Are there more brands joining the WEC?
Yes, this season Isotta Fraschini will join with its Hypercar, and then from 2024 it all goes a bit wild. BMW already has an LMDh car, which is racing only in IMSA this year, but will race at Le Mans next year, and therefore in the WEC. Lamborghini has committed to building an LMDh car as has Alpine, which raced in WEC with an old LMP1 car in 2021 and 2022. Acura also has an LMDh car, but is yet to commit to racing it on the world stage, where it would need to be rebranded as a Honda.
Didn’t I read something about privateer cars? Where are they?
They are coming, just not quite yet for the WEC. Jota has revealed the livery for its privateer Porsche 963, and will receive its car soon. Proton Competition (a long-time Porsche parter in GT racing) is expecting a car, as is the American JDC-Miller outfit. A new team running under the historic Pescarolo banner is hoping to enter next season with a private Peugeot 9X8.
Currently only Porsche has committed to selling privateer cars, although with Pescarolo sounding confident it seems like Peugeot will join, so it is yet to be seen just how big the Hypercar grid could get.
Are there any drivers I know in the WEC?
Of course. The grid is filled with former F1 drivers, youngsters making their way up the ladder and sportscar legends.
In the former F1 category is Brendon Hartley, Paul Di Resta, Sebastien Buemi, Robert Kubica, Antonio Giovinazzi, Jean-Eric Vergne, Pietro Fittipaldi, Kamui Kobayashi, Daniil Kvyat and, for the first time, 1997 F1 Champion Jacques Villeneuve.
Sportscars’ top stars back for another season include Andre Lotterer, Harry Tincknell, Romain Dumas, Kevin Estre, Oliver Jarvis, Mike Conway, Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, Fred Makowiecki, James Calado, and Loic Duval.
You can find the full entry list for the first race here.