Pourchaire in Japan, new manufacturers in WEC, an open battle in WRC… 10 reasons to be enthusiastic before the 2024 season

F1 – A crazy transfer market?

Let's be honest: no, the 2024 season of Formula 1 does not promise to be, on paper, the most exciting. For the first time in history, the 20 drivers who finished the previous championship retain their place, and we will find the same grid in Bahrain on March 2. On the other hand, the transfer market should certainly be one of the liveliest in recent years.

Nearly two thirds of the drivers will reach the end of their contract at the end of the next campaign! One seat is particularly coveted: the second bucket Red Bull, still occupied by Sergio Pérez in the hot seat. Could we also see pilots retiring, like a Fernando Alonso or Nico Hulkenberg ?

F1 – McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes… who can stop Red Bull supremacy?

The end of the 2023 season gave us a little hope: the small gaps between the teams at the top of the table (McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin) could they presage more fierce and present adversity against the Red Bulls? In 2024, the convergence effect will certainly take its toll, and it seems unlikely that the Austrian team and its favorite driver, Max Verstappen, dominate as much as in 2023.

McLaren will be the team to watch: the one that has achieved an incredible comeback during the previous financial year can she (finally) play regularly at the forefront? Lando Norris et Oscar piastri can they seek their first victory in Formula 1, after very promising results last year? The performances of Ferrari and Mercedes will also be closely scrutinized, with both teams keen to return to the top. Let's not forget Aston Martin in the equation, with Fernando Alonso still hungry... and who knows, maybe we'll see a surprise team playing the leading roles (hello Alpine ?) ...

© Florent Gooden / DPPI

WEC /24 Hours of Le Mans – The arrival of the new manufacturers

This is the discipline in vogue since 2023: the World Championship ofEndurance (WEC) seduces and attracts ever more manufacturers and drivers. In 2024, four new manufacturers will make their Hypercar debut: Lamborghini, Alpine, BMW and Isotta Fraschini, bringing the field to nine manufacturers in total, unprecedented in the history of the championship! The first three cities arrive with an LMDh, while Isotta tried to design a purebred Hypercar!

There will also be new manufacturers in the newly created category in WEC: LMGT3, which succeeds LMGTE. If we will find the historic brands again – Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Corvette – other firms will make their appearance (or return) in the championship and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans : BMW, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren and Ford. Big names that make you dream! Looking forward to March 2, for the opening of the season during the 1812 kilometers of Qatar.

WEC – Rossi, Schumacher, Button… The stars arrive in Endurance

In addition to the manufacturers, the WEC will welcome some great names in 2024. How can we not mention the beginnings of Valentino Rossi in the championship? The legend of MotoGP, converted to motorsport and GT since 2022, arrives in WEC with BMW and Team WRT, in the LMGT3 category.

Another world champion, this time from Formula 1, will experience his first full season in WEC with Hertz Team JOTA aboard the Porsche 963. The Briton, at the start of the 24 2023 Hours of Le Mans with the car of NASCAR du Garage56, returns to the championship six years after his adventure with SMP Racing, during the LM P1 era.

Finally, a former F1 driver with an evocative name will make his debut in Endurance: Mick Schumacher. The son of the seven-time F1 world champion has been recruited by Alpine for the debut of A arrow in Hypercar in 2024. Robert Kubica (AF Corse) and Daniil Kvyat (Lamborghini) will also be on the Hypercar grid in 2024.

© Julien Delfosse / DPPI

WRC – Who to succeed Kalle Rovanperä?

Despite the (very) meager field in Rally1, the coming season in WRC seems to be the most open in recent years, all because of Kalle Rovanperä. The reigning double world champion surprised everyone by deciding to only carry out a partial program in 2024, like Sébastien Ogier.

