[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.

[airbusA346]

Endurance-Info are suggesting that Michelle Gatting is going to be announced as a Porsche works driver for 2025.

[flatlandsman]

Seems we might be wrong, Vale seems to want to do WEC only, interesting, always thought if he could he would want a Hyper programme!! Regarding his comments, cant really see how bikes have any relevance, the only thing in common is a high end prototype racing machine!!!

[Simmi]

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 said he'd likely stay in WEC.

[PhilipR]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

Seems we might be wrong, Vale seems to want to do WEC only, interesting, always thought if he could he would want a Hyper programme!! Regarding his comments, cant really see how bikes have any relevance, the only thing in common is a high end prototype racing machine!!!

The similarity he identified was the lines taken in corners. GT3s attck the curbs and drive over them agresively. According to him the Hypercars have a similar approach to curbs as he did on motorcycles - this might make him more comfortable in an Hypercar because he has tht knowledge from bikes.

He also said he found it better without ABS rather than the ABS being used in GT3. His speed in the test was very competitive. Would he be a top level hypercar driver, probably not but he would not be rubbish either (kinda like his current level in GT3 - not greatest but not rubbish either)

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Simmi

He said he'd likely stay in WEC.

If only he could find a seat

[flatlandsman]

I think the issue Vale has for me is that when he is in the car he often gets passed by better drivers, so he clearly has a limit he cannot push past.

Obviously this is fair enough, but he will not like it! He is used to always being as quick as everyone!! So, if he is able to be quicker in a Hypercar he might gyrate there. But that means a huge investment from WRT, and BMW as I doubt he could do it in the factory team. I might be wrong.

They could of course do a car 83 Ferrari type thing. There are no better people to try and attract sponsors with

[Mike E]

Silly season has started early

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...-in-third-963/

[veeten]

JOTA has announced their driver lineup, as Bamber and Lynn will be moving over from the Ganassi team.