[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.

[Matador]

Originally Posted by 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?

Fred mack might be a more likely choice no?

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Matador

Fred mack might be a more likely choice no?

From reading between the lines (and essentialy confirmed on MWM), Makowiecki is done with Porsche completely; he's not an option for Proton.

[TF110]

We know Bamber will be in a Cadillac (or two) in IMSA and possibly WEC as well.

[flatlandsman]

I think it seems the teams have sort of thumbed their nose at the three driver rule suggestion aswell, Porsche going tor two in both cars is a statement I feel, and I expect a few more teams might follow suit.

Andre has options all over the world, he me might take the easy buck in Japan, I would actually love to see him in GT3 or something but heck what a career, he can kick back and relax.

[Adam43]

It’s super competitive out there and the two car approach in the short races is by and large quicker.

The disadvantage is the third driver doesn’t get as much car time for the longer more prestigious races. I guess they feel they can manage this. While not as extreme, it is a little bit like managing the bronze or silver drivers in GT or LMP2. Everyone is used to that and can play the yellows and/or cycle through early.

[J Jay]

The third driver coming from another series means they only have to acclimitise to the track; they'll know the car as well as their full-season teammates. It's ruthless, but for the manufacturers that operate in both series it makes sense.



The Vanthoor brothers chime in on this in their latest podcast. Laurens confirms that Lotterer, Cameron & Makowiecki have all been released from Porsche. He was tellingly diplomatic about Andre leaving: he said he's had the best time in his career with Andre/Kevin in the #6 but that the decision was rightly not up to the drivers.

[KlBD]

Originally Posted by Adam43

It’s super competitive out there and the two car approach in the short races is by and large quicker.

The disadvantage is the third driver doesn’t get as much car time for the longer more prestigious races. I guess they feel they can manage this. While not as extreme, it is a little bit like managing the bronze or silver drivers in GT or LMP2. Everyone is used to that and can play the yellows and/or cycle through early.

Seems the teams going with 2 drivers are prepared to rotate their driver pool between IMSA and WEC, so maybe their thinking is that although it's different series regulations, the third drivers they tabbed for long races will still be getting some seat time in other series.