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Peugeot leads Porsche in opening practice

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO



Peugeot set the pace in the opening practice session for this weekend’s World Endurance Championship finale in Bahrain.

Former Formula 1 driver Paul di Resta set a time of 1m50.837s in the #94 Peugeot 9X8 LMH at a hot and sunny Bahrain International Circuit on Thursday afternoon, eclipsing the previous benchmark of Frederic Makowiecki in the #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 LMDh by just 0.049s.

Most of the quickest times were set at the beginning of the 90-minute session, as the track remained relatively green due to dust and high temperatures.

It meant that the pace of the lead cars was about a second down from the corresponding session in 2023, when Toyota led the way with a best time of 1m49.856s amid heavy wind.

Only two cars were able to lap in the 1m50s bracket, the #94 Peugeot and the #5 Porsche, with the #51 Ferrari driven by Antonio Giovinazzi ending up fractionally down in third with a time of 1m51.041s.

Peugeot managed to get both its cars inside the top five, with Jean-Eric Vergne ending up another 0.010s adrift of the Ferrari in fourth place.

The championship-leading #6 Porsche wound up fifth courtesy of Laurens Vanthoor, ahead of the sole factory Iron Lynx Lamborghini of Daniil Kvyat.

Toyota’s charge was led by Sebastien Buemi in seventh place, four tenths down on the pacesetting Peugeot, with Mike Conway ending up 10th in the sister #7 GR010 HYBRID

The two Toyotas were separated by the two factory-entered WRT BMW entries, with Rene Rast in the #20 M Hybrid V8 edging out the #15 car driven by Rafaelle Marciello.

All top 10 cars were able to lap within a second of the outright pace.

The best of the Alpine A424 LMDh entries finished 14th with Jules Gounon, while Cadillac kicked off the weekend in 18th and last place, as Earl Bamber set a best lap of 1m52.302s in the #2 Chip Ganassi V-Series.R.

Lexus fastest in LMGT3

DTM runner-up Kelvin van der Linde propelled the ASP Lexus squad to the top of the times in the LMGT3 class with an early effort of 2m02.079s in the #78 RC F GT3.

That was a quarter of a second quicker than what Alessio Rovera managed in the #55 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3, while Matteo Cairoli was further behind in third on returning to WEC competition in the #60 Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.

Davide Rigon was classified fourth in the second of the two Ferrari LMGT3 entries, beating the top Proton Ford Mustang GT3 of Benjamin Barker by just 0.023s

Klaus Bachler ended up dead last in the #92 Manthey PureRxcing Porsche 911 GT3 that wrapped up the LMGT3 title at Fuji last month.

The session was completed without any major interruptions, although a virtual safety car was deployed with 30 minutes left on the clock to complete some system checks.



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Lotterer could continue with Porsche despite losing Hypercar drive

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Andre Lotterer has not ruled out continuing his relationship with Porsche when he leaves its World Endurance Championship Hypercar squad after this season.

The German, who took his three Le Mans wins with Audi in 2011, ’12 and ’14, has revealed that talks with Porsche to extend his time with the marque are on-going.

But he declined to go into detail ahead of this weekend’s WEC finale in Bahrain in which he can claim a second world championship title together with Porsche Penske Motorsport team-mates Laurens Vanthoor and Kevin Estre.

“There are talks and it is possible [to continue with Porsche],” Lotterer told Motorsport.com.

“There are discussions about what I could do in the future; they have asked me about what I would like to do after this.

“But I want to do this race first and then see afterwards — there is a championship to win.

“I don’t want anything to interfere with that.”

#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, Laurens Vanthoor

#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, Laurens Vanthoor

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Lotterer will be out of contract at Porsche at the end of this season and has lost his place in the #6 Penske-run factory 963 LMDh as the German manufacturer downscales its full-season line-up from three to two drivers per car for 2025.

The 42-year-old stressed that he has no plans to retire from driving whether he remains with Porsche or not.

“I don’t want to retire,” said the German.

“When I stop, that is something that I would like to decide myself.”

