WEC The 2023 and beyond DRIVER ANNOUNCEMENTS MEGA THREAD - Page 2

Simmi · 9 Nov 2021, 13:35 (Ref:4082383)

A few Porsche driver rumours at the back end of this FE piece.

https://the-race.com/formula-e/porsc...ses-first-win/

Seems to rule Lotterer out of a drive slightly surprisingly. Wehrlein, Nasr, Kevin Estre, Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell in the fray. Plus I think we also know Cameron on the IMSA side.

J Jay · 9 Nov 2021, 19:06 (Ref:4082459)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

A few Porsche driver rumours at the back end of this FE piece.

https://the-race.com/formula-e/porsc...ses-first-win/

Seems to rule Lotterer out of a drive slightly surprisingly. Wehrlein, Nasr, Kevin Estre, Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell in the fray. Plus I think we also know Cameron on the IMSA side.

As amazing as Lotterer was, and even though I'm sure he could still do a good job, his time has passed. The ages of the drivers mentioned makes it clear - Porsche, like every other factory, is going for the long haul.

CTD · 9 Nov 2021, 20:39 (Ref:4082471)

I am still surpriced that Christensen is forgotten in this!

Simmi · 16 Nov 2021, 09:53 (Ref:4083732)

With Antonio Giovinazzi not being retained at Alfa next year he must be a good bet for a plum Hypercar seat. If he pivots to Sportscars and commits to it he could have a fantastic career.

Look at Seb Buemi. When he left F1, who would have thought he would be the most successful driver of the WEC era.

Mike E · 16 Nov 2021, 13:18 (Ref:4083755)

I saw Giovinazzi mentioned in connection with Formula E. Don't know if there is anything in it.

Pandamasque · 16 Nov 2021, 14:10 (Ref:4083771)

I said this before, I think, if F1 starts are anything to go by, Giovinazzi excels in traffic and he's properly quick. He'd definitely be in my Ferrari hypercar squad. And as far as I understand, he's still a Ferrari-contracted driver.

crmalcolm · 16 Nov 2021, 14:16 (Ref:4083775)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike E

I saw Giovinazzi mentioned in connection with Formula E. Don't know if there is anything in it.

Yes - he's signed for Dragon/Penske

**joeb** · 16 Nov 2021, 16:33 (Ref:4083816)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

Look at Seb Buemi. When he left F1, who would have thought he would be the most successful driver of the WEC era.

Mr Buemi himself, presumably.

Mike E · 15 Dec 2021, 20:09 (Ref:4089937)

A toe in the water for Will Stevens with Acura.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/s...ce-cup-rounds/

Simmi · 18 Dec 2021, 20:15 (Ref:4090477)

Cameron and Nasr now officially official at Porsche.

https://presse.porsche.de/prod/press...otorsport-news

GT6 · 19 Dec 2021, 17:24 (Ref:4090590)

Well is does seem they will be back in 2023

Matador · 22 Dec 2021, 11:31 (Ref:4090960)

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Jay

As amazing as Lotterer was, and even though I'm sure he could still do a good job, his time has passed. The ages of the drivers mentioned makes it clear - Porsche, like every other factory, is going for the long haul.

Would actually love to see Lotterer back in a Toyota. A 3rd car Lotterer/Senna/Ogier lineup in '23 would be legendary.

Simmi · 22 Dec 2021, 12:19 (Ref:4090967)

I think when all the privateer teams sprout up into '24 Lotterer should be able to find a seat and can certainly help a team improve.

It's kind of wild he didn't win so much as a WEC round with Porsche.

**Aysedasi** · 22 Dec 2021, 12:33 (Ref:4090971)

Lotterer is still a great driver and if I was looking for someone he'd be right at the top of my list.

Hawkwood · 22 Dec 2021, 18:09 (Ref:4091009)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matador

Would actually love to see Lotterer back in a Toyota. A 3rd car Lotterer/Senna/Ogier lineup in '23 would be legendary.

How do people rate Senna as an endurance racer? I think he's excellent, and seems to have held his own when in similar machinery as Lotterer and Jani.
My query is, considering his talents and surname, how come he's never to have had a chance in a factory car?

