The #74 Kessel Racing Ferrari, initially confirmed as a full season entrant for the 2022 European Le Mans Series is now confirmed as the withdrawal that has seen the initial second reserve listed 360 Racing Ligier JS P320 elevated to a full-season campaign. The initially first-reserve Team Virage Ligier squad are unable to confirm drivers in tie to accept an invitation.
Absolute Racing Confirm GTE Squad
Absolute Racing will field Andrew Haryanto, Alessio Picariello and Martin Rump for the full 2022 European Le Mans Series in their GTE class Porsche 911 RSR-19
Haryanto, one of the team’s drivers in the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours debut, is the 2018 Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup Champion and adds a full ELMS season to his three race FIA World Endurance Championship history.
Andrew is also well acquainted with Alessio Picariello as a driving partner, the pair being team-mates in the Le Mans 24 Hours and in the Spa-Francorchamps and Monza rounds of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship. The Belgian driver won the ELMS LMGTE drivers’ title in 2020.
26-year-old Martin Rump from Estonia is also a familiar face to the team. The 2021 Thailand Super Series vice-champion with B-Quik Absolute Racing will be giving up his Asian duties for the season to concentrate on the team’s desire to secure class wins in Europe.
The car will again have the technical support of Proton Competition and will sport the fan-favourite “The Ducks” livery.
Alessio Picariello: “I am really happy to be back in ELMS after winning the championship in 2020. I really wanted to be back. It is a different challenge this year and my motivation is as high as it was back then. I’m excited to work with Absolute Racing and Andrew again. We had a strong Le Mans and two FIA WEC events, and I feel we have a solid package with Martin on board. With Absolute Racing, Proton, and the ELMS comeback, it’s a program with a lot of history. I am looking forward to it.”
Martin Rump: “I’m exhilarated to be rejoining paths together with Absolute Racing. This time with a whole new plan at a new playing ground, yet feeling at home at the same time. With Andrew and Alessio there, I’m confident in our package to go for the highest position, and certainly, it’ll be a fun one.”
Alexandre Gibot (Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd – Managing Director): “We’re very happy to see Andrew and Absolute Racing take on the 2022 ELMS together with Alessio. It’s amazing for the former Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver to continue to compete with Porsche, and especially with a customer from the Asia-Pacific region. Alessio has plenty of experience in the RSR and in ELMS, winning the title in 2020 and of course racing alongside Andrew at Le Mans last year. Best of luck to the team for the season to come!”
Algarve Pro’s US Plans
Algarve Pro Racing is set to add a presence in the USA through 2022 alongside their FIA WEC and ELMS LMP2 efforts.
The team has leased a workshop base in Ormond Beach, close to Daytona from where they intend to launch a test programme to build a customer base in North America, with plans to test at all IMSA circuits and with multiple current and potential future customer drivers.
A potential additional IMSA programme in 2023 is very much in the mix.
LMP2 liveries
Cool Racing, Duqueine Team and TDS x Vaillante have all revealed their 2022 liveries for a packed LMP2 class.
Cool Racing’s traditional Blue and silver makes way for Blue, black and white.
Duqueine’s livery sees only subtle changes to their black and green colour scheme for the car that will see Richard Bradley, le Mexicain Memo Rojas et le Français Reshad De Gerus into the fray this coming season.
And TDS by Vaillante have a predictably appropriate scheme for their Oreca (pictured below and top).
Le Mans Cup Hondas On Parade
GMB Motorsport have tested their trio of Honda NSX GT3 Evo2 for the 2022 Michelin Le Mans Cup.
