2023 Random Sportscar & GT Racing News

[erwin greven]

This topic is meant for random Sportscar and GT Racing news.
Individual race topics can be opened seperately.

News about the LMH and LMDh cars in specific, you can place that in this topic
Which is also for IMSA's LMDh related news.

[erwin greven]

Weekly Racing Roundup (1.10.22)

News and notes including 24H Le Mans Virtual entries, Asian LMS updates and more…
by Daniel Lloyd, January 10, 2022


***A total of 50 cars and several high-profile drivers are on the provisional entry list for the second edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual. Notable teams include Mercedes-AMG Team Petronas, Red Bull Racing, Rebellion GPX and Alpine in LMP2, while the GTE grid includes the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Prodrive and an entry from the W Series.

***Among the real-world Pro drivers for the Jan. 15-16 race, which is being held online, are Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing), NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou (Team Fordzilla), Juan Pablo Montoya and his son Sebastian (LMVS Guest Car) plus Formula E drivers Oliver Rowland (Realteam Hydrogen Redline) and Sergio Sette Camara (Alpha Ind. ByKolles-Burst).

***A change to the UAE’s official working week has resulted in a slight alteration to the opening two rounds of the Asian Le Mans Series at Dubai Autodrome. Round one will now take place on Saturday, Feb. 12 and round two will be held on Sunday, Feb. 13. Each race has been pushed back by a day after the UAE recently switched its weekend from Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday.

***The Asian LMS grid has increased to 40 cars with the addition of an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II from Attempto Racing. Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS regulars Alex Aka and Finlay Hutchison are the first two confirmed drivers for the 26th entry in the packed GT class.

***Davide Rigon is set for his first full season of racing since his major accident at last year’s TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa, driving for Rinaldi Racing in Asian LMS. Rigon will share a Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 with David Perel and Rino Mastronardi. The trio finished third in the standings last year, earning Rinaldi’s first 24 Hours of Le Mans entry.

***Rinaldi has also named its LMP3 crew for Asian LMS. Leonard Weiss, Torsten Kratz and Hendrik Still will share the German team’s Duqueine D08 Nissan in the four-race series.

***Experienced Le Mans outfit Eurasia Motorsport will focus on the single-make Ligier European Series this year, running a Ligier JS P4. “This is an exciting new project for us,” said team principal Mark Goddard. “We have explored options for some time now and we feel that the opportunity of setting up a team base in Europe is essential. This combined with our entry into the Ligier European Series makes it an exciting start to the season and we look forward to getting back on track in Paul Ricard.”

***Toyota will launch a GT3 concept car at the Tokyo Auto Salon show taking place on Jan. 14-16. The Japanese manufacturer describes its upcoming GR GT3 Concept as a “racing-dedicated concept car that incorporates the knowledge and refined technologies TGR has gained in the field of motorsports.”

***Racers Edge Motorsports will continue to run an Acura NSX GT3 Evo in Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS this year. HPD Academy graduate Ashton Harrison will embark on her first full-time GT3 program alongside two-time IMSA GTD champion Mario Farnbacher. Taylor Hagler, Dakota Dickerson and Jacob Abel drove for Racers Edge last season.

***Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Am class champion Luke Berkeley will graduate to the Pro ranks next year. Berkeley, 17, has confirmed that he is continuing with Dream Racing Motorsport for the series’ transition to the updated Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2 model.

***Virginia International Raceway has installed three high guardrails and three FIA breaks to cover the length of the main straight and the run down to Turn 1. An annotated satellite image shows the location of the new safety features at the 3.27-mile circuit.

***The Audi R8 LMS GT2 will make its first Hankook 24 Hours of Dubai appearance this weekend courtesy of the PK Carsport team. Peter Guelinckx, Bert Longin, Stienes Longin and Stijn Lowette form the driving crew. Team boss Anthony Kumpen said the car will run with some endurance adaptations: “Different brakes, for example, or extra lights on the car, an adapted drinking system for the drivers, and so on. It is quite a challenge, but we are honored to be able to tackle it together with the people at Audi Sport.”

