WEC
The first entrants for the 2022 WEC season
François Flamand / DPPI
While the season begins at Sebring on March 18, the WEC published this Wednesday, January 12, a first list of entries for the 2022 season with a total of 39 cars: 6 Hypercars, 15 LM P2, 5 GTE Pro and 13 GTE Am.
RECORD-BREAKING ANNIVERSARY GRID FOR THE #WEC – Season 10 of the FIA World Endurance Championship will see championship's biggest ever grid as the WEC enters new golden era with 39 cars.
6️⃣Hypercar
1️⃣5️⃣ LMP2
5️⃣ LMGTE Pro
1️⃣3️⃣ LMGTE AmMore details on https://t.co/npNU9AKkHH pic.twitter.com/GRlbxDnyWQ
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) January 12, 2022
Hypercar: with Peugeot , without ByKolles
In Hypercar, we find, unsurprisingly, both Toyota GR010 – Hybrid with almost unchanged crews. The only change in the world champion team: Ryo Hirakawa replaces his compatriot Kazuki Nakajima next to Sébastien Buemi et Brendon Hartley in number 8. The winning trio of 24 Hours of Le Mans in number 7 Mike conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria López will be in the running to defend their titles. Alpine still appears in this category with his “grandmother” and alone Andre Negro is officially confirmed for now. Glickenhaus nº708 is also there with Frenchman Olivier Pla, while the second American prototype is expected for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Peugeot 9×8 also appears in two examples with the number 93 led by Paul di Resta and the number 94 by Loïc duval. The distribution of the other drivers is not yet known. The exact date of the entry into competition of the LMH at Lion, still awaiting its approval, is also uncertain but its presence in this provisional entry list for the entire season could well indicate a first from Sebring. Conversely, ByKolles still does not appear in this list.
ALSO READ > Endurance – The Peugeot 9X8 drives!
New in LM P2
The LM P2 field is full of new features with several new teams. As announced, Vector Sport will ride with Nico Müller and Sébastien Bourdais. They will be supported by the Briton Ryan Cullen in the No. 10 Oreca. At Prema, we are betting on the 2021 European champions with Louis Delétraz and Robert Kubica, transfers from WRT. The Pole also arrives with his sponsor Orlen in his luggage. The third man in the number 9 of Prema Orlen Team will be Lorenzo Colombo. On the WRT side, Sean Gelael arrives in the No. 31 and Rui Andrade in a second car under the Swiss flag, the No. 41 of Realteam by WRT. Their teammates are not yet known, but note that the Jota team finds itself depopulated with the departures of Stoffel Vandoorne and Tom Blomqvist to an as yet unknown destination. Would Sean Gelael have brought his 2021 traveling companions in his suitcases? To replace this trio, the British team is banking on Oliver Rasmussen, Edward Jones and Jonathan Aberdeen in the No. 28. Roberto Gonzalez and Antonio Felix da Costa are still there in the second Jota, number 38, where Will Stevens replaces the newly retired Anthony Davidson.
Sean Gelael and Stoffel Vandoorne will no longer ride for Jota in 2022 (Photo François Flamand / DPPI)
At United Autosports, Josh Pierson will be one to watch closely at the age of 16. The young American will support Alexander Lynn and Oliver Jarvis in No. 23, while Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque remain associated in No. 22 with William Owen. Another American team planned this season, Team Penske plans to field Dane Cameron, Felipe Nasr and Frenchman Emmanuel Collard. On the French side, François Perrodo is making his return to prototype with AF Corse and his two 2021 teammates, Nicklas Nielsen and Alessio Rovera. Jean-Baptiste and Mathieu Lahaye will also ride in LM P2 alongside François Heriau. Finally, the Richard Mille Racing Team is doing something new with the young French rider Lilou Wadoux, promoted to the starting position after moving up to LM P2 at the Rookie Test in Bahrain on November 7. No girl from the 2021 trio (Tatiana Calderón, Sophia Floersch, Beitske Visser) appears in any team on this provisional list, nor Charles Milesi, while it is rumored that this crew could no longer be 100% female this season…
A grid to fill in GT
The GTE Pro category is essentially marked by the return of Corvette. Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy will drive in a Chevrolet Corvette C8.R bearing the number 64 this season. The AF Corse crews are not fully confirmed, but Alessandro Pier Guidi and Miguel Molina will be there. At the house of Porsche, as previously announced, Gianmaria Bruni and Richard Lietz will appear at the wheel of the #91 while Michael Christensen replaces Neel Jani alongside Kévin Estre in the #92. In GTE Am, the majority of crews are still incomplete apart from the AF Corse nº21 (Simon Mann, Christoph Ulrich, Toni Vilander) and the Northwest AMR nº98 (Paul Dalla Lana, David Pittard, Nicki Thiim).
Valentin GLO
Journalist. Endurance reporter (WEC, IMSA, ELMS, ALMS) and sometimes F1 or IndyCar.
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DANIEL MEYERS
12/01/2022 at 06:56 a.m.
I also read that the entry of Vanwall Vandervell ByKolles had been refused (even though the entry would have been paid) because it was not approved?! This can't be the reason since the Peugeot isn't either! In any case, if the ACO is already making selections, what will they do from 2023? All the more incomprehensible as there is an abysmal lack of cars entered in Hypercar.