Рубрика: Sportscars NEWS

Lamborghini withdraws from WEC’s Hypercar and LMGT3 classes

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Lamborghini has withdrawn from the World Endurance Championship, ending its participation in both the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes.

The Italian manufacturer was missing from the 2025 WEC entry list on the publication of the reduced 37-car grid for next season on Friday.

It subsequently made an announcement of what it described as a “pause” in its WEC programmes with the SC63 LMDh and the Huracan GT3 EVO2. 

Lamborghini cited the change in sporting regulations mandating that manufacturers competing in Hypercar must run two cars for its decision after fielding only one SC63 with its partner, Iron Lynx, in 2024. 

It stated that the new regulation “changes the terms on which Lamborghini entered the championship this year and is no longer aligned with the company’s strategy”. 

«Lamborghini has therefore evaluated its options and elected to sit out the 2025 FIA WEC while remaining committed to SC63 development by continuing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in the United States,” its statement read.

It hinted at a desire to return to the WEC with the SC63 with the line “competing at the highest level is an honour for Lamborghini Squadra Corse and remains an ambition for the years to come”. 

The Italian manufacturer added that standing down from the WEC would allow it to “focus efforts” on the development of the GT3 race version of the new Temerario launched in the summer, which is due for release to customers in 2026. 

Lamborghini offered no explanation of how it will approach its IMSA campaign, which this year focussed on the endurance rounds of the series, starting at the Sebring 12 Hours in March. 

No reference was made to Iron Lynx, which also ran the IMSA programme this year, after its swap from Lamborghini to Mercedes for its 2025 LMGT3 campaign in the WEC. 

#60 Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracan LMGT3 Evo2

#60 Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracan LMGT3 Evo2

Photo by: Shameem Fahath

There are 18 cars in Hypercar on the WEC entry, down one on the original list for this season.

The disappearance of Lamborghini and Isotta Fraschini, which ended its maiden campaign in ’24 after July’s Interlagos round, and Jota’s switch from a customer Porsche team to Cadillac’s factory representative explains the decrease.

That is despite the arrival of Aston Martin and The Heart of Racing team with its pair of Valkyrie AMR-LMH Le Mans Hypercars.

The fall in entries has come despite moves by the WEC organisation to make room for 40 cars.

German privateer Proton Competition will again field a single Porsche 963 LMDh, despite exploring the possibility of an expanded assault in Hypercar.

Porsche, Toyota and Ferrari have all nominated their full line-ups for next season after recent announcements confirming their drivers.

That includes the customer AF Corse-run Ferrari squad: the return of Robert Kubica and Yifei Ye to race alongside new-signing Phil Hanson was confirmed on Thursday.

Only one driver is listed in each car for the remainder of the Hypercar field, the requirement of the entry procedure at this stage.

Jota and Peugeot have opted for that option despite having their full rosters in place.

They have stated that they will reveal how their six drivers wlll line up across their cars at a later date.

The pro-am LMGT3 category remains at 18 cars for its second year on the disappearance of the two Lamborghinis run by Iron Lynx and their replacement by the Italian team’s pair of Mercedes-AMG GT3s.

Heart of Racing continues in the class with an Vantage GT3 run by Prodrive’s Aston Martin Racing operation, but Japanese entrant D’station Racing entry has been replaced in the British manufacturer’s roster.

Racing Spirit of Leman takes over the spot for a second Aston, having claimed GT3 class honours in the Michelin-sponsored Le Mans Cup on the European Le Mans Series support bill in 2023 with factory Aston driver Valentin Hasse-Clot and Arnold Robin.

#27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3: Ian James, Daniel Mancinelli, Alex Riberas

#27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3: Ian James, Daniel Mancinelli, Alex Riberas

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The Swiss team, which takes its title from the local name for Lake Geneva, is moving up from the ELMS where it competed in both LMGT3 and LMP3 in ’24 and already has WEC experience from its participation at Le Mans in LMP2 in 2020 under the Cool Racing banner.

American amateur Derek DeBoer will move up with the team from the ELMS LMGT3 ranks.

Ben Barnicoat has been nominated as the professional in one of the two Lexus RC F GT3s run by the Auto Sport Promotion team.

