Schedule
Silverstone has played host to the FIA World Endurance Championship season opener before but this time it will kick off the season on September 1st and unlike previous season this will be a four-hour race at Silverstone.
Fuji will be the first six-hour race of the season on October 6th with Shanghai being a four-hour race on November 10th.
The final race of the 2019 will be an eight-hour race at Bahrain. This race will take place on December 14th. The WEC had six races at Bahrain from 2012-17. This is the first time an eight-hour race has been scheduled.
The other returning venue is Interlagos and that will host a six-hour race on February 1st. The Brazilian track hosted three races from 2012-14 and each race had a different manufacture claim overall victory.
The 1,000 Miles of Sebring will return on March 20th with the penultimate round of the season being the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on April 25th.
The 2019-20 season will conclude at the 88th 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 13-14th.
LMP1
Rebellion Racing
#1 Rebellion R13-Gibson
Drivers: Gustavo Menezes, Norman Nato, Bruno Senna
Prologue Result: 3rd
What to Expect: I think with Equivalence of Technology and success handicap Rebellion Racing is going to win at least one race on pace because there will come a point where the Toyotas are saddled with so much weight that the advantage ends up in Rebellion Racing's court and this isn't a bad team. Menezes is the only remaining member of the Silverstone winning team from last year but Senna is familiar with the car and Nato is having a successful campaign in the European Le Mans Series. This car should finish third in the championship.
#3 Rebellion R13-Gibson
Drivers: Nathanaël Berthon, Pipo Derani, Loïc Duval
Prologue Result: 5th
What to Expect: Unfortunately, Rebellion Racing has yet to commit to running two cars full-time but this should be a fun car to watch at Silverstone. You have a past Le Mans winner in Duval paired with one of the most exciting young drivers in sports cars in Derani and Berthon, who ran the final three races of last season with Rebellion Racing. I hope this entry runs full-time but if it can't I hope we see this car and especially this lineup in a few races, especially Le Mans.
Team LNT
#5 Ginetta G60-LT-P1-AER
Drivers: Ben Hanley, Egor Orduzhev, Charlie RobertsonPrologue Result: 6th
What to Expect: After a disastrous 2018-19 season under the CEFC TRSM Racing moniker, Lawrence Tomlinson has taken his Ginetta LMP1 car and created a de facto factory team. Hanley stays in LMP1 after DragonSpeed's exit. Orduzhev stays in LMP1 after SMP Racing's exit. Robertson is the weakest link in this chain but I think this could be a competitive lineup. The key thing is to complete laps and be running when the checkered flag falls on each race.
#6 Ginetta G60-LT-P1-AER
Drivers: Chris Dyson, Michael Simpson, Guy Smith, Oliver Jarvis
Prologue Result: 4th
What to Expect: The Ginetta's pace from the prologue encouraged me. That doesn't mean I think it will be contending for victories. It is a season behind the Rebellion and even if the Toyotas are shackled with a submarine's worth of weight I still think the Toyota would beat the Ginetta. The Ginetta has to prove it can be reliable. The reunion of former Dyson Racing co-drivers Dyson and Smith should give this entry the experience needed to bring the car to higher levels. Bad news is Dyson will miss Silverstone due to a wrist injury but Jarvis should be a suitable substitute.
Toyota Gazoo Racing
#7 Toyota TS050 Hybrid
Drivers: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, José María López
Prologue Result: 1st
What to Expect: I think the Toyotas are going to continue their tussle from 2018-19. The #7 Toyota had plenty of strong days that were ruined when one minor thing went south, like not changing all four tires on a pit stop when the car came in for a deflating tire in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After all that went wrong, I think this car is going to be hard to beat for the championship. I especially think this trio has unfinished business at Circuit de la Sarthe.
#8 Toyota TS050 Hybrid
Drivers: Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima, Brendon Hartley
Prologue Result: 2nd
What to Expect: This is the defending champion, the winner of the last two 24 Hours of Le Mans and it subtracted one world champion for another world champion with Fernando Alonso's exit opening the door for Hartley's entrance. This is a superteam and this will be a hefty challenge for any LMP1 program, including the #7 Toyota. On paper, this car should win the championship again. I don't think it will be easy.
