Belgian outfit Team WRT has revealed the full driver roster for its upcoming FIA WEC LMGT3 campaign with BMW and outlined its World Challenge commitments at the team’s annual winter party in Spa.
In the WEC LMGT3 class this season the team will run a pair of M4 GT3s. Longstanding BMW factory driver Augusto Farfus, Sean Gelael and 2023 British GT3 champion Darren Leung will drive the #31.
“I am very honoured and extremely humbled to be chosen to represent BMW and WRT in the 2024 FIA WEC,” Leung (pictured below, right) said.
“I am looking forward to working with two very talented and experienced teammates, Augusto and Sean. I’m excited to have them with me for my first season in the FIA WEC. I have been flat-out preparing and will be until the final round, not letting a single day go to waste. Let’s have it!”
Meanwhile, MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi will share the #46 with experienced Omani GT racer Ahmad Al Harthy and works driver Maxime Martin.
“I am extremely delighted to be part of an amazing team such as WRT, at such an exciting time for the WEC. I look forward to working closely with my teammates and achieving great results with them,” said Al Harthy.
“I have worked with Maxime in the past and he’ll definitely help me improve my driving. And sharing the seat with a legend such as Vale, who would have said that a kid from Oman watching MotoGP on TV would end up racing with such an iconic sportsman? I’m pleased to be working with the entire WRT family.”
In addition to confirming its WEC crews, WRT has also revealed that it will compete in World Challenge Europe, with BMWs entered in both the Endurance and Sprint Cup races.
For the Endurance races, Al Harthy adds to his programme with the team. He will race in the Bronze Cup with Sam De Haan, Jens Klingmann and Sheldon Van der Linde.
Adding to that, WRT will run two Pro cars. The #32 will see Sheldon Van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts team up. The #46 meanwhile, features an exciting trio of Marciello, Martin and Rossi.
In the Sprint Cup races, WRT will campaign four M4s. The #30 will be driven by, De Haan and Calan Williams. Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts will race in the #32 and Maxime Martin and Rossi will share the #46 for the races at Brands Hatch and Misano. The fourth car – the #31 – has no drivers yet signed up.
“After many years of discussions with Team WRT, it’s great to confirm this year’s GT World Challenge programme with them. It is no secret that they are a hugely successful team and well-established within the championship.
“I have some strong teammates alongside me this season, so we will be looking not only for podium finishes but victories too. I can’t wait to get started,” said De Haan, who moves to WRT after recent GT3 campaigns in Europe and Asia with Optimum Motorsport, Barwell, TF Sport and RAM Racing.
Today’s news adds to last month’s confirmation of the drivers for its Hypercar effort with the M Hybrid V8. The #15 will see newly-minted BMW factory driver Raffaele Marciello share driving duties with Dries Vanthoor and Marco Wittmann. The sister car, the #20, will be driven by Robin Frijns, René Rast and Sheldon van der Linde.
“The 2024 season will be a milestone in the history of Team WRT,” concluded Vincent Vosse, co-CEO of WRT. “As we embark on this exciting journey, many thoughts are coming to my mind. Contesting the WEC and Le Mans for overall honours has always been our objective, as a team and mine personally. Now the dream comes true.
“To be participating with a Hypercar, in what is probably the most competitive era of endurance racing, to defend the colours of a mythical brand as BMW, is already an achievement in itself, but of course, we want to be successful in this new challenge.
“The entire team has prepared for months for that and we all will give everything to succeed. It won’t be easy, we know, but we have an extraordinary team, incredible driver line-ups, a great car and the support of BMW M Motorsport, where we have found many old friends and made new ones.
“In GT, we had a positive start to our cooperation with BMW last year. We took up the challenges, we won races, long-distance and sprint ones, and we collected some memorable moments like those lived in Misano. But we want more!
“We want to improve, to win more races, to be champions again. I think we have what it takes, including stellar line-ups, and we’ll go for it. Now is the time, to show we know what to do, with the determination and the passion we have always had.”