On this weekend: 24H Series (Dubai Autodrome), 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual

https://sportscar365.com/features/round ... p-1-10-22/

[erwin greven]

Bathurst 12H Facing Likely Postponement

Surge in COVID-19 Omicron cases puts February race date in jeopardy…
by John Dagys, January 10, 2022



The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour is facing a likely postponement amid the surge of COVID-19 Omicron cases in Australia.

Multiple local sources, including Speedcafe.com, are reporting that the 2022 Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli season-opener, originally scheduled for Feb. 25-27, is likely to be postponed to May.

According to 9News, more than 20,000 positive cases were reported in New South Wales on Sunday, including 18 deaths, marking all-time highs in the state over the last week.

Event promoter Supercars is currently “monitoring the situation” in NSW according to a statement provided to Speedcafe.

“There are no changes confirmed for the calendar at this point in time,” the statement read.

Changes are also expected to be made to the start of the Repco Supercars Championship, which was due to kick off its season in early March.

The impact of a potential new Bathurst 12 Hour date in May — amid the European racing season — will likely rule out most international entries from the event.

GruppeM Racing has so far been the only overseas team to officially commit to the race on its currently scheduled date.

The 2021 IGTC season finale at Kyalami, which has also been postponed due to the Omicron surge, is due to be run on Feb. 3-5.

https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/bathu ... tponement/

Update: new date is set to May 13-15.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Apologies @erwin greven I did not see this post above re the 12 hourand have just posted a similar info in the Bathurst 12 hour thread.

[erwin greven]

Apologies @erwin greven I did not see this post above re the 12 hourand have just posted a similar info in the Bathurst 12 hour thread.

No problem. Topics about Sportscar and GT-racing are a bit difficult to label anyway.

[erwin greven]

Record 39-Car Grid for WEC Season

Record 39-car grid set to contest tenth season of FIA World Endurance Championship…
by Daniel Lloyd, January 12, 2022



A record 39 cars are set to contest the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship season, according to the official full-season entry list released on Wednesday.

The addition of new competitors in three of the four classes including Hypercar has contributed to a field that is three cars larger than the previous record grid set in 2018-19 and eight cars larger than last season.

Six Hypercar entries are listed including two hybrid-powered LMH cars each from Toyota Gazoo Racing and Peugeot, which is fielding its new 9X8 prototypes under the Peugeot TotalEnergies moniker with the No. 93 and No. 94 labels.

They are joined by a single Glickenhaus 007 LMH and the returning Alpine A480 Gibson grandfathered LMP1 car, both of which went up against Toyota last season.

As reported by Sportscar365 on Tuesday, the Vanwall-badged ByKolles LMH car is not on the entry list after the manufacturer’s application was rejected.

LMP2 is the largest class with 15 entries including the arrivals of Team Penske, Prema Powerteam and Vector Sport, as well as the return of G-Drive Racing under its partnership with Algarve Pro Racing. The Oreca 07 Gibson is the car of choice for all teams.

Porsche LMDh program operator Penske will field a single car for the German manufacturer’s new factory signings Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr, as well as two-time GTE-Am champion Emmanuel Collard who is the designated Silver-rated pilot.

European Le Mans Series champions Robert Kubica and Louis Deletraz will line up for Prema, which has aligned with Iron Lynx for its sports car racing debut.

Will Stevens replaces Anthony Davidson at JOTA following the 2014 world champion’s retirement from professional driving at the end of the previous campaign.

Sean Gelael’s switch from JOTA to reigning LMP2 champion WRT has opened a new lineup for the British outfit which is running Oliver Rasmussen, Ed Jones and Jonathan Aberdein in its No. 28 Oreca.

As confirmed on Tuesday, WRT is running two cars for its LMP2 title defense involving Gelael and former TDS Racing customer Realteam Racing.

Three LMP2 entries are taking part in the Pro-Am classification. ARC Bratislava is back with an adjusted lineup, while Ultimate and AF Corse are joining the grid.

