Ginetta LMP1 Returns in 35-Car Fuji Entry List

CEFC TRSM Racing is poised to return to the FIA World Endurance Championship, with a single Ginetta LMP1 car in the Six Hours of Fuji.

The Manor-run operation missed round three at Silverstone after a change of engine supplier but will be back in action next month with its No. 6 Ginetta G60-LT-P1 now powered by a twin-turbo V6 AER unit.

It started the season with a Mecachrome V6 engine before switching to AER after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but an issue with the FIA’s deadline for homologation changes prevented it from competing at its home round in Silverstone.

An all-British crew of Oliver Rowland, Alex Brundle and Mike Simpson has been confirmed for Ginetta’s return.

Its inclusion brings the total number of cars up to 35 for the first flyaway round of the 2018-19 ‘Super Season’ on Oct. 14, with nine entries in LMP1.

Rebellion Racing’s No. 1 crew will regain the services of Bruno Senna, who was ruled out of Silverstone with a broken ankle stemming from a practice crash, while Matevos Isaakyan returns to the No. 17 SMP Racing BR1 AER after missing the last round to concentrate on that weekend’s European Le Mans Series race.

Additionally, Pietro Fittipaldi is listed next to the No. 10 DragonSpeed BR1 Gibson for the first time since his leg-breaking accident at the Spa season-opener.

The 22-year-old Brazilian will assume the place of Renger van der Zande, who will be at Road Atlanta for the Motul Petit Le Mans.

Elsewhere, Gulf Racing will run Porsche Junior Thomas Preining in its GTE-Am class No. 86 Porsche 911 RSR.

The Austrian, who currently leads the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany championship, will replace Alex Davison in the lineup for his WEC debut alongside Ben Barker and Mike Wainwright.

There is also a driver change to note in GTE-Pro, with Tom Blomqvist confirmed behind the wheel of the No. 82 Team MTEK BMW M8 GTE in place of Augusto Farfus, who has clashing commitments with the manufacturer in DTM.

The DTM finale at Hockenheim has also ruled Loic Duval out of his drive in the No. 28 TDS Racing Oreca 07 Gibson, with Jean-Eric Vergne being confirmed in his place on Monday.