The FIA had decided that Russian and Belarusian drivers would still be allowed to participate in international races, but as “neutral” participants. The document is also believed to include a passage asking Russian drivers to refrain from expressing support, direct or otherwise, for the actions of Russia or Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In addition to Rusinov, former Formula One driver Daniil Kyvat is also said not to have signed the FIA document – Kyvat had been announced as a prominent new addition to the G-Drive team. According to FIA rules, however, Kyvat is not allowed to work internationally for any other team.

Flörsch also affected?

Since G-Drive does not have its own racing team, but “only” provides sponsors and paintwork, things are now getting interesting behind the scenes: the actual team behind G-Drive is the Algarve Pro Racing Team, which takes care of the entire deployment of the cars in the WEC.

Sophia Flörsch was announced as a G-Drive driver for the 2022 WEC season, but she is said to have no contract with G-Drive, but with Algarve Pro Racing – and the Portuguese are probably working feverishly to make the WEC entries possible despite G-Drive’s withdrawal.

Last fall, David Schumacher took the opportunity to pilot a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the first time in Le Castellet/France and got on very well right away in the unfamiliar GT3 race car.

“There are worlds between the two vehicle categories,” emphasizes Schumacher, who will complete his first test drives for Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing on Wednesday of this week in Portimão, Portugal. “Due to the much higher weight alone, you have to drive the GT3 much more gently than the formula car. At the beginning I was really shocked by the ABS, which I didn’t know at all in the race car. Nevertheless, I quickly felt at home in the Mercedes-AMG GT3. It’s a real joy to drive!”

The two BMW M works drivers Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and returnee Philipp Eng (AUT) will start for DTM newcomer Schubert, while two-time DTM champion and works driver Marco Wittmann (GER) and Walkenhorst rookie Esteban Muth, who will compete in a GT3 BMW for the first time ever (BEL), will continue to race for Walkenhorst.

The 2022 DTM will kick off the new season from April 29 to May 1 in Portimão, Portugal. Further stops are DEKRA Lausitzring Turn 1, Imola in Italy, Norisring, Nürburgring, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, the Red Bull Ring in Austria and, for the finale, the Hockenheimring.

In the NLS, the squad will be supported by BMW M Team RMG at the Nürburgring and will be looking to have a say in the overall victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

In the GTWC (GT World Challenge), BMW Junior Team 2022 will be fielding a BMW M4 GT3 from ROWE Racing. The second BMW M4 GT3 from ROWE Racing will be driven by BMW M factory drivers Nick Catsburg (NED), Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR).

The team, based in Lodelinsart near Charleroi, will compete not only in the GT Open but also in the GT Cup Open Europe, having recently announced its commitment to the GT Sport-sponsored junior series, making it the first team to announce a dual commitment.

“A GT3 car is obviously more complex than a GT4,” said Team Manager Damien Hellebuyck, “and it’s a big step for us and our drivers. The International GT Open was the best platform to start this new project.”

Team Principal Albert Bloem explains that they plan to continue the tradition for artistic paint schemes in the team’s GT3 era, bringing a mix of racing and art to the track. Street-Art Racing secured the Aston Martin Vantage with chassis number 007 – that should raise hopes for something artistic.

Glickenhaus Racing secures positions 4 and 5 ahead of the LMP2 cars on their debut in France, led by #38 JOTA (Gonzalez/Da Costa/Davidson) in the Oreca 07 – Gibson.

Surprisingly, in the GTE Pro class, it was not a factory team but a private team that secured the fastest time: #72 Hub Auto Sport raced to GT pole position with Dries Vanthoor. Kevin Erste put the #92 works Porsche into the tyre barrier, causing a 10-minute interruption to the Hyperpole session.

The regulations require LMDh prototypes to work with one of the four chassis manufacturers Multimatic, Oreca, Dallara or Ligier. A hybrid powertrain is also used.

The LMDh cars compete directly against the hypercars already introduced in the WEC, and the LMH endurance specification is also to compete in the same category.

Fritz Enzinger, Vice President Porsche Motorsport: “Multimatic is the most obvious and logical solution for us. We have known this highly respected company and its team of experienced professionals for many years and are absolutely convinced of the quality of their work. We don’t have to set up a completely new business relationship with them, but can hit the ground running. That’s vital and is exactly what is needed when developing a new racing car. It is imperative that we eliminate friction losses to ensure that we are able to do a perfect job and deliver what is needed fast. There’s another factor of inestimable benefit. One part of Multimatic, like our team partner Penske, is based in Mooresville in North Carolina. Short distances and direct lines of communication will be of tremendous help in the development of the future LMDh prototype and in competition.”

In the GTD class, BMW secured the category win with the Turner Motorsport team and Bill Auberlen as the final driver together with Robby Foley.

The highly touted Toyota Hypercars followed in the morning in 8th position with a time of 2:06.896 and in the afternoon in 6th position with a time of 2:05.413. The former LMP1 car from Alpine, which is now a “grandfathered” version of the Hypercars, was 13th in the morning with a time of 2:07.586 before finishing in 4th position in the afternoon with a time of 2:05.230.

In the LMGTE Pro category Porsche, with Estre and Jani at the wheel, secured the best placing in each case ahead of the Ferrari 488 GTE Evo. The LMGTE Am category was also dominated by the duel between Porsche and Ferrari.

The Scuderia Glickenhaus hypercar team will skip the Prologue and the first race of the 2021 WEC season completely and will only compete at the highlight at Le Mans.