Inter Europol Competition, Richard Mille Racing and an expanded two-car entry from 2019-20 champion United Autosports complete the LMP2 roster.

GTE-Pro features the expected five-car menu, with a single Chevrolet Corvette C8.R joining the returning two-car programs from Ferrari and Porsche.

Alessandro Pier Guidi and Miguel Molina are the first two drivers named in the AF Corse Ferrari squad, which is the only GTE-Pro lineup that remains incomplete.

GTE-Am will continue to have 13 entries this year, with many of the category’s participants from the 2021 season continuing into the new term.

Two-car efforts from Ferrari outfit Iron Lynx, Porsche teams Dempsey-Proton Racing and Team Project 1, and Aston Martin squad TF Sport with D’station Racing, are all involved.

AF Corse will again operate three Ferraris despite the withdrawal of Cetilar Racing, with two new driver lineups including a Spirit of Race crew.

In one of the single-car entries, former FIA World Endurance GT champion Nicki Thiim returns to the WEC full-time in Paul Dalla Lana’s No. 98 Aston Martin Vantage GTE.

David Pittard also joins the NorthWest setup after sampling a Vantage GTE at the rookie test. GR Racing is the other single-car entrant with its Porsche 911 RSR-19.

Racing Team Nederland, Cetilar Racing, High Class Racing and DragonSpeed have all left the WEC to focus on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The WEC season begins at the 1000 Miles of Sebring in March and includes planned stops at Spa, Le Mans, Monza, Fuji and Bahrain.

“What better way to celebrate the WEC’s tenth anniversary than with a record-breaking number of cars on the grid,” said WEC CEO Frederic Lequien.

“Not only do we have a strong and varied field in Hypercar and LMGTE Pro, we also see record numbers in LMP2 and LMGTE Am, which is testament to the continued growth of our championship.

“The future of the WEC is looking extremely bright and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone in Sebring for the start of what promises to be another memorable season.”

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem added: “The championship continues to grow in strength and the 2022 entry list reflects this fact perfectly.

“The numbers are even better than last year, with top teams and world-class drivers represented across all four classes and contributing to the overall quality of the grid.

“In the meantime, the Hypercar category enters its second year, well-establishing as the championship’s top class and providing an excellent platform for the manufacturers.

“Exciting times lie ahead for the championship, both this season and in the years to come and this is something very encouraging.”

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rec ... ec-season/

[MonteCristo]

As reported by Sportscar365 on Tuesday, the Vanwall-badged ByKolles LMH car is not on the entry list after the manufacturer’s application was rejected.

Any idea why? Seems like shooting yourself in the foot.

[erwin greven]

As reported by Sportscar365 on Tuesday, the Vanwall-badged ByKolles LMH car is not on the entry list after the manufacturer’s application was rejected.

Any idea why? Seems like shooting yourself in the foot.

It is understood that the rejection is based on the fact that the new non-hybrid prototype has not yet completed its homologation process.

It has not done any crash tests, no on track testing. And you need to do that before you can homologate the car.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Rossi joins Bathurst 12 Hour-winning team for GTWC

Rossi repeatedly stated last year that he would switch to GT racing at the end of his MotoGP career, having previously contested the Gulf 12 Hours in a Kessel Racing Ferrari. He was due to enter last weekend's event at the Yas Marina Circuit before coming into contact with an individual that tested positive for COVID-19.

It was just at what level and frequency he would compete that was uncertain. Now we know Valentino Rossi will contest all 10 rounds of this year’s Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS with top Audi squad Team WRT.

The Belgian squad he has joined not only won the 2018 Bathurst 12 Hour, but is also the most successful outfit in GT World Challenge Europe, boasting 28 drivers’ and teams’ titles, including five of a possible six last season.

Vale will share a car which will carry his signature #46 with as yet unnamed official Factory Audi Sport drivers, which confirms that silver-rated Rossi will be racing in the Pro class of the series

Rossi had dabbled in GT3 racing even before announcing his retirement from motorcycle competition, and tested with WRT in December at the Valencia circuit (pic below) which had not long been the scene of his last MotoGP round.

