Castro to Make GTE-Am Debut With Project 1-AO at Monza

Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America driver Efrin Castro will make his FIA World Endurance Championship debut with Team Project 1-AO at Monza this weekend.

Castro and Guilherme de Oliveira have been drafted into the No. 56 Porsche 911 RSR-19 considering PJ Hyett and Gunnar Jeannette are focusing on the clashing IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Oliveira joined Project 1-AO for the 6 Hours of Portimao and is back for the six-hour race in Italy alongside GTE-Am debutant Castro and full-season driver Matteo Cairoli.

Castro drives for Kellymoss in Porsche Carrera Cup NA and currently leads the Pro-Am standings.

Project 1-AO is set to roll out a third different livery this WEC season, with a new red design set to replace the ‘Rexy’ dinosaur-themed look that appeared at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last month.

Confirmation of the German team’s Monza lineup completes the entry list which had two spots missing in the No. 56 Porsche.

The date clash with the WeatherTech Championship round has resulted in some lineup changes and the absence of the No. 98 Aston Martin Vantage GTE run by The Heart of Racing.

United Autosports LMP2 drivers Filipe Albuquerque and Tom Blomqvist are also competing in Canada as part of their GTP programs with Acura, and have been replaced for the second time this season by Ben Hanley and Giedo van der Garde respectively.