[WEC] The 2023 and beyond DRIVER ANNOUNCEMENTS MEGA THREAD

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by veeten

JOTA has announced their driver lineup, as Bamber and Lynn will be moving over from the Ganassi team.

Car crews yet to be decided. As daft as it would be, Bamber, Bourdais & Lynn in the same car would be dynamite.


Speculation: was it always the plan to retain Button, or was Jota's hand forced by Hanson leaving? By all available metrics, Hanson has been the better driver, but if he already knew he wasn't in Jota's plans he may have jumped before he was pushed.

[Mike E]

Having a personable F1 champion in the car is not a terrible idea from a PR perspective. And he's quick, always been smooth and kind to his cars, gets on with everyone...

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Having a personable F1 champion in the car is not a terrible idea from a PR perspective. And he's quick, always been smooth and kind to his cars, gets on with everyone...

He was the slowest Jota driver. In relative terms, this is false.


However, everything else does go for him and whatever reasons Jota had for keeping him are valid. His time in Super GT shows he is a fantastic teammate.



I'm more surprised that Hanson has been such a go-getter since leaving United. Good on him too, he's clearly impressed a number of people in the paddock.

[flatlandsman]

Not seen enough of Hanson always thought he was a real hothead in LMP2 but seems to have calmed down a fair bit. Might be well backed too maybe? Dont know

[Rf1 Fan]

Originally Posted by J Jay

He was the slowest Jota driver. In relative terms, this is false.


However, everything else does go for him and whatever reasons Jota had for keeping him are valid. His time in Super GT shows he is a fantastic teammate.



I'm more surprised that Hanson has been such a go-getter since leaving United. Good on him too, he's clearly impressed a number of people in the paddock.

Mobil1 deal with JOTA is tied to Jenson Button hence why he is still there

[TF110]

He may be quicker in the Cadillac, ya never know. I'm glad he's part of the team and this time it's a factory backed effort.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by J Jay

He was the slowest Jota driver. In relative terms, this is false.


However, everything else does go for him and whatever reasons Jota had for keeping him are valid. His time in Super GT shows he is a fantastic teammate.



I'm more surprised that Hanson has been such a go-getter since leaving United. Good on him too, he's clearly impressed a number of people in the paddock.

Ok then. He's quick enough otherwise they would have dropped him.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Ok then. He's quick enough otherwise they would have dropped him.

Absolutely fair. Button's season is akin to Lotterer post-Le Mans: slightly slower than his teammates, but quick enough, reliable and with a couple of key stints that contributed to good performances.

[airbusA346]

Iron Dames have confirmed their switch to Manthey for the 2025 WEC Season.

Driver line up is: Celia Martin, Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting.

For some reason Bovy isn't mentioned even though she was previously.


Ryan Hardwick, Riccardo Pera and Richard Lietz will drive the second Manthey car in WEC and Asian Le Mans Series.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...che-confirmed/

[airbusA346]

Tincknell & Riberas confirmed in the WEC Valkyrie's. The car will not be at the Daytona 24.

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/...-hypercar.html

Kubica stays in the 3rd 499P.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...percar-lineup/

[airbusA346]

Alpine's drivers for the 2025 WEC season are:

- Charles Milesi
- Paul-Loup Chatin
- Ferdinand Habsburg
- Mick Schumacher
- Jules Gounon
- Frédéric Makowiecki

https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/...es-chez-alpine

[TF110]

Glad to see Mako get a new ride. Hopefully he shows up in a good way for Alpine!

[Gerard C]

Having mostly French drivers in the team is a good thing for Alpine IMO.

[JoeW04]

K-Mag heading to BMW WRT supposedly.

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Having mostly French drivers in the team is a good thing for Alpine IMO.

Strange Vaxiviere is gone tho.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Having mostly French drivers in the team is a good thing for Alpine IMO.

Because of internal communication?

IMO for exposure a more international lineup is better.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Because of internal communication?

Right. The reason why Matthieu Vaxivière is out could well be in Famin's words:"Nous avons sélectionné des talents non seulement rapides, mais aussi dotés d’une capacité d’analyse et d’un état d’esprit exemplaires." State of mind matter?