Costa to Make LMP2 Debut With Inter Europol

Former Lamborghini factory driver Albert Costa has joined Inter Europol Competition for his FIA World Endurance Championship debut in the LMP2 class.

Costa, who is set for his first stint in prototype racing, will share the Polish team’s No. 34 Oreca 07 Gibson with Fabio Scherer and Silver-rated Jakub Smiechowski.

The Spanish driver is joining the WEC after four seasons driving Lamborghini GT3 machinery in championships across Europe.

Last year Costa drove for Emil Frey Racing in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup and ADAC GT Masters, where he teamed up with Jack Aitken.

However, Costa was left without a guaranteed full-time drive for 2023 when Lamborghini confirmed last month that he was no longer part of its factory GT roster.

“For me, this is a fantastic step, to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Inter Europol Competition and the LMP2 car is a dream come true,” Costa said.

“Since I started racing, it’s always been my ambition to race in prototypes, so I can’t wait to get started and to learn as much as I can and enjoy this chapter in my life.

“Thank you to the team for giving me this opportunity, and I will do my best to repay the faith they have taken in me!”

Scherer is another new addition to the Inter Europol WEC lineup after Esteban Gutierrez and Alex Brundle partnered with Smiechowski last season.

The Swiss driver returns to full-time WEC competition after representing United Autosports in 2021.

He then signed for Inter Europol last year, competing in the European Le Mans Series and making a guest WEC appearance at the Sebring season-opener.

“I’m really excited about the WEC program and it’s great to move up to the series following a season with the team in European Le Mans,” Scherer said.

“Last year we made great improvements as a team, even moving from the back of the field to the front at Spa-Francorchamps.

“We proved we have good speed in the car, we built great momentum, and everyone was pushing so hard together.

“So, it’s great to be staying with the team and I still think we have a great deal of further potential to exploit.

“It’s exciting and I think we’ll have a competitive year ahead as we fight for podiums and make the best use of the momentum gained in 2022. That’s the target.”

Inter Europol is set for its third season in the WEC, while Smiechowski has been the constant in the lineup since its 2021 debut.

Team principal Sascha Fassbender indicated that this season will be the team’s last in the championship’s LMP2 class, which could be shuffled out as the Hypercar grid expands and LMGT3 arrives.

“We have done a lot of work over the winter to prepare for the season ahead and we have two new teammates in Fabio and Albert,” Fassbender said.

“We’re very excited to have them as a pairing and delighted for Albert in this, a new chapter, of his career in prototypes.

“It’s great also to continue the work with Fabio who drove for us in the ELMS last year; to create a strong WEC season three for us, our last in LMP2. We want to be on the podium and win a few races.”