Among the events he will tackle in 2022 are the iconic 24 Hours of Spa, a Sprint Cup round at the Misano circuit which hosts motorcycle’s San Marino Grand Prix, and an Endurance Cup round at another Italian circuit in the form of Imola.

Pre-season testing for the GT World Challenge Europe takes place on March 7-8 at France’s Circuit Paul Ricard.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Toyota launches GT3 concept car

Toyota is set to enter the world of GT3 racing after celebrating the release of a concept car aimed at customer programmes.
Black car on a black background doesnt really give a great idea of what the car looks likke but I guess that is to be expected with any concept car of a competition nature.

“TGR is committed to further accelerating customer motorsports activities to make the world of motorsports sustainable,” read a Toyota Gazoo Racing announcement.

“Promoting “driver first” car development and with a desire to provide attractive cars that customers participating in GT3, which is the pinnacle of customer motorsports, would choose, TGR has unveiled the GR GT3 Concept.

“As was the case with the GR Yaris, by commercialising motorsports cars rather than simply adapting production vehicles for use in motorsports, TGR intends to use feedback and technologies refined through participation in various motorsports activities to develop both GT3 and mass-production cars and further promote making ever-better motorsports-bred cars.”

TGR also unveiled a limited edition GRMN Yaris for the Japanese customer market.

“The development of the GRMN Yaris began with the desire of Morizo, president Toyoda to “deliver cars to customers that evolve quickly and can be tailored to individuals like in the field of motorsports”,” the statement explained.

“In addition to having refined the vehicle together with professional drivers as a fully tuned model of the GR Yaris, a new program is to be activated that will deliver to customers the type of daily vehicle evolution and driver-tailored customisation that takes place in motorsports.”

The developments come as Toyota also appears set to enter TCR competition with a Corolla model.

https://www.speedcafe.com/2022/01/14/to ... ncept-car/

Added few extra pics



erwin greven

[erwin greven]

Wickens to Make Racing Return in BHA Hyundai

Rob Wickens to embark on full season of Michelin Pilot Challenge in BHA Hyundai…
by Daniel Lloyd, January 14, 2022

Robert Wickens will make his return to racing in 2022 with a full season of IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge driving for Bryan Herta Autosport, three years and five months after sustaining spinal injuries in an accident during an NTT IndyCar Series round.

Wickens, who was paralyzed from the waist down after the serious crash at Pocono Raceway, has been confirmed as a driver of the No. 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR for the ten-event campaign.

The Pilot Challenge season kicks off at Daytona later this month and will then include a home round for Wickens at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on July 1-3.

The 32-year-old will share the wheel with fellow Canadian Mark Wilkins, who was recently named as part of an expanded six-car TCR lineup for Bryan Herta Autosport.

Wickens sampled a racing car for the first time since his accident when he got behind the wheel of a Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Veloster N TCR at Mid-Ohio last May.

After the test, Wickens said that there were “a lot of emotions” as he returned to the cockpit and that he was open to returning to motorsport in the future.

“I’ve spent a lot of nights thinking and dreaming of this moment, and with the support from Bryan Herta and Hyundai it is all becoming a reality,” said Wickens following confirmation of his 2022 full-season drive.

“I am hungrier now than I was before my accident to compete for wins again! I’m really looking forward to incorporating myself with the entire Bryan Herta Autosport team and finally get my first taste of the Hyundai Elantra N TCR.”

Wickens joins a Bryan Herta Autosport team that won last year’s Pilot Challenge TCR teams’ title, as well as the drivers’ championship with Taylor Hagler and Mark Wilkins.

Wickens is set to turn his first laps in the Elantra N TCR at next week’s pre-season test as part of the Roar Before the Rolex 24 event.

His hand control system in the Elantra has been designed by BHA technical director David Brown and development technician Jonathan Gormley.

