WEC teams ready to entertain once again at the Nürburgring

In a little more than two weeks’ time the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship will be getting underway, with 29 cars due to start practice and qualifying for the 6 Hours of Nürburgring on Sunday 16 July.  The many thousands of passionate German motorsport fans who flock to the track in the scenic Eifel mountains will be treated to non-stop entertainment from the WEC, World Series Formula V8 3.5, Eurocup Formula Renault and Porsche Motorsport Race Weekend.

Following on from the excitements, dramas, highs and lows of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the WEC’s competitors will be keen to get back into the rhythm of the championship’s 6-hour race format – the last of the season to be held in Europe before cars and equipment are packed up ready for the overseas rounds.  A full entry list for the 6 Hours of Nürburgring is available HERE.

Toyota out to tip the balance back towards them in LMP1

Porsche leapt into the lead of the points standings following Timo Bernhard, Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley’s win at Le Mans, but Toyota has already recorded two victories this year and the Cologne-based team will be looking to re-balance the points in its favour once again.  Argentinian José Mariá López re-joins Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi in the No.7 Toyota, while the No.4 ByKolles Racing entry will feature Marco Bonanomi once again alongside Oliver Webb and Dominik Kraihamer.

Driver changes up and down the LMP2 field

While the FIA’s F1, WEC and FE organisers have met recently to discuss harmonisation of sporting calendars in the future, unfortunately this year there is a clash which affects several drivers and teams. 

Nelson Piquet Jr will be absent from the No.13 Vaillante Rebellion ORECA 07 Gibson and will be replaced by fellow Brazilian Pipo Derani – who finished 2^nd in LMGTE Pro at Le Mans.  Nico Prost in the sister No.31 car will be replaced by WEC returnee Filipe Albuquerque, while CEFC Manor TRS Racing welcomes back 2016 WEC competitor Roberto Merhi in the No.24 to replace Jean-Eric Vergne.   

Alex Lynn was not scheduled to take part in this fourth round with the No.26 G-Drive Racing, his seat being taken by Ben Hanley who, together with Roman Rusinov and Pierre Thiriet, will face a challenge for success in Germany as they have to serve a 3-minute stop and go penalty during the race following an incident at Le Mans. 

Joining the WEC once again, as it did at the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, will be the No.34 Tockwith Motorsport Ligier JS P217 Gibson of Nigel Moore and Philip Hanson; this additional entry takes the always competitive and entertaining category to 11.

LMGTE battle set to continue apace

All LMGTE Pro line ups return to two-man line ups now that Le Mans has been and gone, with the exception of the No.97 Vantage of Darren Turner, Jonny Adam and Daniel Serra who will be looking to profit from their incredible last-lap victory in France and further decrease the gap to GT Championship leaders Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell in the No.67 Ford GT.

Sam Bird is missing from the No.71 AF Corse Ferrari and Davide Rigon will be partnered with Ferrari factory driver Toni Vilander who is well known to the WEC and who brings plenty of experience of both the F488 GTE and the Nürburgring with him.

The LMGTE Am category reverts to its usual WEC look, with Miguel Molina returning to the No.54 Spirit of Race Ferrari alongside Thomas Flohr and Francesco Castellacci.  Of the five German drivers in the race, two are racing in the No.77 Dempsey Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR; both Christian Ried and Marvin Dienst – together with young Italian Porsche junior driver Matteo Cairoli - will be hoping for another strong performance to delight their home crowd and close the gap in the points.

Fans will be able to follow the action from Friday 14^th July in person, via the FIA WEC App or on www.fiawec.com. Ticketing information can be found HERE.