Nah, No Super Nova or “The future’s so Bright I’ve
gotta wear Shades” Jokes here…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65YIlwxBuvM
Ah, time to ring in thoust New year’s Kiddoes!
Since the season’s first “true” Endurance race, the Rolex 24 at Daytona
International Speedway is less than four weeks away now, in just 26 days! Taking
part over the January 29-30 weekend, Although they’ll go Qualifying in the
Motil Pole Shootout race on Sunday, January 23rd.
Although I suppose if we’re Talkin’ Endurance
races, then Thars none Bigger than the annual Dakar Rally which just started
yesterday, and runs from January 2-14. Which
typically I’d be “Watching,” Err listening to the 30mins Highlight vignettes on
NBC Sports right now. Oh wait a bloody minute, they turned that into a gory
Paywall “channel” called Peacock Bastardoes!
As the Sports Cars landscape will be making
major Makeovers the following two seasons, as we All eagerly await the
Hypercars convergence in 2023, which will make Thar Debut at next year’s Rolex
24. As I’ll try Highlighting what’s known so far, primarily focusing upon the major
IndyCar teams “Side” projects.
Porsche
As we already know, Penske will campaign the Porsche
Hypercars effort near and abroad, beginning in 2023. With two Le Mans Daytona
Hypercars (LMDH) Prototyped entries competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
Championship and FIA World Endurance championship. (WEC) With Oh Canada’s
Multiimatic supplying the Chassis for both Porsche and it’s Seester Audi’s efforts.
Penske is expected to run a limited WEC season
campaign with two LMP2 Oreca/Gibson V-8 chassis, beginning at the season
opening 1,000 miles of Sebring in March thru the summer’s 24 Heurs du Mans in
preparations for it’s 2023 LMDH Assault.
Felipe Nasr and Dane Cameron have finally been
confirmed as two of Penske’s Porsche Factory Drivers. Nasr will also drive the
four Endurance rounds for FAB’s GTD Pro Porsche 911 campaign this year, while
Cameron’s extra curricular 2022 racing activities aren’t publicly known
currently. Not to mention who the rest of the Porsche Penske LMDH Squad’s
Drivers are…
https://racer.com/2021/12/18/porsche-teases-images-of-lmdh/
Audi
Andretti Autosport was rumoured to be in the running
for the Werks’ Audi effort initially, before Audi decided to take a different
path, abruptly Pulling the Plug upon it’s intended LMDH project, whilst we’re
still awaiting to hear what Audi’s ultimate Sports Car plans are? Although Mikey
A’ claims He’s still interested in An IMSA LMDH Programme.
BMW
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLLR) has been
confirmed as BMW’s Factory Team in it’s
two car IMSA Only LMDH effort. Whilst Booby Ruble (Bobby Rahal) and his Cohorts
will campaign a two car GTD (Daytona) Pro Werks’ programme with BMW’s brand new
M4 coupe this year, in preparation for it’s Prototypes campaign in 2023.
Cadillac
As expected Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) has been confirmed
as one of Cadillac’s two LMDH Factory entrants, with Action Express Racing
(AXR) as the other, with both teams set to run in both IMSA and WEC, ergo Le
Mans.
As Ye Cheepster’ (Chip Ganassi) is adding a
second Cadd ‘Oh lacc’ car to his CGR IMSA Prototypes campaign this year, having
announced the addition of le Hamburgular’, nee SeaBass, aka Sebastien Bourdais,
Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn as it’s new Fulltime Drivers.
As Bourdais will partner Renger Van der Zande,
the remaining “Holdover,” and presumably Scott Dixon will be Thar Co-Driver at
Daytona.
Whilst it’s also unknown how many chassis CGR
will enter in 2023, and Ditto for AXR, who are also expecting Driver changes. As
it was initially rumoured that Felipe Nasr would be moving to Audi’s LMDH
concern, before Audi decided to not run an LMDH programme
I’ll Arse-sume that Van der Zande and Bourdais
will run cheeps’ IMSA LMDH effort and Bamber and Lynn the Seester’ WEC effort
abroad, but I’m just Speculating Thar…
Acura
One Half of Acura’s two car upcoming IMSA LMDH effort
will be fielded by Meyer Shank Racing, which Arse-sumedly will be a “Soft”
landing spot for Hulio’, nee Helio Castroneves whenever the Dancin’ fool
retires again from Indy Cars. As surely “Symone,” nee Pageantry’, aka Simon
Pagenaud will be involved too in MSR’s future Sports Car plans.
Lexus
Top Jimmy’ (Vasser) and James Sully’ Sullivan of
Vasser Sullivan Racing, who recently Quit their partnership with Dale Coyne
will continue campaigning Thar Brace ‘O Lexus RC F GT3 racecars in the GT Daytona
ranks. With one GTD Pro entry and one GTD “Amateur” entry for 2022 and beyond.
Presumably the No. 14 Lexus will be it’s GTD Pro
mount? As Racer claims Thar a Mega 13 GTD Pro entries entered for this year’s
Rolex 24. Although I can only come up with who seven of them are.
As Corvette Racing and RLLR’s BMW Werks’
efforts will run two cars apiece. And then just learned that my Homeboyz’ Heart
of Racing will add a second Aston Martin Vantage GTD Pro entry to their lineup.
Whilst the aforementioned Lexus GTD Pro entry plus FAB Motorsports campaigning
a Porsche 911 GTD Pro entry gets Mwah to seven, so who knows who the other six
are, Eh?
As that’s what we’ve got to look forward to for
the future Hypercars era. Along with the new GTD Pro category and many more
changes to this year’s Sports Cars paddocks to “Discuss” later. While Y’all can
check out this slightly dated Peek at the forthcoming various Hypercar projects
near and abroad…