The system features a finger-pull metal ring that is connected to the car’s brake pedal, while throttle and gear paddles are also located on the steering wheel.

Wilkins will be able to deactivate the hand controls at the flick of a switch, in order to operate the Elantra’s throttle and brake pedals with his feet when he takes over.

“Today is a monumental day for us as a team and as fans of Robert Wickens,” commented team president Bryan Herta.

“We have followed along with Robert’s rehabilitation and marveled at his determination and dedication, along with his many, many fans.

“To now announce that he will be making his professional motorsports return in one of our Hyundai Elantra N TCR cars is truly incredible.

“We thank Hyundai for their amazing support and helping us build a path for Robert to get back to where he belongs.”

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/impc/wick ... a-hyundai/

[erwin greven]

Michelin IMSA Insider: GTD Pro Meets GTD

An overview of the IMSA’s off-season transformation from GTLM to GTD Pro…
by Sportscar365 Staff, January 19, 2022

Background

IMSA’s 2022 realignment of the former GT Le Mans class to GTD Pro with cars built on the GT3 platform, included a key decision regarding tires.

The GTD class has traditionally raced on a commercially available racing slick from IMSA’s official tire supplier. The GTLM class however was an open tire class and provided Michelin its only IMSA access prior to becoming the Official Tire of IMSA in 2019.

Following its long tradition of support at Le Mans, Michelin developed a full range of bespoke tires for each of its manufacturer partners competing in IMSA GTLM and the GTE Pro class in WEC.

GTLM teams could switch to their respective hard, medium, or soft compounds to meet their chassis needs, track conditions, and temperatures.

Teams could also mix and match compounds, sometimes simultaneously running two or even three compounds on different wheel positions to extract every hundredth of lap time.

To be prepared for any eventuality, some GTLM teams even mounted all three compounds at some races.

IMSA, in turn relied upon the performance of the Michelin GTLM confidential tires in establishing the desired stratification of classes to separate the field.

Simplify

As the GTLM tires carried Michelin’s confidential and highly proprietary technology, they were developed, shipped, stored, mounted, distributed, and returned separately from the commercial tires used in the GTD, Michelin Pilot Challenge, and IMSA Prototype Challenge classes.

With up to five manufacturers each having its own soft, medium, and hard compounds and different sized front and rear tires, Michelin and its exclusive IMSA race tire distributors at Jackson were at times managing 30 different SKUs or stock keeping units, just for the GTLM class.

By comparison, less than half that the number covers all the other IMSA classes.

Now, both GTD and GTD Pro classes will have the same allocations of the pre-designated compound at each event and draw from the same commercial tire inventory. All IMSA teams use the same highly regarded Michelin treaded wet tires.

Expectations

The result is that the WeatherTech Championship GTD and GTD Pro manufacturer entries will have identical GT3 cars, fitted with the same Michelin tires, and initially on the same IMSA Balance of Performance tables.

The returning GTLM teams have the bigger adjustment, no longer having their respective options and the mix and match capabilities to tune chassis handing or develop strategies.

The proven tire performance and long tread life of the Michelin commercial slick provides them with a consistent base to work from.

The GTLM drivers do however gain ABS, which is especially helpful in wet conditions.

For GTD drivers, who have been racing on the designated Michelin S9M tires since 2019, the adjustment will be more in terms of increased traffic as the GTD Pro cars will no longer have a clear performance advantage.

The GTD class field includes many established professionals, including several current or former factory shoes, along with a mix of rising talents and veteran competitors. Now, with identical cars and the same tires, many of the GTD Class drivers expect to effectively match their GTD-Pro counterparts during their stints.

The response to IMSA’s new GTD platform is already a big winner with 35 cars (13 in GTD Pro and 22 in GTD) and more than 100 GT drivers.