The Briton has been a Lexus works driver since 2022 and claimed the IMSA GT Daytona Pro title the following season driving for Vasser Sullivan Racing.

Former Toyota LMP1 and Hypercar driver Jose Maria Lopez will again race ASP’s sister car.

Factory BMW drivers Agusto Farfus and Maxime Martin will again be the two pro drivers in WRT’s pair of BMW M4 GT3s.

Confirmation is still awaited on whether motorcycle racing legend Valentino Rossi will return to the WEC to share with Martin.

Gregoire Saucy and Marino Sato will return to United Autosports to race its McLaren 720S GT3 EVOs.



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Toyota opts against hiring Leupen replacement for 2025 WEC campaign

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Toyota is not planning to replace Rob Leupen as team director of its World Endurance Championship squad for next season.

It has revealed that the duties at the race track undertaken by the Dutchman, who is leaving Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe in Cologne after 30 years of service, will be taken up by existing team members.

TGRE vice-chairman Kazuki Nakajima explained that the plan is “to spread the responsibility with not only one successor”.

The three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner, who moved into a management role after his retirement from the cockpit at the end of 2021, took on Leupen’s role at this month’s 2024 WEC finale in Bahrain.

He stressed that Leupen’s departure, which was announced the day before the Bahrain event started, “shouldn’t change too much for the race team”.

“I don’t expect to have a new face in the team; maybe we will have a slightly different structure,” he said.

#7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 - Hybrid: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries, #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 - Hybrid: Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa

#7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 — Hybrid: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries, #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 — Hybrid: Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa

Photo by: Shameem Fahath

He pointed out that TGR also has Kamui Kobayashi as team principal, a role he combines with driving, and David Floury as technical director.

Leupen, 60, is also standing down as managing director of TGRE, and it is likely he will be replaced from within, although Nakajima refused to go into detail.

“I think we have good people in our company who deserve to take some responsibility, but I will not talk about the possibilities,” he said.

Nakajima name-checked Peter Hesse, who took the role of director of business development and customer motorsport in February of this year.

Leupen is leaving TGRE, which was formerly known as Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG), as part of a management restructure that began earlier in the year with Pascal Vasselon being relieved of the technical directorship he had held since 2006.

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Toyota recruited Leupen in 1995 for a human resources role and he moved up the company structure to consecutively become general manager, director of business operations and, from 2015, managing director.

He was referred to as either team or race director in the context of the WEC operation on the Japanese marque’s return to top-flight sportscar racing on the rebirth of the series in 2012.

Leupen is leaving TGRE at the end of the year, but agreed to step down from his operational role within the WEC team prior to Bahrain.



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Kubica sticks with AF Corse Ferrari for 2025 WEC

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Formula 1 race winner Robert Kubica will remain with the AF Corse Ferrari customer Hypercar squad for the 2025 World Endurance Championship.

Kubica had looked likely to stick with the #83 squad when speaking to Motorsport.com after the 2024 WEC finale in Bahrain, with the team duly announcing the Polish driver had been retained in its driver line-up for next season ahead of the 2025 WEC entry list being announced on Friday.

The 39-year-old will partner Ferrari factory driver Yifei Ye and new signing Phil Hanson who joins from the Jota squad, following its switch to become Cadillac’s factory WEC outfit next year.

Hanson effectively steps into the spot vacated by Robert Shwartzman, who has left the Ferrari fold to join Prema’s maiden IndyCar campaign in 2025.

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This season provided mixed fortunes for Kubica and the #83 AF Corse Ferrari squad, with victory at the Circuit of the Americas its sole podium visit in the overall Hypercar class, which the Pole is eager to build upon.

#83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Robert Kubica, Phil Hanson, Yifei Ye

#83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Robert Kubica, Phil Hanson, Yifei Ye

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

“I am very happy to be able to continue this experience with AF Corse at the wheel of the Ferrari 499P,” Kubica said.

“When we started the project of car #83 everything was new. Today we find ourselves with 12 months of hard work behind us, a lot of experiences both positive and negative that we will use to improve and to face the FIA WEC 2025.

“It will definitely be a very challenging season, but with the experience we have gained this year we are confident that we can do a better job.”