LMP2
United Autosports
#22 Oreca 07-Gibson
Drivers: Filipe Albuquerque, Philip Hanson, Paul di Resta, Oliver Jarvis
Prologue Result: 4th
What to Expect: United Autosports has been successful in European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series competition but this is the team's first foray into the World Endurance Championship. This is a strong lineup and with Jarvis substituting for di Resta when di Resta has Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters responsibilities the lineup this car should not see a drop in performance. A title in year one is a lot to ask for but I think it is possible.
Racing Team Nederland
#29 Dallara P217-Gibson
Drivers: Giedo van der Garde, Job van Uitert, Frits van Eerd, Nyck de Vries
Prologue Result: 1st
What to Expect: After Le Mans in June I thought this would be the championship favorite for 2019-20 and I think Racing Team Nederland will be up there. De Vries will miss Silverstone due to Formula Two commitments but if he runs the rest of the season I think that could decide whether or not this car wins the LMP2 championship.
High Class Racing
#33 Oreca 07-Gibson
Drivers: Anders Fjordbach, Matt Patterson, Kenta Yamashita
Prologue Result: 7th
What to Expect: Fjordbach is making a big step without a lot of European Le Mans Series success. Patterson is making a return to full-time competition. Yamashita is making a big move into international racing after years of success in Japan and he currently leads the Super GT GT500 championship. Most of this season will be a learning experience for these three. This will be one of three LMP2 entries on Goodyear tires. The rest will be on Michelin tires.
Signatech Alpine Matmut
#36 Alpine A470-Gibson
Drivers: Thomas Laurent, André Negrão, Pierre Ragues
Prologue Result: 5th
What to Expect: The defending LMP2 championship team has seen a slight change with Thomas Laurent, Toyota's reserve driver, and Pierre Ragues joining Negrão in the #36 Alpine while Thomas Laurent and Pierre Thiriet move on. This is a good lineup, it can be competitive and I probably will win a race or two, but I think there have been one too many changes for this car to successfully defend the title.
Jackie Chan DC Racing
#37 Oreca 07-Gibson
Drivers: Gabriel Aubry, Will Stevens, Ho-Pin Tung
Prologue Result: 3rd
What to Expect: Aubry and Tung were second in the championship last year and Stevens enters into the fold. I don't expect to see Jackie Chan DC Racing taking a massive step back. I think this car will win a race or two but this class has gotten deeper and it will be a fun championship battle to watch. This will be one of three LMP2 entries on Goodyear tires. The rest will be on Michelin tires.
Jota Sport
#38 Oreca 07-Gibson
Drivers: António Félix da Costa, Anthony Davidson, Roberto González
Prologue Result: 6th
What to Expect: Jota Sport doesn't mess around. This is a championship winning team and it is a Le Mans winning team. Add to it Davidson will be full-time this year and da Costa comes in after the late exit of Pastor Maldonado, who did a good job last season, and this is a title threat. Da Costa does not have any prototype experience but he is a quick driver and I don't expect him to struggle. My only other concern is da Costa's possible Formula E commitments. If he has to miss a race or two or three that could decide the championship. This will be one of three LMP2 entries on Goodyear tires. The rest will be on Michelin tires.
Cool Racing
#42 Oreca 07-Gibson
Drivers: Antonin Borga, Alexandre Coigny, Nicolas Lapierre
Prologue Result: 2nd
What to Expect: Nicolas Lapierre has two LMP2 championships and he is four-for-four in the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This is a big challenge for him because both those titles and three of those Le Mans victories came at Signatech Alpine. He got the car to the top in the prologue but he has two co-drivers that are making a big step up. All three race together in the European Le Mans Series and they finished third last time out at Barcelona but they are sixth in the championship. Lapierre cannot do it all on his own for eight races.