As a result, three men can legitimately claim the title: Elfyn Evans, three-time vice-world champion, Thierry Neuville, five-time vice-world champion and… Ott Tänak, the only world champion present full-time. The Estonian reunites with the clan Hyundai a year after leaving him and will have the spirit of revenge, after several messy seasons. Unless a Takamoto Katsuta, who is in his 4th complete season with Toyota, come and create a surprise…

WRC – Adrien Fourmaux, time for a second chance

A second chance in motorsport is rare enough to be noted. Adrien fourmaux will have this chance: the Northerner, “relegated” to WRC2 after a catastrophic year in Rally1 in 2022, managed to regain his place at the highest level of the rally world thanks to great performances in Rally2.

The Frenchman has regained the confidence of M-Sport and his director, Richard Millener, and will have a leadership role within the British team since his teammate, Grégoire Munster, will experience his first full season in the WRC. Aboard a fast but fragile Ford Puma, Adrien Fourmaux still has everything to prove in the premier category to secure his place in the years to come. The WRC2 young shoots (Solberg, Pajari, Lindholm, etc.) will not bother to apply to M-Sport in the event of repeated poor performances from the Habs...

© Nikos Katikis / DPPI

Super Formula – Théo Pourchaire’s debut in Japan

After three seasons and a title in Formula 2, Theo Pourchaire goes into exile in Japan! The Grassois examined the question in the antechamber of Formula 1, and what better than Super Formula to continue to evolve with more efficient single-seaters? The protégé of the Sauber clan, who wants to obtain his place in F1 in 2025, will have to shine in the Land of the Rising Sun to give solid arguments to the Swiss team.

The Frenchman will be able to follow the recent example of Liam Lawson, who impressed in Super Formula (vice-champion of the discipline) before getting his chance in F1 with Alpha Tauri, replacing a Daniel Ricciardo hurt. Théo Pourchaire could also draw inspiration from Pierre Gasly who had a full season in Super Formula in 2017 before getting a seat at Toro Rosso.

Formula 2 – Antonelli in the spotlight

This is the sensation of promotional formulas: Andrea Kimi Antonelli is already presented as the future superstar of Formula 1. The Italian driver carries the hopes of an entire country, which is desperately awaiting a successor to the champions of the past (Ascari, Farina… ). The 17-year-old driver, FRECA champion in 2023, skipped the passage in Formula 3 to land directly in Formula 2 in 2024, a symbol of total confidence granted by the Mercedes academy.

By arriving directly at PREMA, a top team in Formula 2, the young Italian could even create a surprise by playing the leading roles in his first season in the championship, like a Charles Leclerc in 2017. He will first have to measure up to his teammate Ollie Bearman, who already has a year of experience in the discipline with interesting performances in 2023. The two drivers of the Italian team will undoubtedly be major players in the title race...

Formula 2 – Martins and Hadjar in the footsteps of Pourchaire?

On the French side too, we have reason to rejoice in the 2024 Formula 2 season. Best rookie of the 2023 season, behind four drivers who will not continue the adventure in the category (Pourchaire, Vesti, Doohan, Iwasa), Victor Martins will be one of the legitimate favorites for the upcoming exercise with ART GP. The protégé ofAlpine will be able to use his experience acquired in 2023 to aim for the title, he who will have to adapt to the new single-seaters introduced this year in the championship.

The other French hope, Isack Hadjar, will discover a new team by arriving at Campos Racing. The Spanish team is progressing, and the contribution of the French driver could help it climb the hierarchy. The Ile-de-France native will have to do well if he wants to convince the Red Bull clan to give him a chance to move to the next level, he who could benefit from the game of musical chairs in F1 at the end of the 2024 season...

MotoGP – Marquez & Ducati, the long-awaited marriage

Yes, the photos of Marc Marquez's first laps on the Ducati during post-season testing seemed fake, so historic was the association between the Spaniard and Honda. But 2024 will mark a new era for the eight-time motorcycle world champion. Riding the Ducati from the Gresini team, the rider from Cervera (Spain) will try to return to the top, having been juggling falls and injuries since 2020. Alongside his brother Alex Marquez, he will benefit from the Desmosedici the most recent to play on equal terms against the two protagonists of the 2023 championship, namely Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin.

© Red Bull Content Pool

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