Kubica’s deal follows a flurry of announcements ahead of the 2025 WEC entry list confirmation, with Harry Tincknell and Alex Riberas named in the two Hypercar class entries by Aston Martin and The Heart of Racing factory team that will represent the British marque in both the WEC and the IMSA SportsCar Championship.

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Aston Martin announces WEC Hypercar drivers, won’t make 2025 Daytona 24

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Aston Martin has revealed the first drivers for its 2025 World Endurance Championship campaign at the same time as confirming the Valkyrie AMR-LMH will miss January’s Daytona 24 Hours.

Harry Tincknell and Alex Riberas have been named in the two Hypercar class entries by Aston Martin and The Heart of Racing factory team that will represent the British marque in both the WEC and the IMSA SportsCar Championship next year.

Two-time Le Mans 24 Hours class winner Tincknell joins the Aston line-up after playing a key role in the development of the Valkyrie Le Mans Hypercar in his capacity as a member of the Multimatic Motorsports driver roster.

Canadian-headquartered Multimatic co-developed the AMR-LMH and is a service-provider for a team that will be known as Aston Martin THOR.

Factory driver Riberas is moving over from THOR’s Aston Martin GT squad, which he joined in 2020 and has since taken four GT Daytona Pro wins in IMSA and one in WEC LMGT3.

Aston announced the first drivers for the Valkyrie on Thursday ahead of the scheduled reveal of the 2025 WEC entry list on Friday.

#99 Proton Competition Porsche 963: Harry Tincknell

#99 Proton Competition Porsche 963: Harry Tincknell

Photo by: Shameem Fahath

Teams are required to nominate at least one name per car on the submission of their entries.

Tincknell, who claimed his second Le Mans victory driving a works Aston Martin Vantage GTE in GTE Pro in 2020, described the chance to return to the manufacturer to race the Valkyrie as “an absolute honour” and “a pinch-yourself moment”.

“I believe the car will be a firm fan favourite with its amazing looks and the incredible sound of the V12 engine,” said the 33-year-old Briton.

“It’s been exciting to be part of the initial development testing, and the DNA of the car feels strong.”

Riberas, who first raced for the nascent THOR squad under the Team Seattle banner in IMSA in 2014, said that it is “a great honour to be chosen as a driver for such an exciting project”.

“I have been part of THOR for the past 10 years and to be able to continue my journey with them, now at the pinnacle of endurance racing, is simply a dream come true,” continued the 31-year-old Spaniard.

#27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3: Ian James, Daniel Mancinelli, Alex Riberas

#27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3: Ian James, Daniel Mancinelli, Alex Riberas

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Aston Martin is reviving the race numbers #007 and #009, which marks the use of its cars by fictional double-agent James Bond, for the Valkyrie WEC campaign.

Aston won the GT1 class at Le Mans with a factory DBR9 bearing #009 in 2007 and 2008. Tincknell is listed in #007 and Riberas in #009.

Aston Martin’s announcement does not go into detail on the decision to miss Daytona.

It states only that the Valkyrie AMR-LMH will make its IMSA debut in March at the Sebring 12 Hours, round two of the series, rather than in the Daytona season-opener.

Aston talked about a Daytona 2024 debut for the racing Valkyrie on the launch of the programme in October 2023, but the rhetoric changed in the summer and it refused to confirm that it would be present at the opening round of the IMSA series.

A change in the WEC regulations is understood to be behind its reticence to confirm its participation at Daytona and its eventual decision not to give the car its debut in a 24-hour race.

Aston and THOR originally planned to field solo entries in both WEC and IMSA, but was forced to expand its world championship attack after a new rule mandating two-car entries from manufacturers competing in the Hypercar class was confirmed at Le Mans in June.

Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH

Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH

Photo by: Aston Martin

It stated as recently as this month’s 2024 WEC finale that the homologation of the AMR-LMH would be completed in time to contest Daytona on 25-26 January, while drawing back from a commitment to take part.

The identity of the drivers who will form the remainder of the THOR line-up across its three entries in WEC and IMSA is unclear.

The team and Aston have stressed that their search would begin within their own twin rosters of drivers.