Lotterer has been linked to a role with Hyundai, which is developing an LMDh to race with the badges of its premium Genesis brand, but he declined to reveal whether he is in talks with a marque expected to enter the WEC in 2026.

“When something comes to an end, people ask what you could do next?” said Lotterer.

“Regardless of whether I am talking to them, there are other other opportunities for sure.”

Lotterer plumped for the current WEC season, which has so far included wins in Qatar and at Fuji as well as a further three podiums, as the highlight of a stint with Porsche that began in 2017 after his switch from Audi following its withdrawal from the WEC.

“Last season when we came back [to the top class of the WEC] was so-so, but this year we have had a winning car and it is my best time with Porsche,” said Lotterer, who won his first WEC title with Audi in 2012.

He also revealed that he took satisfaction from Porsche’s successes in Formula E after his departure from its squad after three seasons at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

“We worked really hard to have a strong foundation,” he explained.

“What we are seeing now is an evolution of that: it is nice to see the team succeeding.”

Porsche’s factory squad won the FE title in 2023/24 with Pascal Wehrlein after Jake Dennis took the crown in ’22/23 with its powertrain in an Andretti entry.

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Phil Hanson set to join AF Corse for FIA WEC season 2025

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Briton Phil Hanson will race the ‘customer’ Ferrari 499P Le Mans Hypercar run by AF Corse in next year’s World Endurance Championship. 

The 2019/20 WEC LMP2 title winner will move over from the British Jota squad with which he is contesting this year’s WEC in the Hypercar class at the wheel of a privateer Porsche 963 LMDh. 

Hanson, 25, is the first driver confirmed for the yellow-livered Ferrari run on a satellite basis by AF alongside the two factory 499Ps. 

The line-up for the car, winner of this year’s Austin WEC round in September, wasn’t confirmed when Ferrari announced earlier this month that its two works entries would go into a third consecutive season with an unchanged roster. 

Ferrari factory driver Robert Shwartzman isn’t expected to remain in the car: he looks certain to join Callum Ilott, one of Hanson’s team-mates at Jota this year, at the Italian Prema squad’s new IndyCar operation. 

Yifei Ye, who has raced the AF car in his first year on Ferrari’s books, is expected to remain part of the line-up, though there is uncertainty around Robert Kubica’s presence with AF next year.

Ferrari sportscar racing boss Antonello Coletta said on the confirmation of the six drivers in the factory cars that the squad for the #83 customer entry would be announced imminently.

Podium WEC Cup: #38 Hertz Team Jota Porsche 963: Philip Hanson

Podium WEC Cup: #38 Hertz Team Jota Porsche 963: Philip Hanson

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

He ruled out Ferrari Formula 1 development driver Arthur Leclerc taking a place in the car next year.

The brother of F1 racer Charles will be given mileage in one of the factory entries at the WEC rookie test on Sunday, the day after the season finale, but, according to Coletta, “still needs to learn about endurance racing” after being placed in the Italian GT Championship this year. 

Hanson, who also raced a 963 in the five IMSA SportsCar Championship enduros with JDC-Miller MotorSports this season, has switched camps after being left without a drive at Jota following the announcement that it will be Cadillac’s factory representative in WEC next year. 

Jota’s line-up for its pair of V-Series.Rs will not be announced until mid-November and is expected to be made up of a mix of the team’s current drivers and Cadillac regulars. 

Cadillac stalwarts Alex Lynn and Earl Bamber and Will Stevens and Norman Nato are certainties at Jota for next year. 

Bamber will dovetail his WEC programme with an IMSA assault driving for Cadillac’s Action Express Racing squad. 

Hanson will get his first taste of the Ferrari 499P on Sunday in the rookie test. 

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

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

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

He entered the Hypercar ranks after seven years in P2, six of which were with United Autosports.

Hanson’s credits with the Anglo-American team included a Le Mans 24 Hours class win in his WEC championship year and titles in the European and Asian Le Mans Series.

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Toyota WEC boss Leupen stands down with immediate effect

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe race director Rob Leupen is departing the Cologne-based organisation that masterminds the Japanese manufacturer’s World Endurance Championship campaign.

