[WEC] The 2023 and beyond DRIVER ANNOUNCEMENTS MEGA THREAD

[chernaudi]

Anthony Davidson probably won't be in the reckoning for factory rides. He announced this morning that he'll retire from full time driving after next week's race in Bahrain.

[Simmi]

Looks like Ye is doing some Porsche GT racing next year. I'd have thought that remaining in P2 would be the ideal prep but he's obviously going to have close ties to the programme.

https://sportscar365.com/industry/ye...lected-driver/

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Anthony Davidson probably won't be in the reckoning for factory rides. He announced this morning that he'll retire from full time driving after next week's race in Bahrain.

That's a shame, he's been great for the sport. There's an outside chance he could end his career with an LMP2 driver/team title next week, but I hope his last race is a good one regardless.

Originally Posted by Simmi

Looks like Ye is doing some Porsche GT racing next year. I'd have thought that remaining in P2 would be the ideal prep but he's obviously going to have close ties to the programme.

https://sportscar365.com/industry/ye...lected-driver/

I can't find the post right now, but I'm sure I asked this when Ye to Porsche was revealed. I suspect Porsche would have preferred to keep him in LMP2, but with WRT almost certainly going the way of Audi - who are not exactly short of factory drivers - it doesn't make much sense to keep a rival driver sharp.

Besides, the last time Porsche "promoted" a GT driver or two to prototypes, it went rather well for them.

[Simmi]

Big Toyota news - Kaz Nakajima is leaving at the end of the season - https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/...wec-squad.html

I did think some of their guys might get poached. Wonder where he'll land next...

[Simmi]

Or maybe he's just retiring? Awesome career if so.

[kvenom]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Or maybe he's just retiring? Awesome career if so.

He was interviewed by Sportscar365 and it seems like he was forced to step down by Toyota and maybe pushed into a team management role. He was looking forward to racing against all the manufacturers entering.

[J Jay]

I need to keep better track of my own posts. I definitely said somewhere on here that Nakajima leaving was likely the reason for all the action at Toyota!

Originally Posted by kvenom

He was interviewed by Sportscar365 and it seems like he was forced to step down by Toyota and maybe pushed into a team management role. He was looking forward to racing against all the manufacturers entering.

Although I must mention the rule of cautious editing judgement, that interview was more revealing than I expected. Nicolas, Anthony, Kazuki - the Logan's Run of TMG continues...

[Pandamasque]

A new era is coming for endurance racing, with many Hypercar manufacturers joining in the next years, and it will be a new era for me. I will continue to support the team and I look forward to watching the start of a new, exciting time for endurance racing.
- K.N.

It does sound like a move to a managerial role.

Elsewhere, Brundle commits to serve at interpol. https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/...mpetition.html
Multi-year deal meaning he gave up on an LMDh drive that he looked for?

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Elsewhere, Brundle commits to serve at interpol. https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/...mpetition.html
Multi-year deal meaning he gave up on an LMDh drive that he looked for?

Don't see IE getting hold of a LMDh in '23 but it could be a case of positioning himself. He's a smart guy and aligning himself to a gentleman driver (young or old) is a savvy move.

In other news, Nico Hulkenberg has ruled himself out of an Indycar drive next year - https://twitter.com/HulkHulkenberg/s...05669770608648

Surely he's on a few lists.

[bella]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Elsewhere, Brundle commits to serve at interpol.

Multi-year deal meaning he gave up on an LMDh drive that he looked for?

i’m noticing a trend of lmp2 teams levelling up recently. you can just run the car like a ginetta junior and be pretty competitive but halfway into the season that’ll start to bite you versus the teams with a more formal engineering team. especially if you’re only running one car and don’t have options for parts rotation and stuff you end up spending a hell of a lot running just one car with no added value for money from parts rotation or cascading.

i don’t know who the lead brain is at inter europol now but alex has obviously seen and been a part of some progress he likes the smell of this season. you don’t have to be on a one year deal at the pointy end for people to take note.

[Simmi]

A few Porsche driver rumours at the back end of this FE piece.

https://the-race.com/formula-e/porsc...ses-first-win/

Seems to rule Lotterer out of a drive slightly surprisingly. Wehrlein, Nasr, Kevin Estre, Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell in the fray. Plus I think we also know Cameron on the IMSA side.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Simmi

A few Porsche driver rumours at the back end of this FE piece.

https://the-race.com/formula-e/porsc...ses-first-win/

Seems to rule Lotterer out of a drive slightly surprisingly. Wehrlein, Nasr, Kevin Estre, Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell in the fray. Plus I think we also know Cameron on the IMSA side.

As amazing as Lotterer was, and even though I'm sure he could still do a good job, his time has passed. The ages of the drivers mentioned makes it clear - Porsche, like every other factory, is going for the long haul.

[CTD]

I am still surpriced that Christensen is forgotten in this!

[Simmi]

With Antonio Giovinazzi not being retained at Alfa next year he must be a good bet for a plum Hypercar seat. If he pivots to Sportscars and commits to it he could have a fantastic career.

Look at Seb Buemi. When he left F1, who would have thought he would be the most successful driver of the WEC era.

[Mike E]

I saw Giovinazzi mentioned in connection with Formula E. Don't know if there is anything in it.