So far they has admitted that the Valkyrie has been driven by Tincknell and Riberas, Marco Sorensen, Mario Farnbacher, Ross Gunn and Romain De Angelis, as well as by Aston stalwart Darren Turner and Stefan Mucke, who was formerly with the marque, in the early shakedown phase.

It is also believed that further drivers have taken part in testing of the Valkyrie since its first run in July, during which time it has completed 12,500km (7,750 miles).

THOR team principal Ian James has hinted that there could be significant crossover between the line-ups for the two series, which only clash once, in May with Spa and Laguna Seca, over the course of 2025.

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WEC’s Iron Dames to make Porsche return for 2025 after year with Lamborghini

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The all-female Iron Dames World Endurance Championship LMGT3 entry will switch from Lamborghini to Porsche for next season with the title-winning Manthey team.

Confirmation that the Iron Dames programme, which has so far yielded one class win and a further four podiums in the WEC, is moving manufacturers came on Thursday, the day after the Iron Lynx parent squad announced that it is joining forces with Mercedes for its 2025 LMGT3 campaign.

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The announcement means that the Iron Lynx organisation, which previously fielded the Dames car, is expanding its representation in LMGT3 from two to three entries next year.

The move was widely expected after Iron Dames WEC regular Michelle Gatting tried out in one of the two Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3-Rs at the official series rookie test in Bahrain earlier this month, along with Celia Martin.

Gatting will race the 911 GT3-R next year alongside regular team-mate Rahel Frey, the pair returning for their fifth WEC campaigns with Iron Dames.

Martin moves up to the WEC to fill the mandatory berth for a bronze-ranked driver after a season with the Dames racing a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 in the Le Mans Cup on the European Le Mans Series undercard.

#92 Manthey Purerxcing Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3: Gilian Henrion, Celia Martin, Michelle Gatting

#92 Manthey Purerxcing Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3: Gilian Henrion, Celia Martin, Michelle Gatting

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The 33-year-old takes the place of Iron Dames stalwart Sarah Bovy, who has been upgraded to silver status for 2025.

Iron Lynx already has established links with Porsche. It switched to the German manufacturer from Ferrari for its 2023 campaign in GTE Am after the announcement that it would be partnering Lamborghini for a wide-ranging programme including the Italian manufacturer’s move into the prototype ranks in 2024 with a new LMDh.

The Dames also contested the ELMS this year with Porsche in a continued tie-up with Proton.

Iron Lynx founder Deborah Mayer said: “Returning to Porsche and collaborating with Manthey represents a new milestone for the Iron Dames. I have full confidence in Manthey’s expertise and dedication to excellence, which perfectly match our ambition to shine at the highest level.

“We are committed to writing a new chapter in the Iron Dames’ endurance racing history, demonstrating that women have their rightful place at the top of the sport and inspiring generations to come.”

#85 Iron Dames Porsche 911 RSR - 19: Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frey

#85 Iron Dames Porsche 911 RSR — 19: Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frey

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Manthey managing director Nicolas Raeder added: “We are proud to join forces with the Iron Dames in FIA WEC next year. We have always admired the project and have had many exciting but fair on-track duels with them in the past.”

Martin explained that she was fulfilling an ambition by racing in the WEC with the Iron Dames.

“When I started my journey in motorsport, I always hoped that one day I could compete in top-level GT and endurance racing,” she said. “If you had asked me for my ultimate dream, it would be this – FIA WEC and Iron Dames, and to top it off with Manthey as well, it’s really a dream come true.”

The full line-up at Manthey, which is part-owned by Porsche, has yet to be announced ahead of the scheduled reveal of the 2025 WEC entry list on Friday.

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The championship-winning line-up of Alex Malykhin, Joel Sturm and Klaus Bacher, which ran under the Manthey PureRxcing banner, will not be returning.

Belarusian Malykhin has also been upgraded to silver status and will move into LMP2, beginning with a programme in the 2024-25 Asian Le Mans Series starting at Sepang next month.

Whether Lamborghini will be represented in the WEC’s LMGT3 class next year is unclear. It appears unlikely that the Italian brand will be part of the Hypercar grid with its SC63 LMDh.