Cetilar Racing
#47 Oreca 07-Gibson
Drivers: Andrea Belicchi, Roberto Lacorte, Giorgio Sernagiotto
Prologue Result: 8th
What to Expect: These three have a lot of experience together but they have yet to have a big breakthrough. With the quality of this class I expect this entry to be toward the back of LMP2.
GTE-Pro
AF Corse
#51 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
Drivers: James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi
Prologue Result: 3rd
What to Expect: These two won there only two races Ferrari won in 2018-19. With the exit of Ford and BMW, there is a greater likelihood for every team to win in 2019-20. Calado and Pier Guidi will be competitive and depending on how the season starts this could be a championship contender.
#71 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
Drivers: Davide Rigon, Miguel Molina
Prologue Result: 1st
What to Expect: Rigon has a new full-time co-driver with Sam Bird being let go to focus on Formula E. The results were not inspiring for this entry last year. Molina has been highly successful since turning his focus to sports cars after running in DTM. I think this refreshed lineup will get much better results than the #71 Ferrari had last season.
Porsche GT Team
#91 Porsche 911 RSR-19
Drivers: Gianmaria Bruni, Richard Lietz
Prologue Result: 4th
What to Expect: Both drivers are world champions in GTE-Pro and I think they will win more than one race in 2019-20. This team had only one victory last season. Porsche was head-and-shoulders above the competition last season. I think it will be a more balanced fight this year.
#92 Porsche 911 RSR-19
Drivers: Michael Christensen, Kévin Estre
Prologue Result: 2nd
What to Expect: This is the defending champion but it won the title after a strong start to the season when every other team seemed to have an off race. Christensen and Estre did not win any of the final four races in 2018-19 and it finished behind its teammate in the final three races. It will be a difficult title defense.
Aston Martin Racing
#95 Aston Martin Vantage AMR
Drivers: Marco Sørensen, Nicki Thiim
Prologue Result: Did not compete
What to Expect: Aston Martin struggled last year and though each car won a race those were the only two podium finishes were the manufacture. In fact, the team's last four podium finishes, dating back to 2017, are victories. It seems like this team gets its day for each car but it lacks what it takes full-time.
#97 Aston Martin Vantage AMR
Drivers: Alex Lynn, Maxime Martin
Prologue Result: 5th
What to Expect: Similar to the sister car, the bar is quite low and Aston Martin should be glad both Ford and BMW have exited the championship. I think Aston Martin will get more podium finishes sheerly because all it will take is one Porsche and one Ferrari having a problem. If the Aston Martins can stay on the racetrack, which wasn't the problem last year as the team had one retirement between the two cars in 2018-19, the results will be better on paper.
GTE-Am
AF Corse
#54 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
Drivers: Francesco Castellacci, Giancarlo Fisichella, Thomas Flöhr
Prologue Result: 4th
What to Expect: Flohr and Castellacci finished fourth in the championship for a second consecutive season and the team had two runner-up finishes. I think this car will get solid results and could win a race but again end up fourth in the championship.
#83 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
Drivers: Emmanuel Collard, Nicklas Nielsen, François Perrodo
Prologue Result: 5th
What to Expect: Collard and Perrodo return to GTE-Am after two seasons in LMP2. The last time these two were in GTE-Am, they won the title. Nielsen is currently apart of the ELMS GTE championship leading team. It would not surprise me if this car is in the title battle.
Team Project 1
#56 Porsche 911 RSR
Drivers: Matteo Cairoli, David Heinemeier Hansson, Egidio Perfetti
Prologue Result: 2nd
What to Expect: Two changes as Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Lindsey leave after winning the title and Cairoli and Heinemeier Hansson joining Perfetti in the #56 Porsche. Cairoli ran last year with Dempsey-Proton Racing and Heinemeier Hansson has jumped between LMP2 and GTE-Am for years. This is a good car but a title defense will be difficult.
#57 Porsche 911 RSR
Drivers: Jeroen Bleekemolen, Ben Keating, Felipe Fraga
Prologue Result: 1st
What to Expect: Bleekemolen, Keating and Fraga won at Le Mans in GTE-Am on the road before losing it due to a disqualification for an oversize fuel tank. These three have run together in IMSA. Bleekemolen and Keating are coming off a victory in the GT Daytona class at Virginia International Raceway. This car topped the prologue and I think it will be a title contender.
