Former Sauber and Haas F1 racing driver Esteban Gutierrez is returning to competition for the first time since 2017 in the World Endurance Championship.
Gutierrez last started five years ago in the IndyCar and Formula E series, but only three races with a top eighth place in Monaco.
He drove for Sauber in Formula 1 in 2013 and 2014 and scored his only points in the first of those seasons by finishing seventh in the Japanese Grand Prix, while being part of Haas’ squad for the 2016 debut season was.
Since then, the Mexican has been working in both F1 and FE as a reserve and development driver for Mercedes, but has now switched to the world of sports cars.
The 30-year-old has signed up for the Inter Europol team, with whom he will replace Renger van de Zande with Alex Brundle and Kuba Smiechowski in the LMP2 category.
Back on track!
WEC 2022 Inter Europol competition, let’s go! pic.twitter.com/FwVzlAADcR
– Esteban Gutierrez (@EstebanGtz) January 11, 2022
“It is an honor for me to race again in this competitive and prestigious series,” said Gutierrez in the team’s official announcement.
“Endurance races are a new challenge for me. I will focus on learning as much as I can and as quickly as possible.
“A big thank you to the team for giving me the opportunity to ride with Kuba Smiechowski and Alex Brundle. With the progress of the team and our shared ambition, I am confident that we will form an excellent team. “
Team manager Sascha Fassbender added: “With Esteban on the team, we have a strong line-up to achieve our ambitions.
“I look forward to working together to achieve great things this season.”
Brundle, son of Sky Sports F1 broadcaster Martin and who signed a new two-year deal with Inter Europol late last year, said Gutierrez’s recruitment was “proof of the team’s strength”.
Gutierrez did not have an official position at Mercedes after his super license expired in 2021, but acted as a brand ambassador.
In 2021, Inter Europol, based in the Polish capital Warsaw, took fifth place in the LMP2 team category of the World Endurance Championship with the best result of third place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where they finished tenth overall.
The 2022 World Endurance Championship comprises six laps and begins on March 18 with the Sebring 1,000 miles in Florida, followed by further races in Spa, Le Mans, Monza, Fuji and Bahrain.