The 60-year-old Dutchman, also managing director of the company, will leave the employ of TGR-E at the end of the year, but has stepped down from his operational role with immediate effect ahead of this weekend’s WEC finale in Bahrain. 

The move is part of what TGR-E is calling a “renewal of its leadership structure”, which started earlier in the year when longtime technical director Pascal Vasselon was replaced by David Floury. 

A short statement from TGR read: “TGR-E began a long-term update of its leadership structure earlier this year: with the end of the calendar year approaching, TGR-E announces the next phase in this ongoing process.

“Rob Leupen will officially depart TGR-E at the end of year, and by mutual agreement he will suspend his operational role with immediate effect. 

“Rob has made an immense contribution to TGR-E and Toyota in motorsport over almost three decades of service and the company places on record its sincere thanks, and wishes him success in the next phase of his life.”

Rob Leupen, Toyota Director Business Operations and Mike Conway

Rob Leupen, Toyota Director Business Operations and Mike Conway

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Leupen joined what is now TGR-E, then known as Toyota Motorsport GmbH, in 1995 in a human resources role and moved up to become general manager and then director of business operations.

He stepped up to become managing director in 2015. 

Toyota has not given details of a revised management structure at Cologne, which also produces the engines for the marque’s World Rally Championship programme and earlier this month announced a technical partnership with the Haas Formula 1 team. 

Masato Hirai is currently president, with former driver Kazuki Nakajima vice-chairman, a position he assumed on his retirement from the cockpit at the end of the 2021 season. 

Kamui Kobayashi dovetails racing in the WEC with the position of team principal of the sportscar team. 

Leupen’s departure, like that of Vasselon, has come as a surprise.

Vasselon had been expected to step down from the technical directorship he had held since 2006 and hand over to Floury at the end of this season, but was relieved of his duties at short notice before the start of the season.

The Frenchman, also 60 when the move happened, moved into a new role as vice-president of TGR strategic motorsport development focussed on its planned hydrogen combustion prototype programme.

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ACO announces changes at Circuit de la Sarthe for the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The Le Mans 24 Hours organiser the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has announced a series of changes to improve the fan experience at its event in 2025.

This has been done «in response to the growing popularity» of the World Endurance Championship’s blue-riband round having acted on «precious feedback from loyal fans», according to the ACO.

The race organisers have added new track viewing areas, grandstands, fan parks and screens at three key parts of Circuit de la Sarthe where Ferrari will arrive having won Le Mans for the previous two years.

A popular location to have watched the Prancing Horse take those victories would have been the Porsche Curves, which are fast, sweeping corners in the latter part of the 8.467-mile circuit.

Previously fans have watched the action on the outside of the sequence, but from 2025 spectators can now view the racing from a new grass bank on the inside of the track.

It will provide views of the cars as they exit the corners and can fit several thousands of fans located at the Circuit Alain Prost with no extra ticket needed for access.

Start action

Start action

Photo by: Emanuele Clivati | AG Photo

Other new facilities in that area include a fan zone which holds a big screen to watch the historic race, as well as bathrooms and places to eat and drink with it all accessible via the Karting, CIK and Maison Blanche gates.

Maison Blanche is another area that provides a stunning view of the Porsche Curves, so the ACO has built new grandstands plus a big screen there — though this area will require a separate ticket.

Changes are also being made at the start of the lap, as Tertre Rouge will feature a new fan zone that can hold over 10,000 spectators at Turn 7.

The «Chill Zone», as it is officially called, is replacing the popular Tertre Rouge camping area where members of that site have been offered alternative pitches. No additional ticket or upgrade is required for the fan zone, which will feature places to eat and drink plus a big screen for the race.

The 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours is due to take place on the 14-15 June with general sale tickets available from Wednesday 13 November.



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Toyota and Ferrari given BoP break for WEC Bahrain finale

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Ferrari and Toyota have received double Balance of Performance breaks ahead of this weekend’s World Endurance Championship finale in Bahrain as they attempt to overhaul points leader Porsche

The Ferrari 499P and the Toyota GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercars will go into the Bahrain 8 Hours lighter and with more power than last time out in the WEC at Fuji last month. 