With a 61-car field and so many GT entries, a true test of tire and traffic management, race strategies and the performance of each driver and crew provide a fitting way to kick of the IMSA season and celebrate.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/mich ... meets-gtd/

[Everso Biggyballies]

Wickens to Make Racing Return in BHA Hyundai

Rob Wickens to embark on full season of Michelin Pilot Challenge in BHA Hyundai…
by Daniel Lloyd, January 14, 2022

Robert Wickens will make his return to racing in 2022 with a full season of IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge driving for Bryan Herta Autosport, three years and five months after sustaining spinal injuries in an accident during an NTT IndyCar Series round.

Wickens, who was paralyzed from the waist down after the serious crash at Pocono Raceway, has been confirmed as a driver of the No. 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR for the ten-event campaign.

The Pilot Challenge season kicks off at Daytona later this month and will then include a home round for Wickens at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on July 1-3.

The 32-year-old will share the wheel with fellow Canadian Mark Wilkins, who was recently named as part of an expanded six-car TCR lineup for Bryan Herta Autosport.
<snip>

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/impc/wick ... a-hyundai/

So pleased to see this..... Im sure @MonteCristo for one will be happy too, plus a few others.

Wickens on podium 1258 days after IndyCar crash

Robert Wickens has claimed his first podium finish three and a half years on from his near career-ending IndyCar crash.

Robert Wickens, who was involved in a terrifying high-speed incident at Pocono Raceway in 2018, made his return racing this weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

Competing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, the paraplegic drove a Hyundai Elantra TCR with modified hand controls to third in the opening race of the season.

Along with fellow Canadian Mark Wilkins, the pair claimed third in the TCR class for Bryan Herta Autosports.

The TCR race win went the way of Tim Lewis and Roy Block in their Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce for KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering.

Michael Lewis and Taylor Hagler were second for Bryan Herta Autosport in another Hyundai Elantra.

“I was so excited to spray champagne, I just felt like celebrating, but then I realised ‘I can’t move because both my hands are on the champagne bottle’ and that’s not fair,” Wickens told AP.

“But I wasn’t complaining. And I got quite a bit.”

Wickens was a revelation in his debut IndyCar Series, claiming pole position in his first race at St Petersburg only to be involved in an incident in the closing stages which starved him of a win.

A podium would be forthcoming in the following race at Phoenix Raceway and again at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Wickens continued his strong showing for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (now McLaren SP) with podium finishes in Toronto and Mid-Ohio before the untimely crash.

Despite the spinal cord injury, Wickens was determined to walk again. Although he is still wheelchair-bound, Wickens can now stand with some support.

https://www.speedcafe.com/2022/01/30/wi ... car-crash/

[erwin greven]

Kvyat Signs with G-Drive for Sports Car Racing Debut

F1 podium finisher Daniil Kvyat to make WEC debut with G-Drive Racing in LMP2…



Ex-Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat has signed with G-Drive Racing for the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship, marking his first campaign in sports car competition.

G-Drive announced in a social media post on Monday that Kvyat has joined the team for its return to the world stage with an Oreca 07 Gibson run by Algarve Pro Racing.

The three-time Grand Prix podium finisher will share the wheel with James Allen and Rene Binder, who is the designated FIA Silver in the driving crew.

Kvyat raced full-time in Formula 1 from 2014 until the end of the 2020 season, after which he became a reserve driver for Alpine in 2021.

The 27-year-old spent most of his F1 career with Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri but also had a spell with Red Bull Racing in 2015 and the early part of 2016.

His first podium was a second-place for Red Bull at the 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix, followed by a third place in China the next year and another third in Germany for Toro Rosso in 2019.

Kvyat, who is understood to have already tested the Algarve Pre-engineered Oreca, has become the latest former F1 driver to seal his WEC debut in the LMP2 class this year joining Esteban Gutierrez has signed with Inter Europol Competition.

“I am happy to join G-Drive Racing, without a doubt the most successful sportscar teams in the world,” said Kvyat.

“Endurance racing has always fascinated me and to compete in the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans, one of the most famous and prestigious races on the planet, is every driver’s dream but first I am looking forward to the first race in Sebring.

“This form of racing is a new challenge for me and the competition in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship will be very tough, but together with my teammates and the G-Drive Racing team, we are ready to fight.”