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Verstappen eager to race Daytona 24 and Le Mans after GTP car run

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Max Verstappen says he has a desire to venture into endurance racing in the future, but admits his focus is squarely on Formula 1 as he sits on the brink of a fourth consecutive title.

The 27-year-old Dutchman took part in a celebration of Honda’s ‘Hybrid Heroes’ on Tuesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he received his first taste of GTP machinery behind the wheel of an Acura ARX-06.

Coached up by Colin Braun, who drives the car for Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, Verstappen set off for nearly a half-hour of running around a road course layout estimated around 1.3 miles in length.

In a roundtable with select media, Verstappen was asked by Motorsport.com if this opportunity teased the idea of running in the endurance classic, he said: «Yeah, it’s not about teasing or whatever. I know that I want to do it in the future anyway, but it’s just about finding the time.

«With such a busy F1 schedule, it’s almost impossible because we finish so late in the season and then to properly prepare where you have to run Daytona or whatever, is pretty impossible.

«I know that when I want to do it, I want to go there and try to win it, be really competitive. The only way to do so is by doing some proper testing and get really well prepared, which is not possible at the moment.

«But, who knows? Maybe in a few years time. I’ll still be young-ish and I’ll be able to drive the cars.»

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: HRC

David Salters, president of Honda Racing Corporation, said Verstappen will always have an opportunity for a drive in the Daytona 24 Hours.

«I think for Max Verstappen the door is always open,» Salters exclusively told Motorsport.com. «It’s Max Verstappen! He is one of the greatest racing drivers of all time already, let’s see what he goes on to achieve.

«We have a brilliant relationship with Max. Let’s see what happens, but he’s a busy boy. But, the door is always open for Max Verstappen.»

The Red Bull Racing driver’s only previous sensation to the GTP machinery came on a simulator, which helped limit a steep initial learning curve.

«To get a first feel for it here, of course, there are quite some low-speed corners,» Verstappen said.

«The car really comes alive in the higher speeds that was more on the back side of the track. But it was very enjoyable. I’ve driven these cars on the sim a little bit, but to get a first feeling in real life was really cool.»

Verstappen went on to note «it was quite natural» getting behind the wheel for the first time, but the chilly conditions made for some extra time in warming up the tires up to an optimal temperature.

«I was trying to find the limits step-by-step without overdoing it,» he said, «because that’s not necessary at all, and have a bit of fun out there.»

 

When asked about wanting to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Verstappen noted it was a challenge with the demand of the current F1 schedule.

«Yeah, but I think it’s at the moment very hard to combine with F1,» he said. «Especially with everything being more and more competitive, you can’t divide your time between F1 and a GTP. At least for me, when I compete in something, I need to be well prepared.»



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Pourchaire in line for Peugeot Hypercar reserve role

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire is under consideration for a test and reserve role with Peugeot’s World Endurance Championship squad along with former sparring partner Clement Novalak.

Poruchaire, who also raced with Arrow McLaren in IndyCar this year, and LMP2 regular Novalak have entered the frame to replace Malthe Jakobsen on his graduation to a race seat in place of Nico Muller for 2025 after taking part in the official WEC rookie test in Bahrain earlier this month.

Peugeot has stated that it wanted to take a look at some new drivers and confirmed that they are in contention for the seventh spot in the Peugeot Sport WEC squad.

Peugeot Sport technical director Olivier Jansonnie said: “It is always interesting to evaluate drivers for the future. The idea of the rookie test for us was to test some proper rookies.

“We looked at some potential drivers: we wanted someone with strong single-seater experience and recent prototype experience, and that is Clement [who raced in the European Le Mans Series with Inter Europol in 2024]. Theo has a bit of a different profile but is obviously very talented.”

When asked if Pourchaire and Novalak were being evaluated for a potential reserve role, Jansonnie replied in the affirmative. He confirmed that Peugeot would go into 2025 with a seventh driver, but he stressed that no decisions had been made.

#94 Peugeot Totalenergies Peugeot 9X8: Malthe Jakobsen, Théo Pourchaire, Clement Novalak

#94 Peugeot Totalenergies Peugeot 9X8: Malthe Jakobsen, Théo Pourchaire, Clement Novalak

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Pourchaire stated that he was open to a reserve role with Peugeot alongside a proper return to competition after a season in which he started out in Super Formula with Team Impul before switching to what turned out to be a disjointed IndyCar campaign.

