The LMP2 driver market has been a hive of activity this season, with numerous teams chopping and changing their line-ups almost on a race-by-race basis. The latest changes come at G-Drive Racing, where Will Stevens replaces German driver René Rast to partner Roman Rusinov and Alex Brundle at Fuji.
Elsewhere, Alex Lynn becomes the latest single-seater graduate to make the switch over to sportscar racing. The 2014 GP3 champion made the step up to GP2 in 2015, while also taking on a role as development driver at Williams in F1. The Brit will join the second Manor car, making its first appearance in the WEC since the 6 Hours of the Nürburgring, alongside Shinji Nakano and Tor Graves.
There are also sweeping changes at Extreme Speed Motorsports, with the #30 crew of Ed Brown, Johannes van Overbeek and Scott Sharp stepping down. They are replaced by Antonio Giovinazzi, Giedo van der Garde and Sean Gelael. The ESM car will also change liveries from its traditional Téquila Patrón green to a design featuring Jagonya Ayam, the Indonesian KFC subsidiary owned by Geleal’s father.
Finally, Mikhail Aleshin will join the #27 SMP Racing entry for the final three rounds of the season after joining the Russian-entered outfit for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Aleshin has spent 2016 competing in IndyCars.
Image (c) WEC-Magazin / Walter Schruff