The FIA WEC’s 6H São Paulo entry list has been published, with a smattering of changes in the driver line-up columns to report across the 35 cars.
In Hypercar, Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, which won last year’s race in Interlagos, will compete with just two drivers – Will Stevens and Norman Nato – in the #12 V-Series.R. Alex Lynn remains sidelined with a neck injury. And Aston Martin’s pair of Valkyries have also slimmed down to two-driver line-ups.
There is also a number of changes to the list in LMGT3, due to the clash with the IMSA round at Mosport.
Imola ‘super-sub’ Kobe Pauwels returns to Heart of Racing Team’s #23 Aston Martin Vantage in place of ‘Dudu’ Barrichello, who is unable to compete on home soil due to a clashing commitment with his GTD class programme with the THOR Team. He currently leads the class standings following last weekend’s race at Watkins Glen.
At TF Sport, Nicky Catsburg is also set to miss the event for the same reason. In his place, the Corvette factory driver will be replaced by Argentinian Nico Varrone in the Le Mans class-winning #33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R.
Varrone (featured, left) will share the car with full-season driver Jonny Edgar, and Ben Keating (featured, right), who made a triumphant return to the TF Sport team at Le Mans after missing the first two rounds of the season due to an elbow injury.
“Really happy to join the #33 crew in the Interlagos WEC round!” Varrone said. “Joining a top team like TF is always a pleasure, and being able to share the car with Ben and Jonny makes it even better! Let’s aim for some good points for the championship!
Varrone, who is currently competing in Formula 2 with Van Amersfoort Racing alongside his commitments as a Corvette factory driver, has fond memories of racing with Keating. Along with Catsburg, Varrone previously won the LMGTE Am WEC title with the Texan in 2023 and took the class win at Le Mans that season.
The race in Brazil will be his first in the WEC since last year’s season finale in Bahrain, when he was in Hypercar with Proton Competition.
Catsburg, meanwhile, will remain focused on his IMSA GTD Pro title fight with Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports by sitting out the event. He currently sits third in the standings with his full-time teammate Tommy Milner.
Finally, Esteban Masson will re-take the wheel of the Akkodis ASP Team’s #78 Lexus RC F, after competing in LMP2 with Forestier Racing by Panis at Le Mans.
