Vettel to test for Porsche, Acura break Sebring stronghold, and the Dacia Logan's resurrection
Another F1 champion eyes a Le Mans future, WTRA finally break their winless streak, and the beloved Dacia lives, OE Founder Tim Fullbrook summarises the stories of the week
You thought things were calming down now the season’s started? Well, you were wrong.
A big week across multiple sportscar championships, and for different reasons. Sebastian Vettel to test a Hypercar, which could lead to more; a thrilling Sebring 12H keeps fans gripped to the checkered; and one of the beloved cars of the Nordschleife is resurrected… oh and there’s even more news.
The big winner in all of this? US, THE FANS!
So if you’ve been busy this week, here’s the stories you absolutely need, deserve, and should know about…
Sebastian Vettel to complete endurance test with Porsche Penske Motorsport
On Friday morning, Porsche Penske Motorsport confirmed that four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel will drive for the team at an upcoming endurance test.
The 36-year-old will join the six current WEC Hypercar drivers (#5: Campbell, Christensen, Makowiecki, #6: Estre, Lotterer, Vanthoor) at the MotorLandAragón circuit in Spain next week as the team undertake an important 36-hour test ahead of the 24H Le Mans in June.
Vettel has completed a rollout in the 963 LMDh at Weissach, running a small number of kilometres around Porsche’s private test track, in addition to extensive time in the simulator.
“I’ve always followed other racing series and my curiosity for endurance events encouraged me to just give it a shot,” explained the 53-time Grand Prix winner, “Now I’m excited about the long run in Aragón and I’m looking forward to my time behind the wheel.”
Intrigue will continue to stir around the third Porsche Penske Motorsport car entered at this year’s Le Mans. Only Mathieu Jaminet is listed in the #4, and whilst IMSA GTP drivers are expected to fill the remaining seats, a strong test might open the door for Vettel to appear at the French endurance classic this year. We’ll have to wait and see…
WTRA win at Sebring, ending winless streak in IMSA
The #40 Wayne Taylor Racing Andretti Acura won overall at the Sebring 12 Hours, scoring the brand’s first overall win at the legendary venue and brought to an end an 11-race winless streak for one of sportscar’s strongest outfits.
WEC LMP2 champion Louis Deletraz made a brave pass on Sebastien Bourdais in the #01 Cadillac inside the final ten minutes to secure the win for the team.
Front-runners and favourites, the #31 Whelen Cadillac Racing crashed out of the race in spectacular fashion, with Derani ending up on the barrier between T9-10. The Brazilian walked away completely unharmed.
ERA Motorsport and Winward Racing completed the ‘Florida 36H’ adding LMP2 and GTD class wins to their victories at Daytona in January.
The #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus took honours in a knock-out, no-holds-barred GTD PRO race, the reigning champions bouncing back from a disappointing first round of the season.
Check out what the winners had to say post-race.
LMP2 to receive power boost, and weight loss in ELMS
The European Le Mans Series confirmed on Friday that LMP2 machinery will receive a power increase, and a weight loss ahead of the 2024 season; taking the cars a step towards pre-Hypercar era performance levels.
The category was slowed across ACO competition, which includes WEC and ELMS, following the addition of the Hypercar class to ensure that the new top category was able to beat the ‘second tier’ of prototypes.
With the class being dropped from full-time WEC competition, the Oreca 07s in the PRO and PRO-AM categories will have 40hp more power, will run at 20kg less, and are expected to be around a second a lap faster.
These changes only impact ELMS rounds, with the cars being returned to 2023 performance levels for the 24H Le Mans.
Felipe Drugovich joins Vector Sport for ELMS debut
2022 F2 champion Felipe Drugovich will race for Vector Sport in the 2024 ELMS season, joining Ryan Cullen and Stephane Richelmi in the #10 Oreca 07.
The Brazilian, set for another season on the F1 sidelines as Aston Martin’s reserve, replaces Gabriel Aubry at the British team.
Aubry, an undisputed talent in prototype machinery, is now without a drive in 2024 which is a complete crime to endurance racing. ‘Drugo’ better prove this change was the right one…
Dacia Logan resurrected for Nordschleife return
Confirmed on Thursday, the Ollis Garage Racing Dacia Logan will return to action at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, racing in both the NLS season and 24H race.
The fan-favourite crashed out heavily from the 24 Hours last year, leading the team to annoucne the project would unfortunately be terminated due to the accident damage, primarily to the engine, and difficulty sourcing a new parts.
However, this has been revoked with the team have sourced a new car, built it to race-spec, and are ready to take on a season racing at the ‘Green Hell.’
“We are delighted to be competing in the NLS again,” said Principal Sabine Kreise.
“Over the winter, we put a lot of love, dedication, sweat and blood into making another Dacia Logan fit for the Nordschleife and can hardly wait to finally race on this legendary circuit again.”
It’s not a Hypercar storyline, it’s not a factory GT3 effort, but efforts like these are what endurance racing is all about.
Manthey confirm ‘Grello’ Porsche squad for N24H
Four big-hitters will drive the ‘Grello’ #911 Porsche GT3 R in this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours as Manthey announce their driver lineup.
The team, based on the Döttinger Hohe (the final straight of the Norschleife), will be represented by Hypercar drivers Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor, the latter won the Bathurst 12 Hours in February with Ayhancan Güven who also joins the team, and DTM champion Thomas Preining completes the lineup.
With the Eifel enduro part of the IGTC calendar for the first time in 2024, Manthey will chase their eighth overall win with even more eyes on the race this year.
IDEC Sport reveal Matra tribute livery for ELMS season
IDEC Sport have unveiled a new colour scheme for their 2024 ELMS entry, with the car carrying a tribute design to the Le Mans-winning manufacturer Matra.
The French brand won Le Mans on three consecutive occasions between 1972-74, with the MS670 platform.
IDEC’s #28 Oreca 07 carries the iconic blue of the historic marque, with a white cockpit reminiscent of the cars that won a La Sarthe half a century ago.
In 2023, IDEC Sport carried the Delage name on their Le Mans entry, another French marque with race-winning heritage at La Sarthe.
Fingers crossed to see Seb in LeMans on a third 963 Penske 🤞🏼🤞🏼