Vandoorne and co set for switch to WRT
World Endurance Championship LMP2 runners-up Stoffel Vandoorne, Tom Blomqvist and Sean Gelael look set to switch from the British Jota squad to the 2021 title-winning WRT operation for the coming season. They appear increasingly certain to be part of what the Belgian team has confirmed will be an expanded squad of two ORECA-GIBSON 07s in 2022.
It is known that Jota is no longer working with the Gelael family, which bankrolled its #28 entry through its Kentucky
Fried Chicken franchise in its Indonesian homeland. WRT boss Vincent Vosse, meanwhile, has admitted that he has had discussions with the Gelaels, but insisted that his driver line-ups for the 2022 WEC are yet to be set in stone. “I can confirm that we have made two entries, but the drivers are not done yet,” he said. “We are still working with the Gelaels and we hope to confirm drivers in the next few weeks.”
Vosse outlined a hope for Robin Frijns and Ferdinand Habsburg, P2 co-champions last year with Charles Milesi, to remain part of the WEC set-up for the new season. “We are working on that and I hope it will be the case, but it is not something I can confirm yet,” he explained.
WRT will need a new silver-rated driver, mandated by the class rules, to join them because Milesi has been upgraded to gold. “Circumstances have taken us in different directions, unfortunately,” said Vosse.
WRT is looking increasingly unlikely to defend the European Le Mans Series title it won with Robert Kubica, Louis Deletraz and Yifei Ye. “It is not decided yet, but it will be very difficult to do the ELMS as well as running two cars in the WEC,” said Vosse. “I’m not sure it makes sense.” Kubica and Deletraz are known to have tested for the Prema team late last year as it gears up for its P2 entry in the WEC and the ELMS.
Jota still intended to file two WEC entries ahead of the closing date this week, despite the departure of the Gelaels. Team boss Sam Hignett confirmed that Roberto Gonzalez and Antonio Felix da Costa will continue, together with an undecided team-mate to replace the retired Anthony Davidson.