“A reserve driver role in Hypercar, why not?” said the 2023 F2 title winner, who holds a similar position in Formula 1 with Sauber. “It could help me have a full-time role in the future, but for sure I am looking for a drive to actually race.”

Should Pourchaire land a Peugeot drive, it is likely that he would be placed in LMP2 next year to gain race experience. He was spotted with the Algarve Pro Racing P2 squad at Paul Ricard during a Goodyear tyre test last week.

Novalak, a race winner in F2 in ’23, said: “If I could dream of anything it would be getting a reserve role [in Hypercar] and doing the ELMS and the IMSA SportsCar Championships [in P2],” said the London-based Franco-Swiss.

Pourchaire and Novalak are not under consideration for race seats at Peugeot for next year.

The team will go into the new season with an unchanged roster in its two 9X8 2024 Le Mans Hypercars with the exception of Jakobsen. But the Dane will not necessarily slot in as a like-for-like replacement for Muller in the #93 entry alongside Mikkel Jensen and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Jansonnie explained that the final decision on the line-ups in each car had yet to be made.

Peugeot shuffled drivers between cars for 2024 when Stoffel Vandoorne moved up from the reserve role on the departure of Gustavo Menezes. He took Menezes’s seat in the #94 car, driving alongside Loic Duval and Paul di Resta, who swapped places with Muller between seasons.

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Mercedes makes Le Mans return, enters WEC with Iron Lynx

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Mercedes will return to the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time since 1999 as part of a World Endurance Championship campaign with the Iron Lynx team.

The German manufacturer will enter the WEC for the first time in the LMGT3 class with the successful Mercedes-AMG GT3, a winner of the 24-hour classics at Spa and Nurburgring.

That will give Mercedes a spot on the Le Mans grid, 26 years after its last entry with the CLR LM-GTP racer.

That was only Mercedes’s third assault on the French enduro since its 1989 victory with the factory Sauber team and ended on Saturday evening when Peter Dumbreck crashed out in the third aerial accident for the team over the Le Mans meeting.

#6 AMG Mercedes CLR LMGTP: Bernd Schneider, Pedro Lamy, Franck Lagorce

#6 AMG Mercedes CLR LMGTP: Bernd Schneider, Pedro Lamy, Franck Lagorce

Photo by: John Brooks

Iron Lynx is forging a partnership with Mercedes after representing Lamborghini in LMGT3 in 2024, the first season of the new class, as well as in Hypercar with the Italian manufacturer’s SC63 LMDh prototype.

Mercedes is set to become the 10th manufacturer in class and will have two Iron Lynx-run cars in the field, in line with series rules.

Iron Lynx has announced Matteo Cressoni, who switches over from Lamborghini’s factory roster, and Claudio Schiavoni, a partner in the team, as the first drivers of the two Mercs.

Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Christoph Sagemuller said on Wednesady’s announcement: “It’s no secret that we’ve been very keen for some time to bring the Three-pointed Star back to Le Mans.

“The 2025 season with the FIA WEC entry is the right moment – we are returning to La Sarthe after 26 years!

“The first FIA WEC season with LMGT3 cars has already been extremely interesting and we want to bring even more excitement to the field in future.”

He added the “experienced Iron Lynx team is the right pairing” for its WEC entry.

Iron Lynx team principal and CEO Andrea Piccini said: «We are extremely proud to welcome Mercedes-AMG as a partner. In addition to being an amazing brand, they are highly motivated, determined, and hungry for success.”

Stephen Wendl, head of customer racing at Mercedes-AMG, thanked the FIA and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest for their cooperation in allowing Mercedes into LMGT3 at the second time of asking.

The brand tried to gain an entry for the inaugural year of LMGT3. but lost out when the FIA and the ACO allowed in only nine manufacturers.

An expansion of the WEC grid from this year’s 37 to cars to potentially as many as 40 and fewer than expected entries in Hypercar has made space for Mercedes.

The significance of the announcement, which has come ahead of the full reveal of the 2025 WEC grid after entries closed on 18 November, on Iron Lynx’s relationship with Lamborghini is not entirely clear.

