Stevens to Replace Habsburg at Nielsen for Dubai

Will Stevens will replace Ferdinand Habsburg at Nielsen Racing for next month’s Dubai round of the Asian Le Mans Series.

Habsburg is unable to attend the 4 Hours of Dubai on Feb. 2-4 owing to a conflicting commitment with Alpine, with whom he is due to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship this year.

As such, Stevens will take the Austrian driver’s place aboard Nielsen’s No. 24 Oreca 07 Gibson alongside Alex Garcia and Ian Loggie.

Habsburg is due to return to the team for the season-closing double-header at Abu Dhabi, which follows Alpine’s planned Hypercar launch on Feb. 7.

It’s unclear whether Habsburg’s date conflict will affect the other Alpine Hypercar drivers who are due to race at Dubai, namely Paul-Loup Chatin (Proton Competition) and Matthieu Vaxiviere (AF Corse). Sportscar365 has contacted Alpine for comment.

As previously announced, Nielsen will field a second LMP2 car for the Dubai and Abu Dhabi rounds, to be shared by Blake McDonald, Patrick Liddy and Matt Bell.