Kvyat’s signing forms the last piece of the puzzle for full-season LMP2 lineups, with the entire roster of 15 entries now completed.

Some of the other major additions to the class for 2022 include eight-time World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier at Richard Mille Racing, IMSA champions Felipe Nasr and Dane Cameron at Team Penske and former DTM title rivals Nico Mueller, Robin Frijns and Rene Rast at Vector Sport and WRT respectively.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/kvy ... ing-debut/

[Everso Biggyballies]

Kvyat Signs with G-Drive for Sports Car Racing Debut

Talking of G-Drive.....

G-Drive withdraws from WEC, Le Mans over FIA’s Russia code of conduct

G-Drive team principal Roman Rusinov has announced on Instagram he is refusing to accept the conditions laid down by the FIA for the participation of Russian competitors in international motorsport following the country’s invasion of Ukraine last month.

Rusinov said in the short statement he would “not put my signature on this document” and expressed disappointment that members of the team “won’t compete for GDR”, adding “we are already looking at different projects to develop motorsports in our country”.

The statement made on Rusinov’s personal Instagram account also outlined a hope that G-Drive “will be able to return to international racing” in the future.

Rusinov could not be contacted to confirm that the team will not be racing at the opening WEC round at Sebring on 18 March with an LMP2 ORECA-Gibson 07 due to be driven by ex-Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat, Rene Binder and James Allen.

It is unclear if Rusinov is only referencing the latest FIA rules for the involvement of Russian and Belarus drivers, competitors and officials announced last Tuesday after an extraordinary meeting of its World Motor Sport Council, or if other conditions have been laid down for G-Drive’s participation in the WEC as well as the European Le Mans Series.

The involvement of Rusinov’s team in top-level sportscar racing is further complicated by it title sponsorship: G-Drive is a brand of energy giant Gazprom, which is majority-owned by the Russian state and is facing sanctions around the world.

The FIA’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been to demand that Russian and Belarus competitors “participate in international zone competitions only in their neutral capacity and under the ‘FIA flag’, subject to specific commitment and adherence to the FIA’s principles of peace and political neutrality”.

The statement from Rusinov comes after the delay of the publication of the full 62-car entry list for the Le Mans double-points WEC round in June, which G-Drive was due to contest with two cars.

Its release was pushed back from last Monday for what race organiser and WEC promoter the Automobile Club de l’Ouest described as “administrative reasons” and is now due early this week.

It is understood that the delay was linked to complications arising from G-Drive’s entries, which last year were made under the flag of the Russian Automobile Federation following the World Anti-Doping Agency’s ruling against Russia in 2019.

G-Drive had also entered two ORECAs for the ELMS, one under the banner of G-Drive Racing by Algarve Pro Racing, its technical partner for both programmes.

The full G-Drive ELMS car, which Rusinov was due to share with Sophia Florsch and an as-yet-unnamed third driver, was also entered for Le Mans.

The additional ELMS ORECA to be driven by Allen, Alex Peroni and John Falb is really an APR car and appears likely to maintain its entry under the name of the Anglo-Portuguese team.

Rusinov’s statement on Instagram on Saturday evening in full: “Today, I, the driver of the Russian team G-Drive Racing, refused to accept the discriminatory conditions of the FIA.

“The goal of every athlete is to hear the anthem of his country on the podium.

“In 10 years of international experience our team has done this many times: we raised the Russian flag, we heard and sang the Russian anthem.

“For the sake of my fans, for the sake of my team-mates and sports honour, I will not put my signature on this document. Better not to drive at all.

“The GDR team has always been international: drivers, mechanics, engineers - they are all from different countries of the world. And if we asked everyone to give up their flag, experience and name, such a real sports brotherhood and victories would never have happened.

“It's a pity that these guys won't compete for GDR either.

“Now we are already looking at different projects to develop motorsports in our country.

“I sincerely hope that we will be able to return to international racing, once the sporting spirit and equal conditions for all participants return to it.”