WRT Adds European LMP2 Entry; Kubica First Confirmed Driver

Team WRT has added a European Le Mans Series entry to its new LMP2 program for the coming year and confirmed ex-Formula 1 competitor Robert Kubica as its first driver.

The Belgian sports car outfit will run a single Oreca 07 Gibson in the six-round ELMS series in parallel to its already-announced FIA World Endurance Championship entry.

WRT is moving into prototype competition this year alongside its continued commitment to racing in major GT3 events.

The team is best-known for its list of GT achievements which includes outright wins at the Total 24 Hours of Spa, the Nürburgring 24 and the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

It also recently entered the DTM series running privateer Audis, while the 2020 campaign saw WRT’s drivers come up against Kubica who drove an ART Grand Prix BMW.

Last month, the Polish driver made his LMP2 race debut in the Rolex 24 at Daytona driving for High Class Racing.

“I am very happy to join Team WRT for what is a new chapter in my career and a new challenge also for the team,” said Kubica.

“We will discover together many new things, in a series with a very strong and competitive field, made of talented contenders.

“It will be my first full season in endurance racing, sharing the car with teammates, something I discovered a few days ago at Daytona, and I look forward to start working with the team, at the factory and on the track.

“The whole project is tremendously motivating and I want to warmly thank Vincent, who pushed very hard to make this happen.”

According to WRT, the ELMS season commitment has been made to facilitate its application for a second LMP2 entry into this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The team already holds one place on the Le Mans grid courtesy of its full-time WEC position.

WRT made its LMP2 debut in the 2016 Spa ELMS race and finished second with a Judd-powered Ligier JS P2 driven by Laurens Vanthoor, Dries Vanthoor and Will Stevens.

“We are sincerely excited about adding endurance racing to our portfolio of activities, as this category is really a key component of motorsport’s DNA, history and tradition,” said team principal Vincent Vosse.

“Since the moment we decided to enter the FIA WEC, it made perfect sense to us to try to double the effort with an ELMS program, and we are delighted to be able to materialize this plan too.

“It will certainly help us to learn more and faster, as we take up this new challenge in LMP2.

“To say that we are happy to welcome Robert in the WRT family is an understatement. We all, and especially me personally, have a deep admiration for Robert as a driver and as a person. He is a true racer, a man driven by an unstoppable passion.

“We have been talking with him in the past, and having now the possibility to work with him is another dream come true. We look forward to announcing soon the rest of the lineup, as we are currently assessing the other drivers.’