WEC The 2023 and beyond DRIVER ANNOUNCEMENTS MEGA THREAD - Page 4

Coach Ep · 10 Mar 2022, 18:28 (Ref:4101985)

There might also be a few 'no-longer-destined-to-drive-for-Audi-guys' prospects out there for Peugeot (and others)...

Simmi · 20 Mar 2022, 16:57 (Ref:4103505)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike E

I understand he wants to be in F1, but another season in a tail end team that has just sacked its title sponsor instead of a multi year drive for a factory team in Hypercar?

Better hope Haas is better this year than last.

It is!

Mike E · 20 Mar 2022, 20:45 (Ref:4103574)

So it seems. Good luck to them!

Simmi · 21 Mar 2022, 12:38 (Ref:4103662)

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

A few people were wondering about Jani. Not that long ago he was slapping it on pole at Le Mans. He'd be a good pick up for one of the lesser experienced teams stepping up.

canaglia · 21 Mar 2022, 12:57 (Ref:4103665)

How was jani pace compared to other #02 drivers? He already had experience on oreca07 but if am I not mistaken it was his first very time driving a cadillac dpi.
Jani is clearly a prototype animal, it seems he just doesn't enjoy driving something slower like a gt or a fomula E

Mike E · 21 Mar 2022, 13:13 (Ref:4103668)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

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

A few people were wondering about Jani. Not that long ago he was slapping it on pole at Le Mans. He'd be a good pick up for one of the lesser experienced teams stepping up.

He replaced KMag at CGR, why not replace him at Peugeot?

J Jay · 21 Mar 2022, 20:08 (Ref:4103753)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike E

He replaced KMag at CGR, why not replace him at Peugeot?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neel Jani, via DSC

I still have connections with Porsche...

Presumably, this.

It's probably not cost-effective for Peugeot to pinch him, when there are so many other drivers to pick from, who wouldn't need a bit of grease to loosen the wheels.

I must admit though, the thought of Jani "slumming it up" in GTs, with a full Kobayashi-style frown would be rather amusing!

Simmi · 21 Mar 2022, 20:37 (Ref:4103756)

Doesn't sound like he's got a LMDh drive lined up so I think those connections could be pretty frayed at this point.

That DSC piece is basically a come and get me plea.

Coach Ep · 21 Mar 2022, 23:27 (Ref:4103769)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

Doesn't sound like he's got a LMDh drive lined up so I think those connections could be pretty frayed at this point.

That DSC piece is basically a come and get me plea.

I'm sure Chip has his number on speed dial.

**joeb** · 22 Mar 2022, 12:24 (Ref:4103817)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

Doesn't sound like he's got a LMDh drive lined up so I think those connections could be pretty frayed at this point.

That DSC piece is basically a come and get me plea.

It's a bit odd, I would have thought with 4 full time cars between IMSA and WEC next year that he would have a guaranteed seat.

Coach Ep · 22 Mar 2022, 12:48 (Ref:4103825)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

It's a bit odd, I would have thought with 4 full time cars between IMSA and WEC next year that he would have a guaranteed seat.

Isn't Ganassi rumoured/expected to field one car in each series? So same total number of cars as this year.

canaglia · 22 Mar 2022, 12:59 (Ref:4103829)

it was a rumor of some time ago but as far I remember, GM strategy for 2023 is:
an IMSA program with ganassi and AXR and a WEC program with ganassi backed directly by dallara

**joeb** · 22 Mar 2022, 15:35 (Ref:4103860)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Isn't Ganassi rumoured/expected to field one car in each series? So same total number of cars as this year.

I guess I wasn't clear, I was talking about Porsche having Penske run two 2-car teams.

I'm not sure on the intent of GM as far as numbers go, but yes they plan on being in both series as well.

Coach Ep · 22 Mar 2022, 16:46 (Ref:4103878)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

I guess I wasn't clear, I was talking about Porsche having Penske run two 2-car teams.

I'm not sure on the intent of GM as far as numbers go, but yes they plan on being in both series as well.

Gotcha, my bad. Yes, 4 expected all together from Porsche-Penske in both series (2x IMSA, 2x WEC).