If I had a team of my own, factory or otherwise, he'd be at the top of the list for drivers I'd want to try out - so what am I missing that the factory team bosses must be seeing?

J Jay · 23 Dec 2021, 11:01 (Ref:4091063)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

How do people rate Senna as an endurance racer? I think he's excellent, and seems to have held his own when in similar machinery as Lotterer and Jani.
My query is, considering his talents and surname, how come he's never to have had a chance in a factory car?

Now that's a name I haven't heard in a while.

Is Senna still interested? He seems fairly comfortable with his ambassador role(s), I don't remember hearing any noises about him angling for a seat.

Back to Lotterer - I still don't see a factory drive, but a budding privateer seat is a good shout. It'd beat making up the numbers in FE...

Pandamasque · 23 Dec 2021, 15:41 (Ref:4091082)

I remember Bruno Senna being on the clumsy/crashy side in his early prototype career. Didn't some privateer team once run out of spares at Le Mans with him as a driver?

Hawkwood · 23 Dec 2021, 19:31 (Ref:4091110)

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Jay

Now that's a name I haven't heard in a while.

Is Senna still interested? He seems fairly comfortable with his ambassador role(s), I don't remember hearing any noises about him angling for a seat.

Back to Lotterer - I still don't see a factory drive, but a budding privateer seat is a good shout. It'd beat making up the numbers in FE...

Obviously people count 'a while' differently, but he was overall podium at Le Mans 24 just last year, and finished 4th overall in 2018 and 2019, with Jani and Lotterer as team mates, against whom he held his own iirc.

Whether he's been angling for a seat for 2022 and beyong or not I have no idea, just asking for peoples thoughts on why he never got a break with a factory team.

gert · 23 Dec 2021, 20:10 (Ref:4091112)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

just asking for peoples thoughts on why he never got a break with a factory team.

Maybe because there weren't a lot of factory seats available when he was at his peak.

And there were better (or equally as good) drivers already in those factory teams?

Bcarr6 · 1 Jan 2022, 00:00 (Ref:4092002)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

How do people rate Senna as an endurance racer? I think he's excellent, and seems to have held his own when in similar machinery as Lotterer and Jani.
My query is, considering his talents and surname, how come he's never to have had a chance in a factory car?

If I had a team of my own, factory or otherwise, he'd be at the top of the list for drivers I'd want to try out - so what am I missing that the factory team bosses must be seeing?

He did have a factory role with McLaren about 5 years or so ago. It never amounted to much, the 650s wasn’t really consistent enough to show whether he had much talent or not there.

He’s had some nice runs in P2’s in his time but would be midway at best through my list for factory seats

Simmi · 13 Jan 2022, 14:28 (Ref:4093570)

Missed this yesterday but this in an interesting move from Ilott 12 months before the Ferrari Hypercar debuts - https://twitter.com/callum_ilott/sta...37309220024328

I kind of figured he'd be trying to get into a P2 but "a year away" does sound like he's going on a bit of work experience.

Mike E · 19 Jan 2022, 20:38 (Ref:4094452)

19 works BMW drivers announced. Some of these guys will end up in the LMDh for sure.

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/...-for-2022.html

Mike E · 23 Jan 2022, 20:53 (Ref:4095037)

Enjoyed that Daytona 24 qualifying race. Interesting to see Rene Rast laying down a load of fastest laps in LMP2 including a new lap record. Clearly getting some under the radar prototype running before his Audi LMDh drive is inevitably announced.

Mike E · 23 Jan 2022, 21:42 (Ref:4095046)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike E

Enjoyed that Daytona 24 qualifying race. Interesting to see Rene Rast laying down a load of fastest laps in LMP2 including a new lap record. Clearly getting some under the radar prototype running before his Audi LMDh drive is inevitably announced.

It's already been announced. Months ago. Check me out with my finger on the pulse...

J Jay · 23 Jan 2022, 23:00 (Ref:4095062)

Speaking of finger on the pulse, how did I miss Nick Cassidy signing on for Ferrari?

That's one hypercar seat in the Ferrari stable sorted.

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