Lamborghini’s LMDh programme is under review, with marque chief technical officer Rouven Mohr revealing that all options are possible.

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He explained that the new rule demanding that Lamborghini run two SC63s in WEC was proving problematical for reasons of resource, both financial and technical.

It appears that the most likely option is that the Italian manufacturer will concentrate on GTP in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in North America, its biggest market, and leave the WEC’s Hypercar class.

Iron Lynx made no reference to Lamborghini in its announcement made at the same time as the statement from Mercedes.

Mercedes is planning a new GT3 car to replace the long-serving current car after bringing development for the class in-house rather than using long-term partner HWA.



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Is Wehrlein, not Vettel, a contender for Porsche Le Mans seat after surprise test?

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Pascal Wehrlein could be in the running for a factory drive with Porsche in next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours after a surprise appearance in last week’s Daytona test.

While Porsche Penske Motorsport has already announced the driver pairings for its two factory 963 LMDh cars in the 2025 World Endurance Championship, there will be one vacant seat available in its Le Mans line-up if it decides to field an additional entry.

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has been repeatedly linked to a third Porsche entry at Le Mans, having tested the car earlier this year.

But last weekend, factory Porsche driver and former Formula E champion Wehrlein made an unexpected visit to the Daytona International Speedway, driving the Porsche 963 of customer squad JDC-Miller in the official IMSA-sanctioned test.

That gives a possible indication that Wehrlein, and not fellow German Vettel, could get the nod to drive for Porsche in the 93rd running of Le Mans.

Last month, Porsche motorsport boss Thomas Laudenbach said “it is more likely we will run three cars” at Le Mans next year after securing an additional entry for WEC’s centrepiece event by winning the GTP title in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.

Porsche currently has eight prototype drivers in its factory roster across WEC and IMSA for the 2025 season, down from 10 this year. With three drivers required in each car, that leaves one vacancy in its squad for a three-car attack.

Urs Kuratle, the project driver at LMDh, admitted that an extra driver would be needed should Porsche go ahead with its plan to field a third car.

He did not rule out Vettel being a contender for the seat and even confirmed to have held talks with him. But while the 37-year-old has mainly completed demo runs since his exit from F1 with Aston Martin at the end of 2022, Wehrlein is currently in the prime of his career.

#85: JDC-Miller MotorSports, Porsche 963, GTP: Tijmen van der Helm, Oliver Gray, Gianmaria Bruni, Pascal Wehrlein, Chris Miller

#85: JDC-Miller MotorSports, Porsche 963, GTP: Tijmen van der Helm, Oliver Gray, Gianmaria Bruni, Pascal Wehrlein, Chris Miller

Photo by: IMSA

Unlike Vettel, the 30-year-old, of course, is already a factory driver for Porsche in FE and tested the car while it was still being developed in 2022.

In fact, Wehrlein was a contender for a full season in the WEC upon Porsche’s return to the top echelon of sportscar racing in 2023. The German manufacturer eventually signed Frederic Makowiecki to complete its line-up in the Hypercar class.

Makowiecki, Andre Lotterer and Dane Cameron have all been dropped from Porsche’s LMDh line-ups in 2025, while Julien Andlauer has received a factory contract after a season spent racing for the customer Proton Competition team in the WEC.

No clashes with Formula E

What will happen next with Wehrlein’s Hypercar ambitions remains unclear, but a participation in the Daytona 24 Hours in JDC-Miller Porsche would be obvious after the test. 

There is no clash between the Formula E calendar and the IMSA season opener, which is scheduled for 27-28 January, and the ‘Roar Before The 24’ test that precedes the enduro.

Wehrlein also has no clashing Formula E commitments on the Le Mans test day, which will take place on 8 June, and Le Mans itself, which will be held on 11-15 June. 

In addition, a start in the IMSA classic in Sebring (15 March) would also be possible, serving as preparation for the blue-riband WEC round. 

With potential race appearances after last week’s test, Wehrlein could continue to learn the Porsche 963 and then support the factory team at Le Mans — the FE schedule would not stand in the way of his Le Sarthe debut. But that would mean the door to the factory team in the 24-hour enduro would be closed for his countryman Vettel.

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