Cadillac's numbers are TBD it seems although the original announcement makes it sound like we might see 1 car apiece from both CGR and AXR in each series: http://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/0...a-and-wec.html

canaglia · 22 Mar 2022, 17:34 (Ref:4103882)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Gotcha, my bad. Yes, 4 expected all together from Porsche-Penske in both series (2x IMSA, 2x WEC).

Cadillac's numbers are TBD it seems although the original announcement makes it sound like we might see 1 car apiece from both CGR and AXR in each series: http://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/0...a-and-wec.html

Don't know, reading between some lines I think that unlike cadillac dpi program, at least for 2023, GM won't let private teams buy cadillac lmdh but only CGR and AXR will receive the cars.
About numbers, when CGR was in prototypes with their riley-bmw/ford, they used to have #01 full season and #02 only at daytona, but at that time CGR was on its own, being now CGR involved as "cadillac racing" I think they could use 2 full seasons cars in IMSA.

Probably AXR will keep on with the only #31 and a second "customer" car.

Coach Ep · 22 Mar 2022, 23:12 (Ref:4103919)

Perhaps we'll see an additional Caddy for Hendricks in 2024? (an IMSA campaign will be more likely than a WEC one but nevertheless.)

Simmi · 23 Mar 2022, 11:24 (Ref:4103970)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Perhaps we'll see an additional Caddy for Hendricks in 2024? (an IMSA campaign will be more likely than a WEC one but nevertheless.)

It would be kinda cool if they came to Le Mans and then realised they wanted to try and win the thing overall. But I'd agree IMSA seems more logical for a full campaign.

Mike E · 23 Mar 2022, 12:41 (Ref:4103980)

They should feel right at home sharing a pit lane with Penske and Ganassi

Coach Ep · 24 Mar 2022, 13:22 (Ref:4104095)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

It would be kinda cool if they came to Le Mans and then realised they wanted to try and win the thing overall. But I'd agree IMSA seems more logical for a full campaign.

Not advocating a Nascar driving crew although I'm sure putting some of the big names in for as many non clashing races (which with the cramped Nascar schedule will probably be almost impossible) will draw a crowd and sponsorship as a result of that.

**Adam43** · 30 Mar 2022, 01:53 (Ref:4104851)

NASCAR / IMSA are part of this so they might organize a free weekend? Nah, who am I kidding.

Simmi · 6 May 2022, 11:51 (Ref:4109051)

Quote:

***Eight drivers are known to have tried the Porsche LMDh car to date. Based on information from the company’s factory LMDh director Urs Kuratle, who is at Spa, the test drivers so far have been Felipe Nasr, Dane Cameron, Frederic Makowiecki, Mathieu Jaminet, Kevin Estre, Michael Christensen, Laurens Vanthoor and Andre Lotterer.

Porsche test driver info via S365 - https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...y-notebook-17/

A few more GT drivers than I'd assumed. But shows the depth of the testing programme to have got that many guys into the car already.

Mike E · 19 May 2022, 05:38 (Ref:4110526)

Ryan Hunter-Reay joins Ganassi in development role

https://racer.com/2022/05/17/hunter-...elopment-role/

Simmi · 5 Jun 2022, 20:49 (Ref:4113080)

I'd missed this but Mathieu Jaminet is the Penske and Porsche GT reserve driver at Le Mans and turned some test day laps in the Penske P2.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ay-notebook-8/

I think that's further confirmation he's got a seat with Porsche next year. A valuable bit of Le Mans running too given he's not raced there since 2019.

Hawkwood · 6 Jun 2022, 14:08 (Ref:4113222)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

I think that's further confirmation he's got a seat with Porsche next year. A valuable bit of Le Mans running too given he's not raced there since 2019.

Very much seems that way doesn't it.
I'm a fan of drivers, rather than cars, so driver announcements are more exciting that car unveilings, and I can't wait to see which Porsche GT drivers might get 'promoted', and who they'd hire from outside the Porsche stable.

canaglia · 6 Jun 2022, 16:35 (Ref:4113273)

makowiecki should be another driver since he's testing a lot, would be quite surprising if estre won't be picked up for the lmdh

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