Here’s a look in more detail at the entrants in this treasured Pro-Am category which forms such an integral part of endurance racing.
The @FIAWEC #superseason starts here… @AFCorse @FerrariRaces https://t.co/hhI6L3xxLZ
— Spirit Of Race (@spiritofrace) February 8, 2018
Spirit of Race
No.54 Ferrari 488 GTE – Thomas Flohr (CHE), Francesco Castellacci (ITA), Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA)
The Swiss-based team had a successful debut season in the WEC, marking up a win in the weather-interrupted 6 Hours of Fuji, and 3 further podium finishes.
For the Super Season the driver line-up will be boosted by Giancarlo Fisichella, the Ferrari factory driver returning to the WEC after four years racing in the USA. A two-time GTE Pro winner (2012/2014) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, there are few Ferrari drivers with more experience than the Roman.
Did you know… Thomas Flohr founded VistaJet in 2004, and remains its Chairman and majority shareholder. Under his leadership VistaJet has become the first and only global private aviation company.
Team Project 1
No.56 Porsche 911 RSR – Jörg Bergmeister (DEU), Patrick Lindsey (USA), Egidio Perfetti (NOR)
A new name to the WEC, but definitely not a new name to Porsche as all elements of the team are well known to the German sportscar specialist.
The team from Lohne in Germany, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, will benefit from the talents and experience of Porsche works driver Bergmeister who knows the 911 RSR as well as any other driver. The tall German brings decades of successful experience to the team including class victory at Le Mans.
Californian Patrick Lindsey makes the move from the USA to the WEC after five years of competition, much of which has been alongside Bergmeister. Egidio Perfetti completes the trio, is also a Porsche specialist and has been racing in Europe since 2010 mostly in Porsche Carrera Cup series but also the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup.
Did you know…The team motto is Be cool. Be fast. Be first!
Clearwater Racing
No.61 Ferrari 488 GTE – Weng Sun Mok (MYS), Keita Sawa (JPN), Matt Griffin (IRL)
The popular Singaporean-entered team is back for a second year after a very strong debut in the WEC. A win at the opening round, maximum points for Le Mans, and three 2nd places in 2017 has whetted the appetites of Arj Kulasegaram and his team to come back and claim the title. The team got very close last year, and retains the same driver line up and the technical support of AF Corse.
With a season’s knowledge of the championship, the circuits, the car and each other, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the GTE Am category.
Did you know…Clearwater Racing was set up 11 years ago by Arj and his long-time friend and driver Weng Sun Mok. The team won the Asian Le Mans Series Drivers and GT titles in the 2015-16 season before turning its attention to the WEC.
MR Racing
No.70 Ferrari 488 GTE – Ishikawa Motoaki (JPN), Olivier Beretta (MCO), Eddie Cheever (ITA)
Another team to benefit from being within the AF Corse stable is the Japanese-entered MR Racing entry. Ishikawa Motoaki successfully took part in the 2017 Rookie Test in Bahrain which reinforced his desire to compete on the world stage, and alongside him he will have veteran driver Olivier Beretta who was there to guide him through the Rookie test.
The third driver is Eddie Cheever III who carries both Italian and American nationalities, and brings some GT experience after competing in IMSA’s GTD class.
Did you know…Eddie Cheever III is the son of the former sportscar, F1, CART and Indycar driver who twice finished on the podium at Le Mans and who was a former team mate of Racing Team Nederland’s Jan Lammers.
Dempsey-Proton Racing
No.77 Porsche 911 RSR – Matteo Cairoli (ITA), TBA, TBA
No.88 Porsche 911 RSR – Matt Campbell (AUS), TBA, TBA
The German team which is part owned by Patrick Dempsey was another in the running for the GTE Am title right up to the final race of 2017 thanks to two victories and 5 further podiums, and it returns stronger and more determined than ever to claim the crown.
It will be the only two-car team in the class and, so far, Porsche junior drivers Matteo Cairoli and Matt Campbell are the only two to have been announced in the 6-driver line up.
Did you know… Winner of the Porsche Cup in 2017, the trophy for the world’s most successful private Porsche driver, went to Dempsey-Proton Racing’s Christian Ried.
Gulf Racing
No.86 Porsche 911 RSR – Mike Wainwright (GBR), TBA, TBA
The British team which runs in the iconic blue and orange of Gulf Oil is one of the most faithful in the class, and the results started to come together last season – including a best-ever second place in class at the 6 Hours of Shanghai last year.
With fewer races over a calendar year Mike Wainwright is unlikely to have as many problems juggling his business commitments with racing, and is in pole position for the Super Season.
Did you know… In 2011 Mike Wainwright and Roald Goethe, gentlemen drivers with a huge passion for the sport and heritage, formed a team under the name Gulf AMR Middle East to compete in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, the precursor to the World Endurance Championship.
Very proud day to be confirmed on the #WECSuperSeasonLaunch #LeMans24 we all cannot wait to get started! pic.twitter.com/CyDVPHdyo4
— TF Sport (@OfficialTFSport) February 9, 2018
TF Sport
No.90 TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage – Salih Yoluc (TUR), Euan Hankey (GBR), Charlie Eastwood (GBR)
Since its inception in 2014, TF Sport has enjoyed great success in GT Racing with championship honours in several series including Michelin Le Mans Cup as well as wins and a title challenge in the ELMS. Now the British-based team, which has factory support from Aston Martin Racing, will make its debut in the WEC.
The successful partnership of Salih Yoluc and Euan Hankey continues, the pair stepping up from the ELMS alongside UK rising star Charlie Eastwood.
Did you know…Salih Yoluc is the first Turkish driver to compete in the WEC?
Aston Martin Racing
No.98 Aston Martin Vantage – Paul Dalla Lana (CAN), Pedro Lamy (PRT), Mathias Lauda (AUT)
2017 class champions Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy and Mathias Lauda are back for more, and aiming to defend their well-deserved title with the venerable Vantage. Can they improve on the four victories from last year? The well-established, well-proven trio will be the ones with the target on their backs in the Super Season in this expanded, 9-strong class.
After narrowly missing out on the title for several years, it was a first title for Dalla Lana and Lauda, and the first in almost 20 years for Lamy.
Did you know… Entrepreneur and philanthropist, Paul Dalla Lana, was the first Canadian to win an FIA WEC title .
Source: http://www.fiawec.com
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