor in his age and family, two kids, she can't be happy with the endless travelling and also she likes to travel with him a lot so having to do all that with a young family, they will be concerned they are missing out on stuff I am sure.

[PhilipR]

Rossi also owns VR46 MotoGP team and members of his academy are fighting at the front of MotoGP, so he also has to take into account traveling to Motogp events and his academy activities

[TF110]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

I think Rossi selfishly wants to be able to win races too, rather than just podium, I think he is also very aware he is not good enough to be Hypercar, or maybe the test has shown something, but he clearly is not Platinum or Gold maybe in GT so moving up would be a stretch. And you have to factor in his age and family, two kids, she can't be happy with the endless travelling and also she likes to travel with him a lot so having to do all that with a young family, they will be concerned they are missing out on stuff I am sure.

I think he'd actually do better in a hypercar than the GT3. He admitted it suits the way he drives because it's like riding the bike. Maybe he will test with the BMW lmdh again in the future.