Porsche, which leads the drivers’ and manufacturers’ standings, has gained weight under the latest Hypercar class BoP released on Tuesday after Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre and Andre Lotterer triumphed in Japan to go 35 points clear in the championship.

The 963 LMDh has, however, received a power increase for the eighth round of the series on Saturday in which it will bid to convert on its 10-point advantage in the manufacturers’ standings.

Ferrari and Toyota have respectively received reductions in minimum weight of two and five kilogram, while their baseline maximum power figures have been increased by 10 and 6kW, equivalent to 13 and 8bhp. 

The minimum weight for the Ferrari is now 1053kg and 1065kg for the Toyota, while their power maximums under 250km/h (155mph) stand respectively at 510 and 499kW (683 and 669bhp).

Each manufacturer has lost out on Power Gain, a new component of the BoP introduced at the Le Mans 24 Hours WEC round in June in an attempt to level the speeds of the cars above 250km/h.

Ferrari now has a negative figure of 0.9% after a 2.2% reduction and Toyota’s positive figure has been reduced by 1.2% to 4.2%.

#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen

#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The Porsche has had minimum weight increased by 7kg to 1056kg and its power upped by 2kW to 214kW. Its Power Gain figure is unchanged at 0.2%.

Vanthoor, Estre and Lotterer require only four points in Bahrain to take the drivers’ title no matter what their closest rivals do, even though more points are on offer for the race than at a regular six-hour WEC race. 

They would win the title with eighth place even if the second-placed Ferrari crew of Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina take the 38 points for victory and the extra point for pole position. 

Ninth place would be sufficient if the Ferrari wins without claiming pole. 

Toyota drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries are a further two points behind in the championship race.

The Japanese carmaker, however, has a deficit of only 10 points in the manufacturers’ classification.

A victory for one or other of its GR010s would give it the title: even if the Penske factory Porsche finishes second and takes the point for pole, Toyota would win on countback. 

Peugeot’s second-generation 9X8 LMH has received another break under the BoP. 

It will run at the maximum power of 520kW (697kW) allowed in Hypercar and is only 1kg above the minimum weight of 1030kg. 

The Alpine A424 LMDh, which scored a maiden WEC podium last time out in Fuji, has had its minimum weight increased by 4kg and power decreased by 1kW.

Track action for the final round of the 2024 WEC on the Bahrain International Circuit begins at 12:15 local time on Thursday with the opening, 90-minute session of free practice.



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BMW confirms Valentino Rossi’s LMDh outing in Bahrain WEC test

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Valentino Rossi’s run in BMW’s M Hybrid V8 LMDh at the World Endurance Championship rookie test in Bahrain next month has been confirmed. 

BMW has officially revealed the seven-time MotoGP champion’s participation in the test with the factory WRT Hypercar class squad on the day after the final round the 2024 WEC along with that of fellow factory drivers Dan Harper and Max Hesse. 

The confirmation comes four weeks after Rossi, who is racing a WRT BMW in the LMGT3 class of the WEC as well as in the GT World Challenge Europe, unilaterally announced that his promised run in the M Hybrid would come as expected at the rookie test. 

Rossi, who got his first taste of a prototype in a WRT-run ORECA-Gibson 07 LMP at the rookie test last year, said: “I am thrilled that I can test the Hypercar — we have been looking for a date for a long time, and now it has finally worked out. 

“I really wanted to do this test to get a feel for what the BMW M Hybrid V8 can do. 

“Many thanks to BMW M Motorsport for this opportunity.”

BMW M Motorsport boss Andreas Roos added that he is “looking forward to seeing what our rookies can do”.

#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Sheldon Van Der Linde, Robin Frijns, Rene Rast

#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Sheldon Van Der Linde, Robin Frijns, Rene Rast

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Briton Harper and German Hesse are being given an outing in the M Hybrid after impressing at the wheel of BMW’s M4 GT3 since their graduation from the marque’s revived junior programme to full factory status for 2023.

Their successes together this year include a third-place finish in the Nurburgring 24 Hours with the RMG team and a GTWCE Endurance Cup victory at Paul Ricard in April, sharing an M4 GT3 with Charles Weerts and Augusto Farfus respectively. 

