24h Le Mans
Five weeks after the 84th Le Mans 24 Hours, the World Endurance Championship (WEC) returns to action this weekend (22–24 July) with the 6 Hours of Nürburgring – for the second year running.
In 2015, due to major renovation work at the Interlagos circuit, the 6 Hours of Nürburgring was introduced to the WEC calendar to replace the Brazilian track. As the switch proved popular with teams in all four classes and the three LM P1 manufacturers, the German circuit – which hosted its first 1000 km race in 1953 – has been retained this season to the joy of the thousands of fans who turned out last time.
Perched high in the Eifel mountains, the medieval castle of Nürburg overlooks the legendary Nordschleife (north loop) and its 172 turns, and the modern 4.556 km circuit – the scene of this Sunday’s battle for WEC points. The track being relatively narrow with mainly slow turns, Toyota, Audi and last season’s winners Porsche will be switching to a high-downforce aero package after the low-downforce set-up required for Le Mans.
With no withdrawals following the longest race in the WEC calendar, all 32 full-season entries will be on track from Friday at noon for the first free practice session. They will be joined on the 33-car grid by Manor’s second Oreca 05 (LM P2) that appeared in the opening two rounds, before sitting out the 24 Hours of Le Mans due to a late application.
A few driver line-ups have been rejigged, except in the LM GTE Am class. In LM P1, Mathias Beche will be back behind the wheel of the #12 Rebellion R-One after giving way to Nelson Piquet Jr, while three-times Le Mans-winner Benoît Tréluyer has had to pull out following a cycling accident.
In LM P2, Alex Brundle has been recruited by G-Drive Racing (#26 Oreca 05 - Nissan) to replace Nathanaël Berthon, and Devi Markozov will drive for SMP Racing (#27 BR01) following Mikhail Aleshin’s move back across the Atlantic for the IndyCar Series. Two further newcomers will be discovering (or rediscovering) endurance: Lewis Williamson in Strakka Racing’s #42 Gibson 015S in place of Danny Watts and Antonio Pizzonia in Manor’s #44 Oreca 05.
A few changes have also been made to the LM GTE Pro line-ups. Harry Tincknell has seen his deal extended to continue in the #66 Ford GT alongside Marino Franchitti and Andy Priaulx, while Aston Martin, who currently top the standings of the FIA World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers, will now go with two 2-driver line-ups: the Danish duo of Nicki Thiim and Marco Sørensen, and the Commonwealth pairing of Darren Turner (GBR) and Richie Stanaway (NZL).
The 6 Hours of Nürburgring starts at 13:00 on Sunday 24 July.
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