Drivers: Jeroen Bleekemolen, Ben Keating, Felipe Fraga
Prologue Result: 1st
What to Expect: Bleekemolen, Keating and Fraga won at Le Mans in GTE-Am on the road before losing it due to a disqualification for an oversize fuel tank. These three have run together in IMSA. Bleekemolen and Keating are coming off a victory in the GT Daytona class at Virginia International Raceway. This car topped the prologue and I think it will be a title contender.
#62 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
Drivers: Bonamy Grimes, Charles Hollings, Johnny Mowlem
Prologue Result: 7th
What to Expect: The retired Mowlem is bringing two drivers to the international stage for the first time. Mowlem has been working with Grimes and they competed in the Asian Le Mans Series last season. Hollings has run in 24H Series and the Britcar Endurance Championship. I think this will be a learning year for this entry with hopes of greater results in 2020-21 and beyond.
MR Racing
#70 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
Drivers: Olivier Beretta, Kei Cozzolino, Motoaki Ishikawa
Prologue Result: 6th
What to Expect: One change in this car, as Cozzolino replaces Eddie Cheever III. Cozzolino won the Asian Le Mans Series GT title last season and this car was consistent last year. I am not sure it made enough of an improvement though to win races.
#77 Porsche 911 RSR
Drivers: Matt Campbell, Christian Ried, Riccardo Pera
Prologue Result: 9th
What to Expect: This car won five of eight races last season, two of which the team lost points for after the team was found guilty of manipulating refueling times. I think this is the favorite for the championship. Ried is a veteran and Campbell appears to be Porsche's next great driver.
#88 Porsche 911 RSR
Drivers: Thomas Preining, TBC, TBC
Prologue Result: 10th
What to Expect: Preining is the only one confirmed for this car for Silverstone, although it is a full-time WEC entry. Dempsey-Proton Racing has a history of drivers rotating between its entries, especially having Porsche junior drivers coming in. Preining is already a Porsche junior driver. Last year, Dempsey-Proton Racing has Matteo Cairoli run every race in the #88 Porsche but he had five different drivers rotate through the other seven races and this car had six different driver lineups over the eight races.
#86 Porsche 911 RSR
Drivers: Michael Wainwright, Ben Barker, Andrew Watson
Prologue Result: 3rd
What to Expect: Wainwright and Barker did nothing spectacular last year but they finished all the races and that is important. Watson has endurance race experience but mostly in the Blancpain GT Championship. If this car repeats what it did last year it is bound to have a podium finish or more.
TF Sport
#90 Aston Martin Vantage AMR
Drivers: Euan Hankey, Charlie Eastwood, Salih Yoluç
Prologue Result: 11th
What to Expect: TF Sport was a bit of surprise last year with Yoluç and Eastwood finishing third in the championship. I feel like the class has gotten a little tougher this year. It wouldn't surprise me if this car wins a race but I don't think it will match or improve on its championship results from last season.
Aston Martin Racing
#98 Aston Martin Vantage AMR
Drivers: Paul Dalla Lana, Darren Turner, Ross Gunn
Prologue Result: 8th
What to Expect: Dalla Lana will no longer has Pedro Lamy and Mathias Lauda, his co-drivers for the previous four seasons join him, but he will have Turner and Gunn and those are two stout drivers to come in. I think this car will improve greatly over eighth in the championship last year and I think it will get back to challenging for the title.
The first practice session for the 2019-20 FIA World Endurance Championship will take place at 7:40 a.m. ET on Friday August 30th. Second practice will take place later that day at 12:30 p.m. ET. Each Friday practice will be 90 minutes.
On Saturday August 31st, a one-hour practice session is scheduled for 5:00 a.m. ET with qualifying following at 7:50 a.m. ET for the GTE classes and 8:20 a.m. ET for the prototype classes.
The 4 Hours of Silverstone will begin at 8:00 a.m. ET on Sunday September 1st.
