Can the Corvette’s score another GTE Pro Class
victory this year?
As always, this year’s 90th Edition
of the 24 Heurs du Mans features a Bevy of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
Championship Drivers jumping Across Ye Gory Puddle’, which I’ll just Highlight
some of the Big Names known to be competing.
As it’s funny how three fourths of Cheep’s DPi
Prototype Chauffeurs are at Circuit de la Sarthe. With Sebastien Bourdais (#10)
and Alex Lynn (#23) in LMP2 entries. While Renger Van der Zande’s racing the
No. 66 Ferrari 488 GT3 in the GTE Am category. As only Chip Ganassi Racing’s Earl
Bamber is skipping the event, while le Hamburgular’, nee SeaBass’, aka
Sebastien Bourdais is settling into his new Fulltime Sports Car career…
https://www.autosport.com/imsa/news/how-in-form-bourdais-is-nailing-his-normal-transition/10317415/
Meanwhile, the IMSA #31 Whelen Engineering AXR
Cadillac DPi VR’s main drivers Pico Derani and Olivier Plau make up two thirds
of the #708 Scuderia Glickenhaus entry. While the “Mach 5 Mustang Sally’s,” Err
Mustang Sampling Cadd ‘Oh lacc’ drivers Richard Westbrook and Tristen Vautier
are split between the two Le Mans Prototype Classes, with “Westie” partnering
Ryan Briscoe in the Glickenhaus LMH No. 709 entry, with Vautier in the #44 LMP2
entry.
Wayne Taylor Racing’s (WTR) Ricky Taylor is Moonlighting
aboard the #37 with WTR teammate Felipe Albuquerque (#22) and Meyer Shank
Racing’s Oliver Jarvis as part of the two car United Autosports USA LMP2 entry.
As it’s the #23 United Autosports entry I’m
most interested in, since it features a local Boy from Portland, Oregon at it’s
controls. As Josh Pierson, who’ll become the youngest ever to compete at Le
Mans at Age 16yrs 117 Days will partner with Oliver Jarvis and Alex Lynn; two
pretty Decent teammates…
And I’ll confess, that I know virtually Nothing
about Pierson, other than He Hails from The Rose City, (Portland) and finished
fourth Overall in last year’s U.S. F2000 National championship with five
Podiums. With a pair of second places and a trio of third places to His credit.
Otherwise, Not really sure what McLaren Racing’s
Head Honcho Zak Brown Sees in the youngster, other than saying He’s very Mature
for His Age and it’ll be interesting to See how He progresses…
Whilst almost forgot, since the FIA World
Endurance Championship currently feels a Shell of Itself with just a scant six
races yearly. Suppose many IndyCar Diehards Eyeballs will be Ah-Watchin’ the
No. 5 Penske Oreca LMP2 entry, with Dane Cameron, Felipe Nasr and Emmanuel
Collard at it’s Keyboard.
As think I saw a Racer.com Headline awhile ago
stating this would be their final WEC race before solely focusing upon testing
of Thar forthcoming Porsche LMPH Prototype effort for 2023.
The Saloons ranks see Corvette Racing fielding
two of it’s Big boy GTE Pro Corvette C8.R’s as usual, with the Bowtie Brigade
leading the way during this year’s Le Mans Test Day. Along with Riley Motorsport
campaigning a Ferrari 488 GTE Evo as the Classes lone Privateer.
Cooper MacNeil, who’s Pappy’ owns some company
named WeatherTech is competing aboard the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE Am entry.
Whilst another car of interest for Mwah is the
No. 88 Dempsey Proton Porsche 911 RSR-19 with former Champ Car Driver Jan Van
Hagar’ Heylen of IMSA’s Wright Motorsports as part of the multi car Dempsey
Proton/Proton competition/Hardpoint Proton Porsche 911 contingent.
As you can read more about the field of IMSA
Stars at this year’s Le Mans race in the
following Racer article below…
https://racer.com/2022/06/08/imsa-stars-front-and-center-in-le-mans-field/
