Sportscar racing is well and truly having its best spell since the era of the monstrous Group C cars of the 1980s and early 1990s. With a championship worthy of some of the fastest cars and drivers in the world on some of the greatest racing facilities in the world, the World Endurance Championship has only grown stronger and stronger ever since it first burst onto the scene in 2012. Since then, the entry list has grown so much that the maximum entry limit has been increased for 2015 to cater the ever-growing demand to run a sportscar team. Fans of sportscar and endurance racing will be treated to no less than 35 cars for the full season, with 56 planned for Le Mans – pretty incredible compared to the lacklustre grid that F1 is boasting at the moment. All 35 full-time entries are noted, as well as the 56 entered for Le Mans, although I will go into detail on the further 21 entries (all marked in red) closer to the time of the big event.
2015 WEC LMP2 Preview
With just four cars in LMP2 last season, the field was somewhat lacklustre. However, we have no less than ten P2s for this season, which is a massive improvement. We also have six different chassis too, as opposed to just Orecas and a Morgan as was the case last year. With the amazing P2 racing we had at Le Mans last year, many will be hoping that sort of racing can occur throughout the whole season this time around, especially with this many cars.
G-Drive Racing
Car: Ligier JS P2-Nissan
Entries: Two
- Roman Rusinov (RUS)/Julien Canal (FRA)/Sam Bird (GBR)
- Gustavo Yacaman (COL)/Ricardo Gonzalez (MEX)/Pipo Derani (BRA)
G-Drive turn up with two crews this time around, in the brand new Ligier P2 which they ended the season with last year. Olivier Pla is out of the 26 car and is replaced by Formula e race winner and former AF Corse driver Sam Bird. This is certainly their strongest trio of drivers. After missing out on the title to SMP (who are only here for Le Mans), G-Drive will be hoping to take the title this year, but there is a lot of competition.
SMP Racing
Car: BR Engineering BR01-Nissan
Entries: Zero (two for Le Mans)
- Mikhail Aleshin (RUS)/TBA (TBA)/TBA (TBA)
- Maurizio Mediani (ITA)/TBA (TBA)/TBA (TBA)
Extreme Speed Motorsports
Car: HPD ARX-04b-Honda
Entries: Two
- Scott Sharp (USA)/Ryan Dalziel (GBR)/David Heinemeier Hansson (DEN)
- Ed Brown (USA)/Johannes van Overbeek (USA)/Jon Fogarty (USA)
Extreme Speed entered a couple of races last season in preparation for 2015, where they will compete full time. David Heinemeier Hansson returns to the P2 category after spending a year in an Aston Martin whilst the likes of Scott Sharp, Ryan Dalziel, Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek remain with the team.
OAK Racing
Car: Ligier JS P2-Nissan
Entries: One (two for Le Mans)
- Chris Cumming (CAN)/Kevin Estre (FRA)/Laurens Vanthoor (BEL)
- Jacques Nicolet (FRA)/Jean-Marc Merlin (FRA)/Erik Maris (FRA)
After a season out in the USCC, 2013 P2 champions OAK return to the World Endurance Championship full-time with the Ligier JS P2. Jacques Nicolet and Jean-Marc Merlin were team mates in 2013, whilst Erik Maris will be the third driver in the car for an all-French line-up. I will expect them to be back on the pace pretty quickly.
Signatech Alpine
Car: Alpine A450b-Nissan
Entries: One
- Nelson Panciatici (FRA)/Paul-Loup Chatin (FRA)/ Vincent Capillaire (FRA)
Alpine is a pretty big name in French motorsport lore. They will be moving to the World Endurance Championship from the European Le Mans Series, in their reworked Oreca 03, dubbed the A450. They too will run an all-French line-up.
Jota Sport
Car: Gibson 015S-Nissan
Entries: Zero (one for Le Mans)
- Simon Dolan (GBR)/TBA (TBA)/TBA (TBA)
Team SARD-Morand
Car: Morgan LMP2 Evo-SARD
Entries: Two
- Christian Klien (AUT)/Koki Saga (JPN)/Zoel Amberg (SUI)
- Oliver Webb (GBR)/Pierre Ragues (FRA)/Tristan Vautier (FRA)
Former F1 driver Christian Klien is the notable name in the Team SARD crew. Oliver Webb and former IndyCar Rookie of the Year Tristan Vautier are two very solid drivers in their own right as well. The final seat will be decided via the methods of a reality TV show, and appears that this driver will solely be for Le Mans.
Krohn Racing
Car: Ligier JS P2-Judd
Entries: Zero (one for Le Mans)
- Tracy Krohn (USA)/Niclas Jonsson (SWE)/TBA (TBA)
Greaves Motorsport
Car: Gibson 015S-Nissan
Entries: Zero (one for Le Mans)
- Johnny Mowlem (GBR)/TBA (TBA)/TBA (TBA)
Strakka Racing
Car: Strakka Dome S103-Nissan
Entries: One
- Nick Leventis (GBR)/Jonny Kane (GBR)/Danny Watts (GBR)
Strakka Racing returns to the World Endurance Championship but drop down to the LMP2 class from the LMP1 class in 2013, in which they only attended the first three races. Their line-up consists of long-time drivers Nick Leventis, Jonny Kane and Danny Watts, but will be using the Dome S103 P2 car. The team enjoyed their strongest season in 2012, where they kept up with Rebellion Racing in an attempt to win the LMP1 Trophy for privateers.
Ibanez Racing
Car: Oreca 03R-Nissan
Entries: Zero (one for Le Mans)
- Jose Ibanez (FRA)/TBA (TBA)/TBA (TBA)
Thiriet by TDS Racing
Car: Oreca 05-Nissan
Entries: Zero (one for Le Mans)
- Pierre Thiriet (FRA)/TBA (TBA)/TBA (TBA)
KCMG
Car: Oreca 05-Nissan
Entries: One
- Matthew Howson (GBR)/Richard Bradley (GBR)/Nick Tandy (GBR)/Nicolas Lapierre (FRA)
KCMG upgrades from the Oreca 03 to the Oreca 05 for 2015, and has a big name as one of four drivers for the season in former Toyota driver Nicolas Lapierre. The team had a really strong end to last year, winning the last two races in class, despite being in their first season in the World Endurance Championship. Matthew Howson and Richard Bradley remain with the team for another season. Nick Tandy joins the team from the GT category.
Murphy Prototypes
Car: Oreca O3R-Nissan
Entries: Zero (one for Le Mans)
- Greg Murphy (ROI)/TBA (TBA)/TBA (TBA)
Be sure to read the following:
Part 1: LMGTE Am
Part 2: LMGTE Pro
Part 4: LMP1 (Tomorrow)
And be sure to request to meet up with me at the Six Hours of Silverstone! Just send me a tweet.
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