Harper and Hesse have already driven the M Hybrid: they have undertaken aerodynamic testing and Hesse has been involved in development on the simulator.

Rossi, Harper and Hesse join a growing list of drivers confirmed to take part in the rookie test in Bahrain aboard Hypercar machinery.

It includes Theo Pourchaire and Clement Novalak with Peugeot, Victor Martins with Alpine and Arthur Leclerc with Ferrari. 

Esteban Masson will be given a run with Toyota after racing for sister marque Lexus in LMGT3 this year.

Reshad de Gerus, who finished third in LMP2 at the Le Mans 24 Hours with IDEC Sport this year, has been nominated to take part by the series organiser. 

The Frenchman will drive for whichever marque wins the manufacturers’ title. 

Motorsport.com says

Valentino Rossi driving a car that competes for outright honours in the WEC and at Le Mans  may grab the headlines for BMW as well as the series, but his run shouldn’t be regarded as a try-out for a seat in one of the M Hybrids for next year or any other time. 

This is a PR opportunity and a bit of fun for Rossi. We shouldn’t forget that his post-MotoGP career on four wheels is as much about enjoyment as trying to win races. 

Rossi has stated that his target isn’t to race BMW’s LMDh, though he has qualified that with a ‘you never know’. 

The reality is that he is nearly 46 and coming to the end of only his third full season of car racing. He’s not on the pace of his professional team-mates in the M4 GT3, so it would be unrealistic to expect him to match them in a prototype. 

Hypercar in the WEC is far too competitive to have any weak links in the chain.

The world shouldn’t be speculating whether Rossi will ever race the M Hybrid, rather where he will be competing in 2025. The Italian plans to cut back on his schedule next year and will have to decide between the WEC and the GTWCE.

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Porsche drops Lotterer from 2025 WEC line-up

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Andre Lotterer has been dropped from Porsche’s factory World Endurance Championship squad as part of a revamp of its 2025 LMDh line-up.

The veteran of the German manufacturer’s LMP1, Formula E and LMDh campaigns since joining from Audi in 2017, who is on the cusp of this year’s WEC title with Laurens Vanthoor and Kevin Estre, is one of three drivers leaving the twin arms of Porsche Penske Motorsport for next year. 

Frederic Makowiecki, like Lotterer part of the WEC Hypercar class squad since 2023, and Dane Cameron, winner of this year’s IMSA SportsCar Championship GTP title with Felipe Nasr, are also departing. 

What was described by Porsche as only a “tweak“ of its driver roster programmes involves reducing the full-time line-up from three to two drivers in the WEC. 

Vanthoor and Estre, who with Lotterer have a 35-point advantage going into next month’s WEC finale in Bahrain, will race as a duo next year aboard the #6 Porsche 963 LMDh in the regular six-hour races.

Michael Christensen keeps his seat in #5 PPM entry he has shared with Makiowiecki and Matt Campbell this year and will be joined by Julien Andlauer. 

The French Porsche factory driver has gained a seat in one of the factory cars after impressing at the wheel of the Proton Competition customer 963 in the WEC this season. 

#7 Team Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Dane Cameron, Matt Campbell

#7 Team Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Dane Cameron, Matt Campbell

Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images

Campbell will return to the IMSA ranks after a solo season in one of the WEC cars and will team up with Mathieu Jaminet in the #6 PPM car in North America.

Cameron’s seat alongside Nasr will be taken by Briton Nick Tandy, who moves over from the sister car he has shared with Jaminet for the past two seasons. 

Jaminet and Campbell will respectively join the #5 and #6 crews for Le Mans and, according to Porsche’s press statement announcing the changes, “selected races”. 

That can be taken to mean the 10- and eight-hour races in Qatar and Bahrain that will bookend the 2025 WEC season. 

Estre and Vanthoor have likewise been nominated to drive the #6 and #7 IMSA cars for selected races in IMSA’s Michelin Endurance Cup.

Frenchman Makowiecki, 43, is leaving Porsche after 11 seasons predominantly in its GT ranks, which included a GTE Pro class win at Le Mans in 2022 and an overall victory in the Nurburgring 24 Hours in 2018. 

