Perrodo Set to Concentrate on ELMS Next Season

LMP2 driver Francois Perrodo has confirmed that he will leave the FIA World Endurance Championship after this year and that he is set to focus his exploits on the European Le Mans Series.

The three-time WEC GTE-Am champion, who returned to LMP2 this season after a prior stint in prototypes, told Sportscar365 that he will continue to drive an Oreca 07 Gibson in 2023 but will only concentrate on one series after previously racing in WEC and ELMS.

Perrodo’s decision anticipates the WEC’s expected removal of its LMP2 Pro-Am class, which was created to provide an arena for Bronze-rated, non-professional drivers.

The Pro-Am category is set to remain part of the ELMS next season.

Perrodo, who is a full-time businessman and racing enthusiast, confirmed that he is “100 percent” moving away from the WEC at the end of the current campaign, which concludes at the 8 Hours of Bahrain next month.

He explained that there are “lots of different parameters” involved in determining his future programs.

From 2024, the GTE classes will be replaced by GT3 in the WEC and ELMS. Perrodo’s preference for the former means that he is concentrating on LMP2 moving forward.

Furthermore, paddock sources suggest that LMP2 could be removed from the WEC after next season in response to growth in the Hypercar grid and high demand in GT3.

Asked if he is leaving the WEC, Perrodo said: “Next year 100 percent. And in 2024, unless it would be a return in a GT3… I would rather focus on LMP2 in ELMS and maybe the four long races of IMSA.

“So I think it means ELMS. WEC has been fun. I’ve been lucky enough to do it for nine seasons. It is what it is and I respect the decisions.

“It’s a good problem to have for the ACO. In 2024 there will be something like 14 Hypercars on the grid. There are enough GT3 manufacturers, so the rest of the grid is completed.

“I understand why LMP2 becomes an ELMS and Asian Le Mans Series product.

“As long as they keep the Pro-Am category. There are some tracks where I’m way off my Pros and it’s nice to be able to fight against another Bronze.

He added:” “Next year it’s almost confirmed [to do] ELMS in Pro-Am, which makes sense.

“I’m hoping that a few other Bronzes will take the same decision. It would be nice to have six, seven or eight cars to have a proper championship fight.”

Perrodo explained that he is also “looking at” entering the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the LMP2 class with AF Corse, which has an American base in Florida.

It would mark the 45-year-old’s return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship grid after six years, considering his last Daytona outing came in 2017 aboard an Ebimotors Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo.

“The question was either Daytona or Asian Le Mans Series,” said Perrodo, who made his Rolex 24 debut in 2015 as part of an AF Corse GT Le Mans entry.

“Daytona is 80 percent [finalized], just fine-tuning some financial aspects and the drivers. IMSA rules impose a Bronze, so it’s fighting against other Bronze drivers, which is nice.

“It’s no secret I’m talking with AF Corse to continue with them. And Amato [Ferrari, AF Corse team principal] is pushing for the four big IMSA [endurance] races.

“I think maybe next year that will be complicated with my work schedule. But one day… I hear only good things about the IMSA races.”

Driver Search Underway as Ferrari LMH Arrives

Perrodo is on the lookout for new co-drivers, considering his current LMP2 partners Nicklas Nielsen and Alessio Rovera are members of Ferrari’s GT factory pool from which the manufacturer plans to select its six-driver WEC Hypercar crew for next season.

Both Nielsen and Rovera have tested the hybrid-powered Ferrari LMH, which is being unveiled on Oct. 30.

Ferrari’s youngest works drivers are not guaranteed Hypercar seats because there are more people in the factory pool than there are available rides, but Perrodo nonetheless described potential changes to his lineup as “the big question mark” of his program.

“Ideally, Nicklas and Alessio will be promoted to Hypercar, which would be great for them and an amazing story,” he said.

“I think, for Ferrari, it’s a nice story to show that Nicklas comes from Ferrari Challenge and Alessio from Italian GT. They have a nice way of accessing Hypercar.

“That means I would need two drivers. That’s a work in progress.

“There are a few drivers, but not that many. Because of Hypercar, many of the best ones are already [confirmed] in Europe or the U.S. so it’s not that straightforward.

“Maybe it would be good to be with drivers who know the car and do a few tests in the winter.”