Merhi replaces Fittipaldi in G-Drive’s LMP2 line-up – Sportscar365

Photo: MPS Agency

Pietro Fittipaldi has parted ways with the G-Drive Racing 24-hour race at Le Mans and the European Le Mans series due to the clashing open wheel programs of the Brazilian.

Algarve Pro Racing, which operates G-Drive’s LMP2 operations, announced on Wednesday that Roberto Merhi will replace Fittipaldi in the Aurus 01 Gibson No. 25 along with year-round drivers John Falb and Rui Andrade for the remaining ELMS events.

Fittipaldi is the reserve driver for the Haas Formula 1 team and, in collaboration with Dale Coyne Racing and Rick Ware Racing, also owns an oval drive from the NTT IndyCar series.

The IndyCar lap at the World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis will take place on the same weekend from August 21 to 22 as the planned Le Mans 24 Hours.

While there are no longer any direct conflicts between the ELMS and Fittipaldi’s confirmed IndyCar program, the 24-year-old said that travel issues during the coronavirus pandemic required a reassessment of his programs.

“Unfortunately, because of conflicting data, I am unable to continue with G-Drive Racing, which is operated by Algarve Pro Racing,” he said.

“The Le Mans 24 Hours was at odds with my IndyCar commitments and the frequent date changes coupled with travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have made it difficult to continue with ELMS and Le Mans.

“It’s disappointing and I wish I could keep going because we finished second in class in Barcelona and I’m sure there will be more to come.

“It was great to work with John [Falb] and Rui [Andrade]but let’s see what happens in the future because I would love to have another opportunity to work with you and Algarve Pro Racing. “

Merhi will step in to share the # 25 Aurus with Andrade and Falb for the next five rounds of ELMS, starting this weekend at the Red Bull Ring.

The ex-Formula 1 driver also represented G-Drive at the most recent appearance of the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship in Spa instead of Fittipaldi, who contested two races at the Texas Motor Speedway.

Algarve Pro Racing Team Principal Stewart Cox said his team supports the direction Fittipaldi has taken.

“We are of course very disappointed to see Pietro leave because it was a pleasure to work with him. He has already brought a lot to the team and I have no doubt that he would have made a significant contribution to our entire European 2021 season at Le Mans. He commented.

“We understand and respect the need to streamline your program based on recent changes in the motorsport calendar.

“We are currently living in very unusual, challenging times where you have to be adaptable and international travel is difficult. In this case there is no workable solution.

“We wish Pietro all the best in his engagements with Haas F1 and IndyCar and hope that we can work with him again in the future.”

Sargeant makes LMP2 debut with TF Sport

In addition to the full-time change in G-Drive Racing’s line-up, there are a handful of updates to the 41-car entry list for the second round of the ELMS at the Red Bull Ring, including an LMP2 debut for American open-wheel prospect Logan Sargeant.

Sargeant, who finished third in FIA Formula 3 last year, will be signed for Hary Tincknell, who is not on the TF Sport-led Racing Team Turkey team this weekend due to his conflict with IMSA DPi in Mid-Ohio with Mazda Motorsports can be represented.

Sargeant tested the TF Sport-Run and the JOTA-developed Oreca 07 Gibson of Racing Team Turkey at the pre-season ELMS Prologue test last month and is now ready for his debut in the category alongside year-round drivers Charlie Eastwood and Salih Yoluc.

Ross Gunn is also affected by the IMSA collision and will be replaced by Le Mans class winner Jonny Adam in the TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage GTE.

The GTE category has grown by one since the 4-hour season opener in Barcelona. Francois Perrodo, Emmanuel Collard and Alessio Rovera from AF Corse start their campaign with a Ferrari 488 GTE Evo in the second round.

That addition keeps the field at 41 cars considering Frederic Sausset’s Association SRT41 ‘innovative’ entry is slated from the Red Bull Ring.

The 2019-20 Formula 3 Asian champion, Joey Alders, has joined the Ligier LMP3 line-up of Eurointernational together with the Turkish racing driver Cem Bolukbasi.

The Pole Mateusz Kaprzyk, who drove for Eurointernational in Barcelona, ​​has switched to LMP3 entry No. 14 from Inter Europol Competition instead of Alessandro Bracalente.

Ulysse de Pauw, who drives a Bentley in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe with the AWS Sprint Cup, also takes part in the Red Bull Ring round of Inter Europe

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365 who covers the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship, AWS’s GT World Challenge Europe and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among others.