Lapierre to stay on?
Alpine Endurance Team sporting director Nicolas Lapierre has told DSC that he is open to working with Signatech in the FIA WEC’s Hypercar class if the Philippe Sinault-run service provider finds a way to remain in the championship after Alpine exits.
“I’m very open,” he said. “I want to keep running my CLX team, it’s my baby, and I love it. And here in WEC, let’s see what comes. Of course, I like working with Philippe and his group of people. If there is something coming up, I could be a part of it.”
Varrone grateful for TF opportunity
2023 WEC GTE Am Champion and Le Mans class winner Nico Varrone is lapping up the opportunity to return to the championship this weekend, with Corvette Racing and TF Sport.
The Argentine’s objective is to help TF and Jonny Edgar maintain their comfortable position at the top of the championship standings ahead of Lone Star Le Mans.
“My role is to help them to get the best result possible, like any race that I do, maximise the potential we have and take as many points as possible,” he says. “I want to help the team with my experience in setting up the car and try to deliver on the track at a good pace, and whatever the race brings to us to help with the championship run.”
This weekend, he’s replacing IMSA-tied Nicky Catsburg in the #33 Corvette. He kept an open dialogue with the Dutchman ahead of the event to help him prepare for his one-off.
“I talk to Nicky a lot… 80 per cent of the time it’s non-serious stuff! But seriously, he is a great friend,” he adds. “We got along really well in 2023. Even now that I’m in F2 and doing other things, I can go to him as he is someone I can really trust. We spoke a bit about this race. He gave me some insight to how the team works and the dynamics just so I’m not surprised.
“We had dinner a couple of days ago at his house, chatted a bit and watched the Argentina World Cup match. We have a great relationship, and he’s someone that I really enjoy racing with and sharing time.”
Rain on the way?
Sunday’s weather forecast suggests that we may see heavy rain during the race, possible thunderstorms, and temperatures in the low 20s. Not every weather forecast DSC has looked at predicts a fully wet race, but most teams are bracing for a challenging six hours.
Should it rain, it could change the dynamic of the race, bringing cars that have struggled for pace in practice so far into the mix.
This race has never been won outright by a car that has started off the front row. Will that change if adverse weather intervenes?
Interestingly, in Hypercar, in wet conditions, the tread and profile of the tyres must not be modified or recut.
However, according to the rules, “under exceptional circumstances, upon request of the tyre manufacturer, the Stewards may grant a derogation for the tyre manufacturer to recut the wet-weather specification. This modification will be exclusively allowed for one competition, done by the tyre manufacturer, under the condition that the tyre manufacturer will supply all the competitors with the same number of tyres with the same modification (cutting pattern to be submitted to the ACO/FIA beforehand) at the same time.”
Stickers for Marc
Team WRT’s cars are sporting decals this weekend to note the passing of long-time GT team owner Marc van der Straten, a mark of appreciation for one of WRT’s greatest GT3 rivals and one of BMW’s most successful customers during the Z4 GT3 era.
Conway reaches milestone
It’s a special race weekend for Toyota Racing factory driver Mike Conway, who becomes the third driver to start 90 FIA WEC races, after Richard Lietz and Sebastien Buemi.
Interestingly, Conway’s first WEC victory came here at Interlagos back in 2013 with G-Drive Racing.
Elsewhere, Marco Soresnen will reach 69 appearances for Aston Martin on Sunday, equalling Paul Dalla Lana as the record holder for WEC appearances with the British marque.
This is the sixth WEC race at Interlagos, the previous four have been won by different manufacturers, Audi, Porsche, Toyota and Cadillac. No circuit has ever produced five different winners consecutively.
Strategy explained
The FIA has published a video on YouTube explaining the strategic options at the disposal of the teams, with FIAWEC+ commentator Anthony Davidson.
No support race
This weekend’s FIA WEC meeting features no support races. The planned reappearance of the GT series locally, which supported the WEC last year, fell foul of the grid numbers being below the required level.
The only non-WEC track action, beyond hot laps, is a Classic Car Parade, scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.
Fan zone
The fan zone this year on the Interlagos infield includes a major concert stage. There are also some classic car displays, including a stunning Plymouth Superbird and a couple of always-fascinating Brazilian-market cars.
There is major representation from both Toyota Gazoo Racing and Ford Racing, too.
Norris samples McLaren MCL-HY
Earlier today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, reigning F1 World Champion Lando Norris was part of the public debut of the McLaren MCL-HY Hypercar, taking it up the hill at speed.
Taking the hypercar for a spin on the day of its debut 💪#McLaren pic.twitter.com/YaIzgqTJhI
— McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team (@McLarenF1) July 10, 2026
Newly minted McLaren Hypercar driver Laurens Vanthoor is also due to take the car up the hill in later runs.
Featured image courtesy of DPPI
