Bourdais Joins Vector Sport LMP2 Program

Sebastien Bourdais will contest his first full season in the FIA World Endurance Championship this year as a driver for the newly-formed Vector Sport LMP2 squad.

The Rolex 24 at Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring overall winner has been named as the second signing for the British team after Audi star Nico Mueller was announced before the new year. 

Bourdais has raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans several times during the current WEC era, but the 2022 season will mark his first appearance in the championship outside the French classic since the inaugural 2012 campaign when he drove for Pescarolo at Spa.

The Frenchman, who raced in the NTT IndyCar Series last year, is now on course for dual programs in the WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship where he is contracted to drive for Cadillac Chip Ganassi Racing in DPi.

“We are really excited to have Seb join us for our debut season,” said Vector Sport team principal Gary Holland.

“His huge amount of experience in all forms of racing will be a valuable asset to our young time and we would like to offer our thanks to Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing for allowing Séb to work with us throughout this WEC season.”

Despite his prior experience in the LMP2-based DPi formula, the WEC program with Vector Sport will mark Bourdais’ first time racing in the standard LMP2 class.

The designated Silver-rated driver of Vector Sport’s Oreca 07 Gibson has yet to be announced.

“It’s tough to know what expectations are realistic as LMP2 is such a big and competitive field but it’s a very exciting prospect,” said Bourdais.

“We are all similar in terms of equipment, I’ll be alongside some very cool dudes as my teammates, including Nico, and it’ll be a great experience running in the WEC. 

“I got to know Gary Holland when he ran the Risi Competizione car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2020 so when he called me up I was instantly interested.

“It’ll be great to become more familiar with prototypes at Le Mans, and the Vector Sport program complements the Cadillac CGR deal extremely well.  I can’t wait to get started with my busy 2022 year ahead.”