WEC: Team WRT announces a third entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours
Team WRT, the reigning LMP2 champion in the FIA WEC, the ELMS and at the Le Mans 24 Hours today announced it is adding a third Oreca 07 Gibson to its entry in the 2022 edition of the legendary race in the Sarthe. The car will be entrusted to Mirko Bortolotti, Rolf Ineichen and Dries Vanthoor.
The trio will add to Robin Frijns-Sean Gelael-René Rast and Rui Andrade-Ferdinand Habsburg-Norman Nato, who take part in the full FIA WEC season in the cars entered by Team WRT and REALTEAM by WRT, respectively.
Rolf Ineichen (43) has great experience in long distance races, having conquered two GT wins at the Daytona 24 Hours and one at the Sebring 12 Hours. He also finished 10th in GT in his first participation in the Le Mans 24 Hours last year. This edition will see the debut of the Swiss driver in the LMP2 class.
Lamborghini Factory Driver Mirko Bortolotti (32), who has shared with Ineichen the American successes, will be a rookie in the Sarthe, where the Italian has never raced before: now the Italian manufacturer allowed their works driver to race at Le Mans with Team WRT.
On his side, Audi Sport driver Dries Vanthoor (23), the reigning GTWCE overall and Sprint champion, has had two marking appearances at Le Mans. In 2017, on his debut, he took the win in the GTE Am class and last year he posted an impressive pole position in GTE Pro.
Vincent Vosse: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to field a third car with such a strong line-up at Le Mans, alongside the two granted entries because of our successes of last year. In 2021, we were able to take the challenge of debuting at Le Mans in the best possible way, this year we will have to face the challenge of running a three-car entry. To that end we will foresee a third dedicated full crew and I am sure the entire team will be reinforced by this addition. I am also very happy to have Rolf and Mirko back with us and to see Dries racing for us for the first time at Le Mans. They all are part of the WRT family and can contribute greatly to the team’s efforts to retain our crowns. We thank both Lamborghini Squadra Corse and Audi Sport for allowing the participation of Mirko and Dries, respectively.”
Mirko Bortolotti: “I am very happy to join Team WRT for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans! To be debuting at this legendary race in LMP2 is surely an amazing feeling and I can’t wait to get starting. A special thanks to Lamborghini Squadra Corse for granting me permission to do so and to Team WRT for the unique opportunity and the trust. There will be a lot to learn in a short amount of time, but having successfully worked with Team WRT in the past will certainly make the process smoother.”
Rolf Ineichen: “It’s a pleasure to be driving again for Team WRT, after our season together in 2020, and to do it at Le Mans, which is such a special race for any driver loving motor racing. Le Mans is a great challenge, has a unique atmosphere and history, and all this makes one humble but also gives you a reason for pride when you can race it! After one experience with GT cars, it will be my first time there in an LMP2 car, which will be an additional challenge. Still, I know that at WRT I will be in the perfect conditions to face it, and I hope that together with Dries and Mirko, we can make a good job for the team.”
Dries Vanthoor: “It is of course very exciting to be racing again at Le Mans, and to do it with Team WRT and with Rolf and Mirko, who are not new faces, as we were teammates in GT a couple of seasons ago. I thank Team WRT for the opportunity and Audi Sport for allowing me to accept it. Now we will have to get used to the car, but I think this won’t be an issue. If we all deliver what we can, I am convinced we can achieve a very good result. Let’s hope for the best and go for it. ”