He and Porsche have “agreed to conclude their collaboration”, read Porsche’s announcement. 

#5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Frederic Makowiecki

#5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Frederic Makowiecki

Photo by: Marc Fleury

It stated that Lotterer and Cameron’s contracts with Porsche expire at the end of this year, but did not specifically state that they are leaving the employment of the manufacturer. When contacted by Motorsport.com, Porsche was unwilling to clarify the drivers’ status.

Porsche Motorsport boss Thomas Laudenbach said: “I’d like to thank Dane Cameron, Andre Lotterer and Frederic Makowiecki for their incredible work over the past three years [since the 963 started testing in January 2022].

“All three have played a significant role in us being able to celebrate great successes with the Porsche 963 on both sides of the Atlantic — in just the second year of competition.”

PPM’s decision to go to two drivers for the regular six-hour WEC races follows a debate over whether three drivers should be mandated in Hypercar.

It was sparked by the Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac team choosing to use just two drivers in the six-hour WEC races this year. 

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Running two drivers offers an advantage in terms of track time during practice and, potentially, a strategic benefit in the races. 

Moves for a change in rules, led by WRT BMW team boss Vincent Vosse, were rejected after they did not find backing from a majority of manufacturers. 

Porsche made play of Andlauer’s status as one of its former junior drivers: its statement pointed out that he will become the fourth former junior after Christensen, Jaminet and Campbell to join the PPM 963 squad. 

No reference was made to a potential third PPM entry at Le Mans next June, the right to which it has won after claiming the IMSA title. 

Laudenbach stated last week that he expected to take up the entry and run an additional car in the double-points WEC round, as Porsche did in 2023 and ’24. 



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Ferrari Hypercar driver line-up unaltered for 2025

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Ferrari will continue with an unchanged Hypercar class driver line-up in next year’s World Endurance Championship.

Antonello Coletta, Ferrari’s head of sportscar racing, confirmed on Sunday that the #50 499P Le Mans Hypercar will be raced in 2025 by Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina and #51 by James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi for a third consecutive season.

The announcement made at the Ferrari World Finals for its one-make challenge series at Imola followed news announced on Saturday that Fuoco and Molina had renewed their factory contracts for next year.

Calado and Pier Guidi were granted contract extensions this time last year.

Coletta explained that there was no reason to make changes to the driver roster for the third campaign by the factory AF Corse team in the WEC.

«It is confirmed: #50 and #51 will not change — we will have the same drivers,» he said. «The #50 and #51 will be exactly the same.

#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi

#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

«We are happy with the line-ups: we have won with both at the Le Mans 24 Hours [with #51 in 2023 and #50 in ’24].»

Coletta stressed the importance of «consistency and continuity» in terms of the drivers on its Hypercar squad.

«When we started with the 499P and chose our GT pilots some people were not happy,» he continued.

«But even the sceptics have had to change their minds. All six 499P drivers have won Le Mans, which I think validates our choices.»

There has been no confirmation of the drivers for the #83 satellite entry run by AF Corse on a customer basis and driven this year by Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Robert Shwartzman

Coletta outlined a hope to «announce it just before the Bahrain race» [this year’s WEC final on 2 November.

He ruled out Arthur Leclerc, brother of Ferrari F1 driver Charles, racing the car next year, even though he is scheduled to test one of the 499Ps in the WEC rookie test at Bahrain the day after the season finale.

Coletta explained that the younger of the Leclerc brothers, who is listed as a development driver for the F1 team, still needed to learn about sportscar racing.

He was placed by Ferrari for this year in the endurance segment of the Italian GT Championship, which he is contesting alongside his LMP2 commitments in the European Le Mans Series with Panis Racing.

«Our goal is for Arthur to keep learning about endurance and then there might be the chance for him to catch an opportunity in one of our prototypes in the future,» said Coletta.

Davide Rigon, Alessio Rovera, Daniel Serra and Lilou Wadoux, who are all part of the Ferrari factory roster of GT3 drivers, have also had their contracts extended into next year.



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