David Tunnicliffe
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Ryo Hirakawa joins Thiriet/TDS Racing for ELMS
With Kamui Kobayashi moving into a full-time seat, Toyota were on the lookout for a new testing and reserve driver over the winter. The Japanese manufacturer appear to have found their man, and have other plans for him besides supporting the LMP1 effort. The 21-year-old Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa is the new test and reserve…
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Oliver Webb joins ByKolles for 2016
LMP1 privateer team ByKolles have completed their driver line-up for the upcoming World Endurance Championship, signing British driver Oliver Webb to race alongside Pierre Kaffer and Simon Trummer. The 24 year-old Brit had pursued a single-seater career, but turned his attentions to prototype racing in 2014. Webb raced for Signatech Alpine in the European Le Mans…
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Peugeot hint at return to the race track
Peugeot’s withdrawal from global LMP1 racing on the eve of inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship season in early 2012 could have been a cataclysmic blow to the series before it had really even begun. In reality, the championship has gone from strength to strength over the past four years and is rubbing shoulders with Formula 1 at…
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Vasselon pleased with Toyota development
To say that 2015 was an annus horribilis for Toyota Gazoo Racing may be a bit of an understatement. Despite improving the car by two seconds a lap, it became quickly and painfully clear that this step forward was not enough. A podium came at Silverstone, but for the rest of the season the Japanese manufacturer was swept aside by Porsche…
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Tsugio Matsuda joins KCMG for Le Mans
KCMG are gearing up for the defence of their 24 Hours of Le Mans title by recruiting Japanese driver Tsugio Matsuda to the lead the team’s LMP2 charge. Matsuda was part of Nissan’s infamous LMP1 project and made his debut at La Sarthe last year. KCMG’s departure from the LMP2 grid was arguably the biggest blow…
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WEC braced for mouthwatering battle in GTE-Pro
The anticipation for the 2016 World Endurance Championship, particularly when it comes to GT, has been building ever since Ford announced its return to the fold back at Le Mans. Now in its fourth year, the WEC is set to play host one of the most hotly contended GT championship battles in years. The seven-car GTE-Pro field may…
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2016 full-season entries: In brief
The ACO announced the list of full-season entries for the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship season this afternoon at its annual press conference in Paris. Here is a brief rundown of the full-season entries. LMP1 Team Car Number Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid #1 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid #2 ByKolles Racing Team CLM P1/01…
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Senna returns to WEC with RGR Sport by Morand
RGR Sport by Morand is the latest LMP2 team to lift the lid on its potential entry in the 2016 World Endurance Championship. The Mexican team is led by former G-Drive Racing pilot Ricardo Gonzalez and hopes to enter a Ligier JS P2-Nissan as a full-season entry, subject to confirmation at the annual ACO press conference…
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Jota Sport to run G-Drive programme in 2016
G-Drive Racing have partnered up with British team Jota Sport for the 2016 season, with one entry planned in the World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series under the G-Drive banner. The reigning champions will be back to defend their WEC LMP2 title with a brand-new Oreca 05-Nissan, while entering the 2016 ELMS entry…